“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus
making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross…Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.” Ephesians 2: 14-16a, 19a.
What a great proclamation from the Apostle Paul, that God is creating a “new humanity”,
that not only reconciles us to himself, but also to one another. It is a statement against
racism, sexism, classism, ageism and a call to a new perspective towards each other. This is being reflected in the different Teleios groups around our city, that include old and
young, rich and poor, black and white. The groups that we have at the DADS office have been a reflection of this for me. I am learning so much from brothers who were raised in a much different setting than myself.
One of those is Perry Fields. Perry and I met at the group 10 years ago and started a great friendship that has taken us 3 times to the Mississippi town where he grew up. Facing racism and classism was his background. Discovering our “new humanity” together these past years has been a gift to both of us The reconciling love of Christ is a strong enough center to hold us together. It is his call to us to live into that center. It is a part of the “teleios of Teleios”. We are centered on Jesus Christ and this growing diversity is the maturation of us gathering around him over the years.
We are beginning to taste what Jesus prayed for in John 17; that we might experience the oneness that he and the Father have always known. He is our peace, our center, our life.
- Art