…for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. Galatians 3:26-28
Our present culture perplexes me. On the one hand, we don’t want people labeled, and on the other we are obsessed by labeling. This contributes to our descent into tribalism as more and more we insist that our clan’s philosophy is the correct one. All the while, we sully the other tribes’ reputations. And yes, Christians are not immune. The result? We stop listening to other people’s stories.
Today we hear Paul, almost 2000 years ago, reminding the Christians of Galatia that we are one big tribe of God. Once we have bound ourselves to Christ, we cease being evil step-children of the world and have become fully children of the Author of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Paul, whose name used to be Saul (a Hebrew name) did stop being Jewish when confronted by the Living Christ, but he no longer saw Gentiles as unclean. Paul didn’t stop being a man, but he no longer saw women as unequal; they were his fellow workers in ministry. And Paul didn’t stop being a Roman citizen with all the privileges that carried, but he now looked at people of all classes on a level playing field. And Paul learned their stories.
When I was called by 42, I didn’t stop being a devoted husband and father. I did not stop being a man who bears both Irish and Italian names who grew up in a wonderfully middle class Catholic family. To this day, I use my science teacher training, quality systems background, and other life experiences (good and bad). But I have been called to serve all people, and I try learn their stories.
How about you. Do you embrace your identity, while learning and embracing others’ stories?
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