What I am about to say is based on my observations over the 70 years I have spent living on this mudball we call Earth. Human beings tend to separate themselves into groups. Sometimes those divisions are based on differences that matter, and sometimes they are based on differences that may not be nearly as significant as we imagine. Throughout my life, I have seen this happen in many settings. Race can divide us. Political ideology can divide us. And in the Church, we have certainly found ways to divide ourselves. Can anyone say the word “denominations”?

When I became a Christian in 1975, my ideas and attitudes about the world around me did not immediately change. My prejudices and preconceived notions about everything from race and politics to denominations and doctrine were still very much a part of me. As I grew in my faith, however, I began to recognize that some of my assumptions and beliefs were wrong. Little by little, God began to change my thinking, one thought, one idea, and one misconception at a time. That process continues to this day.

My own experience helps me understand why tensions may have existed between Jewish and Gentile believers in the early Church. Judea came under direct Roman rule in AD 6, and Roman authority remained a significant part of Jewish life during the period when Paul wrote to the Romans. It is reasonable to suppose that some Jews resented Roman rule and that some Romans held unfavorable views of Jewish customs and traditions. We cannot assume that everyone felt the same way, but these circumstances help us understand the cultural and historical differences that Jewish and Gentile believers brought into the same church.

I have also learned that becoming a Christian does not mean that every prejudice, preconceived notion, or mistaken assumption disappears overnight. A person may sincerely embrace the Gospel while still carrying attitudes shaped by family, culture, and personal experience. Recognizing those attitudes can be difficult, and changing them may take years. My own experience has taught me that spiritual growth is not simply a matter of learning more about God. It also involves allowing Him to change the way we think about other people.

Here are the links to the entire podcast on YouTube and Spotify:

Spotify:

Equal in Sin, Equal in Grace

YouTube:

Equal in Sin, Equal in Grace

In His Grip,

Paige