Church For All The People

Church For All The People

Judaism is for Jews. Buddhism is primarily for Asians. Shintoism is for the Japanese. Islam is primarily for Middle Eastern folks. The Black Muslim religion is obviously for Blacks. In contrast, Christianity is for all people. Jesus' commission tells us to "Go...into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Matthew's account says, "Go ... make disciples of all the nations" or ethnic groups (Matthew 28:19).

It took a while before even the apostles of Christ understood this great and revolutionary truth. Only after God had confronted him with dazzling visions and a direct command did Peter understand "that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35). Paul was the first of the apostles to put the new concept of a universal religion for all nations into practice. He broke the old Jewish barriers and became the ambassador of God to our Gentile ancestors. He often reminded his converts that in Christ, "there can be neither Jew nor Greek ... bond nor free ... male and female, for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

The church in every society, in every generation, has to remind itself that the good news of the gospel cannot be held for its exclusive benefit. The church is under obligation to share the wonderful blessings of salvation with those of other social and ethnic groups. Many times she has failed to live up to her obligation and thus the cause of Christ suffered and deserving souls were left to perish, untaught.

The God who made all nations is the savior of all nations and his church is a church open to all. May he help us to understand our mission and have the mind and heart to be a church for all people. If you would like to learn more about the church that Christ built, send us your e-mail. Your Bible questions will receive prompt, courteous and Biblical answers.

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