I remember the excitement of pledging allegiance to the American flag as a citizen for the first time. I would not need a “green card” or an “alien card” to be accepted for employment, to leave the country and — best of all, I would finally be able to have a voice in politics.

For the second time in my life, I received rights and privileges that were not originally mine by birth. The first time, it happened when I became a Christian and was, according to Scriptures, adopted into Abraham’s bloodline by faith.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Apostle Paul of Tarsus in his letter to the Ephesian church)

It is the central part of Christianity and known to every gentile since the first century, when, after Christ’s historical resurrection, His teachings were widely promulgated starting in Jerusalem and throughout the Roman empire. The apostle Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Ephesian church, located in modern-day Turkey, reminding the new believers in Ephesus that, according to the New Covenant, they had the same rights and privileges as the Jews.

For the Jewish reader of the day, the fact that the gentiles were put in the same position as the Jews was a huge heresy. No wonder most of the apostles died terrible deaths! Between Rome and the Pharisees, the gospel of peace that proclaimed unity between the Jews and gentiles and proclaimed Jesus as the One and only Lord, was blasphemy. To many, it still is today.

But Jesus made it very clear: He came to all. By faith, Abraham’s righteousness, which was originally Jewish inheritance, was passed on to all believers at the cross. The only requirement became faith in Jesus Christ — His death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. (Romans 10:9) Regardless of whom they were before Christ, in Him the church became one body, heirs of heaven … and called by God to perform His work on earth. In unity.

Paul reminded the Ephesians that Christ came to break the barriers between Jewish and gentile. As he continued in his epistle: “For He Himself is our peace, Who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.”

All races. All nations. All people groups. Paul reminded the first-century believers that unity should be the heartbeat of the church, because Christ had died for people of all nations, tribes and tongues.
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It’s a good reminder for the church today.

But we know better. Unfortunately, division among believers was not a first-century issue. It continues until today. And I am not referring only to differing doctrines. No questions such disagreements create separation. But it is when the division within the church is influenced by external elements such as race, political views, nationality or economic status, that the church reaches its weakest and less effective state.

When the division within the church is influenced by external elements such as race, political views, nationality or economic status, the church reaches its weakest and less effective state
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We must not forget that there will be no race, political preference or handicaps in heaven. We will be the unified church of Christ, redeemed by His sacrifice and free from the entire physical realm that challenges our unity here on earth.

In the meantime, while society revels in political discord, may we be challenged to stay unified, lest we lose sight of the reason why Christ came in the first place: because God so loved the world. Not whites. Not blacks. Not Americans or Hispanics. He loves the entire, colorful building. May we be challenged to look upon Jesus as the Unifier, and Scriptures as the guide by which we make our decisions … and take our stand.

And finally, may we be challenged to extend the same compassion, patience and loving-kindnesses that God renews in our lives every morning to those whom we disagree with every day.

May we be challenged to extend the same compassion, patience and loving-kindnesses that God renews in our lives every morning to those whom we disagree with every day.
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This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – October 13rd, 2018.

The post Unity: A Challenge to the Christian Church {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

The Apostle Luke enters the city on a mission. He is there to find the underground church, bring news from believers in Ephesus, and ultimately visit the apostle Paul, who had been sentenced to death and was waiting for his execution in a Roman dungeon. As Luke enters the gates at night, he walks through a well-lit street, brightened by numerous bodies of Christians, displayed as candles on each side. From a distance, a horrific cry pierces his heart — the last moments of a fellow believer, dying for the Name that changed the course of history forever.

The scene greets the audience in the beginning of the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” which opened in theaters March 23. Last week, I joined representatives of both religious and secular media outlets at the red carpet premiere of the movie in Dallas, where we had the opportunity to interview directors, producers, screenwriters and cast.

The script is beautifully and creatively written, well pleasing to anyone who studied first-century Rome and the life of the early church. James Faulkner is impeccable in his representation of the Apostle Paul. Jim Caviezel, the man who pierced our hearts portraying Jesus in the internationally acclaimed 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of Christ” portrays Luke, the physician-turned-disciple who never walked beside Jesus, and yet is responsible for writing almost one third of the New Testament. And Caviezel does not disappoint. In his first role in a faith-based movie since Mel Gibson’s movie, the actor comes back to the screen with the same devotion that captured the world in 2004.

I was able to sit down for a one-on-one interview with the actor during the premiere, where we talked about his role as Jesus in 2004, and now as one of his apostles. I had previously watched several interviews, where he gave testimonies of how his life and Christian faith were impacted by his role as Jesus.

When discussing the new movie, Caviezel talked about the horrific persecution that Christians have faced throughout history — an oppression that the church still suffers today, in many parts of the world. He pointed out that many Christians nowadays do not like to talk about the cross and suffering. He said, “How do I know that? Because they come to me and say, ‘I don’t want to see your movies. They are too violent.’ And so I tell them, ‘OK, then I will pray that no one ever comes to you and says, ‘Deny Jesus or die.’ Because this is happening right now.’”

Caviezel is right. According to an article published by Christianity Today in January 2018, approximately 215 million Christians now experience “high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution.” On top of the list is Kim Jung-un’s country, ranking as the No. 1 spot on the list for 16 years in a row.

It’s hard for us to imagine it. We live in a country founded on the principles of religious freedom; therefore, even the harshest form of religious hatred or intolerance in America pales in comparison to what happens across the world. But it should not surprise us: Jesus himself warned his disciples that they would be hated because of his name. And yet, his true followers know that the message of unconditional love and forgiveness that puzzled the crowd gathered around his cross, and shook the Roman empire to its core, still challenges us today: “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they are doing.”

This Sunday, as believers across the world gather to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, may we remember to pray for the saints who, through the ages, paid and still pay the ultimate price to carry the gospel throughout the world.

You can watch the full interview with Jim Caviziel here: Click to watch. Visit www.paulmovie.com for a theater near you.

This article was originally published on my column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

The post This Easter – Remember the Persecuted Church {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.