Christ, All And In All

…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 

Colossians 3:11 

Racial and cultural differences are not new, nor are the tensions that come with them. Sometimes these differences become the gateways to divisions, which may even degenerate into bloody conflicts. Achieving peace and unity is difficult, at the best of times, and seems impossible when cultures, races, and civilizations clash. The Apostle Paul addressed these differences in an astute, succinct manner in our text today. While what he offers is not comprehensive, it is glorious for the sheer simplicity of it. He offers Christ as the Great Unifier of humanity. He declares, ‘…where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.’ The simple answer for a cross-cultural, multiracial, non-homogeneous circumstance is the Person of Christ. Christ is Greater than our cultural and ethnic differences. The knowledge, experience and understanding which arises out of communion with Christ enables us to reach across divides to achieve a spirit of love, unity, and grace that overcomes what would otherwise deeply divide us in suspicion and mistrust. For those who embrace Him, as the Gospel freely offers Him to us, Christ brings to us an organic unity, that makes us one Body in Him. He then is ‘all and in all.’ As we contemplate these things today, let us dwell upon Our Unifying Christ. He brings together as no one else does. He unifies what would otherwise be forever divided. He, known aright, ‘is all and in all.’ 

Our Glorious Living Christ, 
We rejoice that You build Your Church, 
from bricks of every stripe and variety. 
We praise You, that Your request will come to pass, 
that we all may be one, 
as You are One with Your Father. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning