I have seen many colours being put together on works of art and the final masterpiece is displayed looking so artistic and beautiful. There is an outstanding outlook in the mixture of a diverse set of colours and this is evident in humans as well. There is this saying; “imagine a world without colours, it would be boring” Now you imagine just a white circle on its own, and also imagine a white circle inside a purple rectangle. How would you describe your feeling and perspective about these two scenarios?
By the scientific research conducted and presented by Brian Busch of the Cornell University School of Applied and Engineering Physics & Linguistics, colours are a mixture of dyes (or pigments) and the removal more of the spectrum of light and the overall interpretation depends on the way and manner the viewer sees the colour. There is no original colour on its own. All colours that we know are a mixture of some substances and it now depends on the light and the exposure of the viewer to give an interpretation of his or her experience and exposure coupled with their informed mind. It then implies that no colour is inferior or superior to the other. All verified and named colours are originally mixed from a combination of dyes (pigments), and this is proof that all colours are valid with meaning and identity.
The Apostle Paul made a clear statement to the Galatian church as touching their identity in Christ. Accepting Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and also believing in Him has given them a new status in Jesus. Jews, gentiles, and Greeks all belong to the family saints. The colour of their skin, their race, class, and whatever orientation they had before accepting Jesus does not limit them from an access to the Father.
“26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).
The church of today must come to the reality of the unity of Spirit in Christ and how this is meant to impact the overall image of the believer as we are perceived by the world around us. Regardless of the colour, class, social status or the language of a believer, it does not make them better believer than the other.
Because You Are All Sons
Though we live in a class society and our culture has integrated a significant amount of class elements and features into everything we do, this has unfortunately impacted the ways believers relate with one another even within the body of Christ.
This, therefore, has formed a dichotomy that reflects in the way we have received the biblical doctrine of unity amongst believers and equality within the Christian fold. Regardless of where the believer places themselves in the social and religious hierarchical construct, it is a biblical standard that as Jews are not more superior than the gentile, Greek is not better in any way than the Jews, so every believer has a priesthood status before the Lord by their belief in Jesus and the grace that they have received through Christ. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7).
The diversity in colour, language, race, and all others is a function of the divine nature of God to help us learn to live in unity despite the differences and also considering that there is beauty in this diversity. It was recorded in Acts on the day of Pentecost that different languages were spoken and many people from different places heard their languages. This is a display of the beauty in diversity and unity in the Spirit amongst the first believers of the New Testament dispensation.
“4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2:4-6).
Even the eschatological perspective in the book of Revelation reflects the unity of Spirit and oneness of believers with the elements of diversity in the revelation of what the second coming of the Son of God will be like.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10).
What matters is that a believer believes in Jesus and confesses Him as their Lord and Saviour. Being white or black or brown or pink or belonging to the royal class, middle class or working class does not matter, because “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
Happy New Month!
