Galatians 3:27-28
Stop.
Find some way to be around water. Walk to a river or lake if you can, or pull up video of the ocean, or even just run your hand under the faucet. Breathe. Let the rhythm of the water refresh you.
Listen.
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:27-28
Reflect.
When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Galatia, he wanted to guide them away from lies. He knew those faithful believers were falling prey to some who tried to preach that there were more and more rules to be a real Christian. Paul tries to remind them that only Christ makes you Christian. In baptism, we all become one with Jesus. In baptism, there are no rules or divisions or hierarchy. There is only Christ.
It’s easy to take this one passage as an assumption that all believers are exactly the same. Unintentionally, we can cite these words to reinforce that there is one right way to be Christian regardless of cultural differences. “We are all one in Christ Jesus,” we seem to say, “So all Christians should act like me.” That’s not at all what Paul says. He says that those differences are real – there is such a thing as gender and status and ethnicity – it just doesn’t matter more than being part of God’s own family.
Our Christian traditions come from our authentic identities. Different churches have different practices because of the cultures, backgrounds, habits, and ideals that formed them. Even baptism looks different in other countries, denominations, and congregations. The point is not that there’s one right way that everyone should practice. The point is that baptism is baptism. Through baptism, in all its variety, we join in one holy church, one blessed family, one union of many cultures, countries, and creeds.
And that, my friends, is good news.
Pray.
I praise you, God, for the full variety of humanity and all its styles, cultures, and traditions. Through my baptism, unite me with all these believers. Help me to learn from them as I seek to always grow in my faith. Amen.
Carry On.
What do you value most about your faith tradition or cultural background? What do you admire about someone else’s? How can you celebrate these things today?