The Dividing Wall of Hostility
Welcome to Peniel CrossRoads, where we embrace Jesus’s heart and together live out the call to biblical unity!
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” Ephesians 2:14
This passage in Ephesians 2 paints a contrasting picture between those who were near to God (the Jews) and those who were far away (the Gentiles). The Ephesian Gentiles were outside of the covenant, estranged from God and without hope in the world, due to following the ruler of the air, Satan, and his foul kingdom.
However, in verse 3, Paul makes an unexpected turn in his writing. He declares that not only were the Gentiles far from God and under the control of Satan, but “all of us” were also. Those near to God (the Jews), who had been entrusted with the Law and the very words of God, “also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.” Paul destroys any sense of superiority or privilege the Jews may have held because of their ethnicity or upbringing, and he states that we all were under the control of sin and the flesh; there is no difference between the two groups. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (v. 4-5)
Therefore, there is no cause for hostility.
NO cause for hostility, because Christ has destroyed the dividing wall…
Paul states that Christ himself is our peace, as the barriers of ethnicity, privilege, cultural preferences and the dividing wall of hostility have all been removed between the two groups—because of the cross. (v. 14)
As a culture, Americans can lean toward a polarization of views. What I mean is, we are uncomfortable with complexity; we want to lean to one pole or another, with very little room for agreement in between. We want to define ourselves by our political, ethnic or doctrinal positions.
But Christ died so that those reconciled to God could become one Body, one Bride, even though we worship in many locations, in a variety of languages and styles.
Don’t get me wrong. Any position clearly named in Scripture as sin is offensive to God and cannot be acceptable to any believer. There are other issues, however, that represent mere preference or outward form, such as generational characteristics, worship style, or cultural practices. (Most cultural symbols are morally neutral and not to be condemned. We must be careful not to label something sinful that is just a difference in culture.) There is good to find in every culture, worship style and generation.
Recently Chris and I visited a church led by an interim pastor. They were seeking a full-time pastor, and their former associate had stepped in to lead in the interim. The associate was under consideration as the next lead pastor, as he was well-loved, but this congregation truly wanted to discern the Spirit’s will for the church. A member of the board stood before the congregation and stated that their board members had searched their hearts deeply and truly surrendered their personal preferences to God. What resulted was a beautiful sense of unity and solidarity in their search! They received the assurance that God was guiding the process.
Oh, that we would get to the place, individually and corporately, where our personal preferences are laid down so that the will of God can be made known to all!
Even now, the risen Christ is seated on his Throne at the right hand of the Father, interceding for his Church. He continually asks the Father to make us one in him: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:21
The Holy Spirit has been challenging, even convicting, me in this area: Will I lay down my personal and cultural preferences so that the Name of Christ can be lifted up in his Body, and through God’s people to the world? Will I allow Christ himself—the Prince of Peace—to destroy all dividing walls of hostility by humbling me and making me a servant?
Lord, have mercy on me, and help me to grow deeper in love with your people and to come into agreement with Your heart for the Church…
“Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today…”