Sledgehammer

Ephesians 2:11-22

Destroying Walls

Kicked wall, fell back, smashed my head.

In the course of construction, destruction is part of it.

God is building His church. What is the deconstruction part of it? Where do we get to use the sledgehammer?

Text – The Great Cultural Divide

Ephesians 2:11-13

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Culture-Divide: Gentile vs. Jew

Gentile itself is a divisive term. It is not a term that they would normally call themselves, it is the terms the Jews, or the Israelites used, to determine “them” vs. “us.”

Someone who answers to “Gentile” knows the Jews as insiders and themselves as outsiders. Gentiles. He addresses a group very aware of their pseudo status, that they are latecomers, that they are new to the party.

He addresses outsiders.

Paul Planting a Church

Paul shows up, preaches in the synagogue, starting with the Jews in the community. These Jews who have kept separate, kept apart, kept distinct identity in that city, always separating themselves from the Gentiles.

And then they share the good news with those outside the community. The gospel spreads and the church grows. But that kind of cultural divide doesn’t easily disappear.

Paul speaks to the outsiders.

And to those outsiders, he reminds them of the good news. You once were far off but HAVE BEEN brought near.

Ephesians 2:14-16

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Issue – Abolishing the law in ordinances

One possible image here: The temple balustrade separating the Court of the Gentiles from the inner courts, not to be crossed at pain of death.

A modern image comes to mind, there is a literal law in Israel now, separating the West Bank from the rest of Israel.

The oral law, a fence of regulations, to keep one from breaking the core laws.

Or, in the Holiness Code itself, part of the Mosaic Law, which was a fence around Israel, there is much that separates the Israelite from the Gentile.

In talking about the enmity of Jew vs. Gentile, there is plenty in the ceremonial law in the Torah to deal with and, at the very least, Jesus’ death removed that enmity. There is no longer a need for Israel to keep itself pure and separate from Gentile, Jesus’ death removes all of that.

There is the larger, huge, fascinating theological issue here: how far does this go? How does abolishing “the law in ordinances” sit in tension with Jesus “not abolishing the law but fulfilling it” and Paul, in Romans, “We do not abolish the law, we uphold the law.”

There is tension here, a huge question. I find here a great distinction between the ceremonial law vs. the moral law. One written by Moses on paper, one chiseled in stone by the finger of God.

But there is a huge risk.

In pursuit of this fascinating theological nugget, we can miss the point of the passage. It is not about nailing down the precise mechanics of law…

It is about removing the barrier between Gentile and Jew, the cultural barrier, the “religious” barrier

Ephesians 2:17-22

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

All of us, being built together into one dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

This is church. All barriers between those in Christ removed. Different peoples, different types, different building materials, all built together as a temple for God to dwell in.

The Great Divide – Jews and Gentiles

The cultural, religious divide.

Imagine joining the church in Ephesus.

Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ Jesus. This is great theological news: this is not a present crisis in the church. Paul attacks the greatest cultural divide: abolished in Christ.

He says to the outsiders:

You fit. You are a full citizen, part of the family.

Paul – an Insider’s Insider

Paul, writing this letter, is an insider’s insider: he calls himself a Jew’s Jew. He is a Pharisee, and expert in the law, a super-Jew. And he is the greatest champion of the Gentile. He is the one making sure the barrier that Jesus abolished between Jew and Gentile never gets raised again in Jesus’ church.

Paul models to the insiders:

Destroy and abolish any cultural or traditional barrier that divides.

Find the outsider and bring them in.

Application – Healing the Great Divide

Jew vs. Gentile is not our crisis. This is of tremendous theological and historical interest. In Christ, we Gentiles are grafted in, we are part of the new covenant, we are made one Christ Jesus. But no one here was up all night feeling insecure or concerned that they weren’t a Jew. No one walked into church this morning afraid they were lesser in some way because they were a Gentile.

But do we have our own outsiders? Do we have the potential for outsiders?

We have church insiders and outsiders. We have enculturated Christians, steeped in all the stories and traditions. And the traditions are good, the culture can be beautiful, there is great good here. But it is possible for these things to erect a wall, a barrier, and no one else gets to come in.

Any unnecessary barrier. I’m not talking about our core beliefs or identity.

“It’s awfully close-minded that you guys believe in salvation through Christ alone.” That’s non-negotiable, barriers are destroyed in Christ, through Christ. He is not just the peacemaker, He is the peace. Non-negotiable.

But how about that secret handshake you practice at the front door. We don’t do that. Hurrah! Are there ways that we speak, habits that we practice, rituals, anything that makes someone feel like an outsider.

Do we see the outsider? Do we, like Paul, find the outsider and bring them in?

Example – “We Young Folks Are Seventh Day Baptists”

Tennants at Youth PreCon.

Example at Next Step

Couldn’t think of one. That speaks well.

We have self-identified “outsiders” among us who do feel welcome. That is such a beautiful thing!

But we have to watch. We have to ask. We have to be on the lookout for barriers, for outsiders, and bring them in. We need to hold our sledgehammers and be eager to tear down walls and fences and barriers.

We are the Temple

WE are the temple that God is building. We are where God wants to dwell. And God is growing our church, He is bringing in pieces. He is bringing in people with different gifts, different roles, different perspectives and different cultures.

If you feel like an outsider this morning, know this: You are in. We are made One in Christ. And I desperately want to hear from you: if there’s anything I do or we do, if there is a moment in the life of our church where you feel lost or confused… we want to break down that barrier.

I have a sledgehammer!

If you are an insider, ask yourself:

Is there any barrier in me? In the way that I speak? Is there anyone here who may look lost or pushed to the outside. Be a Paul. Be a welcomer.

God is pulling us together, pulling the pieces together.

And God dwells in us together.