We are a People

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

Relevant Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

As a person born and raised in Western culture, where individualism filters out a deep understanding of community, I sought help from a friend born and raised in Sub-Saharan Africa as I worked on this article. The description of Christian life in his home country, combined with biblical teaching in Ephesians 2, tells me we have much to learn from Scripture and our brothers and sisters across the globe about what it means to be church. I thank my friend for helping me think through what it can look like to be the people of God.

One people. We are one people, siblings who are ever willing to give and receive aid. In the church, it is normal to ask for help and to offer help without being asked. Kindness is expected and freely offered, and folks feel bad when they lack the wherewithal to offer hospitality. As believers gather to worship God and minister to one another, our identity as God's people strengthens. As we disperse, we carry this identity into the world, inviting those who are not a people to come and see.

No divisions. Within the people of God, divisions are removed in Christ. Indeed, divisions are wholly out of place for we are one people, reconciled to God and one another. Our bonds are strong. While earthly conflicts sometimes show up, such conflict is not fitting, because loyalty to Christ and to our brothers and sisters is stronger than other loyalties. Serving God is more important than getting our way or making our point. As we gather, our unity strengthens, and our diversity is put to use. As we disperse, we demonstrate and communicate life as God’s people to a broken and divided world.

Responsibility. As fellow citizens, each of us bears citizenship responsibility to the whole, caring for one another as whole persons. We make ourselves aware of one another's needs and capacities. We help one another to develop a ready willingness to help those not yet belonging to Christ.

As I listened to my friend talk about being a people, one point surprised me: for Christians in his country the church family is closer than one’s blood family. He gave an example, saying that if a Christian were to visit a town where a member of his or her blood family lived, the Christian would still reach out to fellow believers for a place to stay before reaching out to family members. He noted that this is the case even when the relationship between blood siblings is strong.

We have much to learn.