As Jesus followers we are called into the Kingdom Life. This blog will help us converse and learn what that means. It will contain thoughts on Scripture, Sermon Reflection, Leadership Training and interesting reads. -Pastor Jeff

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

This Seat is Taken - Unholy Exclusion

Read Galatians 2:11-14
"Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles.  But when they arrived, he began to draw back..."

There's a part in the movie Forrest Gump that has always remained with me.  On the first day of school, Forrest is making his way through the bus, attempting to find a seat.  As he walked down the aisle, each child slid to the edge of their seat and declared, "This seat is taken."  Forrest was unlike the rest of the children, which in their minds gave them permission to exclude him.

We've all witnessed this play itself out.  It carries over from the bus to the lunch room.  Certain children sit in certain sections.  There are certain tables that if you are different from others, unique, not easily placed in a clique or a mold, that you come to realize that no matter how many chairs are available, for you...those seats are taken.

Don't you wish that was something we grew out of?

But unfortunately it seems to get worse as we get older.  We are keenly aware of whom we keep company with and how that is perceived by others.  We find new and more complex ways to exclude those that might be considered different, those we might not understand, those that might reflect poorly on our image, from our presence.

Today's story speaks of adult lunchroom exclusion.  To a Jew, meals were sacred times of fellowship.  Who you ate a meal with said a lot about who you were.  For Jews throughout much of history, they were not to share a meal with a Gentile (a non-Jew) in the Gentile's home.  However, according to the story, faith in Jesus is supposed to erase all that.  All humanity is made one in Christ.  Unfortunately, old habits die hard.  Paul had spent the better part of ministry sharing life with Gentiles  When Peter, one of the pillars of the church, arrives in a Gentile Community, at first he has no problem sharing meals with Gentiles.  It was safe.  No one from the cool table was watching.  However, when the in-crowd showed up, Peter abandoned the inclusivity of the Gospel for the exclusivity of prejudice and bias.  According to Paul, he had to put Peter in his place.  (I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.)

Our prejudices and biases are witnessed in the moments when we are hesitant to truly share space with others different from ourselves.  You can still tell a lot about a person by whom they are willing to share a table with and for whom they are prone to scoot over and say, "Sorry this seat is taken."  I wonder who you might be willing to leave standing in the aisle looking for a seat.

Lent is a time when we are reminded of the radical inclusivity of the Gospel.  According to Paul, "You are all sons (and daughters) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)

It is during Lent that we are reminded that we have found our place at the table precisely because Jesus slid over and made room for us, for those of us radically different from himself.  Actually, as the Son of God he gave up His seat that we might have one.  We'd do well to be careful not to deny others a seat at Christ's table.

Time to Reflect
1.)  Who are you most likely to deny a seat at the table?

2.)  Take time today and reflect upon the gift of Christ inviting you to the table and the ways in which that should impact your willingness to share a table with others.  

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