For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him … - Romans 10:12

Today's Scripture Reading (March 12, 2021): Romans 10

In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," J. K. Rowling writes that "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." It is a secret that we just don't seem to understand. The racial divisions in our culture only serve to weaken us, as do our political divisions. The political right and left seem more willing to demonize each other rather than to try to find the common ground that exists between them. And many, on both sides, often seem to be amazed that there are friendly, polite people that exist on the other side of the political divide; there exist nice people who believe differently than we do. When we look at most of our cultural divisions, there really are "nice people on both sides." And if we cannot find a way to see past our divisions, we will be forever destined to be weak, and the strength that is possible in our society will remain a distant dream.

It is nothing new, and maybe that is what makes trying to break the chains of division hard. We have always demonized "the other side and the stranger." In 1973, the British government produced a series of cartoons created with the express purpose of warning children about the danger that was inherent in the presence of strangers in their midst entitled "Charley Says." The cartoon featured a little boy named Tony and his cat, Charley. And in every episode, it was Charley who "meowed" the lesson of the cartoon. The cartoons warned against strangers even though most child abuse is conducted by people known to the child, not strangers. The effect of such campaigns as "Stranger Danger" and "Charley Says" is to give us false security with people we know and a wrong impression about people who are not like us.

Paul is writing to a culture that is divided. It didn't matter which side of the division you stood; there was a national and racial pride in who you were. Greeks were proud to be Greeks. Romans were ecstatic to be Romans. And the barbarians to the north couldn't imagine why they would want to live like any of their southern neighbors. And, of course, the Jews believed that they were the chosen ones of God. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage. But it is a short trip from being proud of who you are to believing that your ethnic or national origin saves you.

Paul disagrees. His message to all sides of the argument is that there was no difference between Jews or the Gentiles, which encompasses all who are not Jews. God's blessing is on all people, regardless of their heritage. It is not our ethnic origin that is important when it comes to our relationship with God. What is essential is that we dare to call on him and invite him into our journey of life.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Romans 11