Our journey through Ephesians continues this semester at Overflow. This past week we looked a blueprint that Paul established in Ephesians 2: 11-22 on how conflicts can be so divisive, yet the work of Christ through the cross and resurrection can deepen, sweeten, and grow relationships between individuals and groups of people in the midst of painful conflict
Paul was addressing very specifically the divisions and hostilities that had been the norm in relationships between Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). It was a heated division in which persons on both sides were offended by the lifestyle, eating habits, religions, etc. of the other group. However, Paul’s claim was that the possibility of resolution and reconciliation in this conflict was opened up through the work of Christ–”For he himself (Christ) is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,…” (verse 14).
When you read the passage, you see that Paul is claiming that Christ took upon himself, in his flesh, on the cross, the dividing wall (the law with its commandments and regulations) and the hostility that resulted from the division (hurt, anger, pain, prejudice, etc.). The picture that he gives is that these divisions and negative emotions died with Christ on the cross. If a person was in Christ that this that divided these 2 groups was taken away. Then through Christ’s resurrection entering into this relationship that a whole new distinction of people was made in unity. In other words, these 2 groups of people that had been highly destructive toward the other, were now unified and one together. Now Jewish and Gentile Christians were called not to see themselves as different but together in Christ.
When you think about people and/or situations where someone hurt or angered you because they overstepped some of the ways that you feel like you should be treated. You feel their actions standing in the way of your relationship with them and causing you strong feelings of hurt and anger toward them. We allow stereotypes of different groups of people (racial, political, lifestyle, personality) to cause us to have prejudices toward them and harbor bitterness in our hearts. We see irreconcilable conflict on the global scene. Where is hope when these divisions and resulting emotions keep us from opening up and being close to people?
Forgiveness through Christ and praying for the life, death, and resurrection of Christ to enter in and restore these relationships is the key. Thursday Night in Overflow we invited God’s Spirit to come and reveal any areas of hurt, pain, and/or prejudices toward others that we have in our lives. We discussed and prayed through these conflicts attempting to allow God’s Spirit into these areas of hurt and conflict so that the wonderful fruit of Ephesians 3 can come alive in our lives and communities. I invite you to do the same, recognizing that when you are able to forgive those who have hurt you and let go of prejudices that have built up for various reasons, you will find a healing and freedom. With God’s Spirit through Christ invited into these places and relationships, the potential for deep strong intimate relationships are made possible, even with those whom you have said to yourself, “I’ll never be able to be close to them again!”
My prayer for you is that you will find this freedom and be a bearer of Christ’s grace in this world where revenge and division can be norm. This allows for stronger relationships and freedom for individuals.