No matter who you are or how mature you see yourself, you’re never safe from the temptation of prejudice. Even those who consider themselves enlightened and inclusive tend to look down on those who they don’t consider enlightened. In a world of “us” and “them,” we all have a “them.”

In Paul’s world, the struggle was between Jews and Gentiles in the Church. Remember, the early Church started in Jerusalem and was composed primarily of Jews who recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. It was hard for those Jews to accept Gentiles into the same Church. (Later, Gentiles would reverse the playing field and reject Jews). Notice, Paul says that even Peter (Cephas) and Barnabas were led astray.

Who is it that you find hard to love? Someone who looks different? Someone who lives the wrong way? Someone who is way too conservative, or way too liberal? When it comes to who you call friends, those divisions are hard to overcome. Jesus is the only one who can repair them.

That’s exactly why this matters so much – because Jesus already repaired those divisions. In Him we are one body. There is no more “them.” We sit together at the level foot of the cross: poor next to prominent; haves next to have-nots; black next to white next to brown; educated next to uneducated. Everyone has a seat.