But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9
This passage in 1 Peter is so dear to me for it speaks to a reality that I long to see manifested in the people of God.
We are - a race that has never before existed, selected out of darkness. My key word here is genos meaning race or offspring. So then attachments to our natural race must begin to give way to the nature of our new race. As believers, we need to walk in our new racial identity that proceeds from the Spirit who makes us one.
We are - a kingdom of priests, as God first spoke of Israel to Moses. My key word here is basileion which denotes the right to exercise authority. As kingdom people we must express the nature of His kingdom to the world that they might see His glory. Love, self-sacrifice, deliverance from oppression, release from bondage – not wealth or the abundance of goods.
We are - a nation, set apart unto God. My key word here is ethnos denoting a tribe or family. We have an ethnicity, a culture, that is unique in the earth – a culture of heaven.
Can you imagine if the people of God actually walked in this reality? As a new race of humans, exercising the dominion of God in their manner of living, expressing a culture that is unique to the earth. A people who can say as Jesus did, “The kingdom of God has come near you.”
As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are the only ones who can bring His light and love into the kingdoms of this world. Where our lives intersect the world we are responsible to express the nature and culture of the Kingdom of God – not the programs of our church or a Christianity flavored with our earthly enthnicity. The world needs to see a singular expression of the culture and nature of the Kingdom of God being manifest through the people of God. Surely when the Lord returns we will no longer distinguish ourselves by our former earthly cultures, but we will walk as His people.
We are one people, inhabited by one Spirit – one race, one priesthood, one nation, one new humanity. And it is the expression of this wonderful new humanity that proclaims the excellencies of God.
So here are are two question?
1. Should we seek multi-cultural Christianity, when the cultures being celebrated are our earthly ones, or should we seek the expression of a heavenly culture?
2. Is our corporate testimony hindered when we distinguish ourselves along earthly ethnic and cultural boundaries?