The Gospel that is. Do we? Do I get it? This section from Keller’s study on Galatians have floored me this weekend. I couldn’t help but brokenly ask myself, “Do you get it Zach?”

Another way is to bring classist, nationalistic, or racist attitudes from the world into the church. Many Christians belong to classes, groups, or personality types that we had always disdained in our lives outside the church. Working class Christians may have a distaste for Christians from wealthier or more socially “refined” backgrounds and vice versa. Christians from one political persuasion may be upset by the presence of those from the other end of the spectrum. Very talented Christians may feel unhappy that people they have always considered mediocre are part of the church. Socially polished Christians feel uncomfortable around believers who are socially awkward or marginal (and again vice versa). If we have fairly strong ties to an ethnic group (e.g. WASP, Hispanic, Chinese, African American), we may feel uncomfortable around people whose cultural emphases are different. We may respond to all this as Peter did. We will sit by “those other people” in church, but we won’t “eat” with them. In other words, we won’t really become friends with them. We won’t socialize with them, sharing our lives and homes and things with them. We will keep relationships formal and see them at official church meetings only. This, of course, is a serious lapse. It stems from a general feeling of superiority. Our hearts, without the gospel, have to manufacture self-esteem by comparing our group with other groups. But the gospel tells us we are all unclean without Christ and all clean in him. [emphasis me]

Oh it burns… It should. Sit in it with me and allow God to do His thing. Thanks for stopping by today…