RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE
Before the beginning of the church
Communication barriers existed between Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. All three groups were segregated. Jews were prejudiced against Tax collectors and Samaritans. There was also segregation between women and men, lepers and ordinary people.
After the birth of the church
These differences became immaterial as the people were united in Christ. For instance, whether Jew or Gentile, they all received the Holy Spirit. Samaritans and Tax Collectors were accepted on account of faith.
Language barriers
Language is crucial for all forms of communication. Whenever there are different groups of people, it is essential to have a common language for communication. The language barriers were overcome on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1 – 13)
The day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1 -13)
vPentecost is a Greek word meaning “fifty’’. The “feast of Pentecost’’ was a Jewish Festival of thanks giving at the end of the Wheat harvest. This feast took place fifty days after Passover.
vMany people (Jews) came from distant places for this feast.
Signs of the Holy Spirit
Strong wind blowing symbolises the Holy Spirit’s present.
vThe tongues of fire represent the present of God just like the Old Testament flames of fire. e.g. Moses and the burning bush. The pillar of fire guiding the Israelites.
The Holy Spirit brings the presence and power of God to believers, but Judgment to
unbelievers.
The disciples began to speak in other tongues or language, which they had not learned, yet those who listened understood them.
The visitors to Jerusalem where Jews from other countries, while some were Gentiles converted to the Jewish faith, yet all understood in their own language, the great things has done.
The Holy Spirit had come in power on the disciples enabling them to take the Gospel to every people and nations as Christ commanded.
RACIAL AND CULTURAL BARRIER
a) The problem of the Greeks (Acts 6: 1 – 6)
A quarrel arose in the Christian community between the Greek- Jews and the local Aramaic speaking Jews. The Greek – speaking Jews claimed that their widows were not being cared for properly.
Then they suggested that seven men be appointed to administer supplies of money, food and clothing.
The seven were to be wise, filled with Holy Spirit and to have a good standing. The Group chose seven Greek – speaking men.
One of them was Stephen who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
Stephen’s role (Acts 6:8- 15)
He was filled with the Holy Spirit and had great wisdom and was given power from God to do miracles. He witnessed and taught in the synagogues of the Greek – speaking Jews.
Jews from this synagogue with others from the provinces of Asia and Cilicia had to argue with Stephen and did not agree with his teaching or his interpretation of the old testament.
They could not prove him wrong in any of their arguments as he showed wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
His teaching emphasized new life in Christ, who fulfilled the Mosaic Law.
They accused him, and bribed people to make false accusations that he was speaking against Moses, the law and the temple.
Inclusion of Samaritans (Acts 8: 1 – 25)
The Apostles heard of the blessing among the Samaritans, their traditional enemies (people of mixed race, half Jewish, half Assyrian). Peter and John went to assess Phillip’s Ministry. They prayed and placed the hands on the believers. God showed his acceptance of the Samaritans by giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit also.
To the Simon the sorcerer who deceived Samaritans by his satanic power saw the giving of the Holy Spirit by just laying hands on the people as a wonderful power.
He wanted to buy this power from the Apostles, and probably thought of it as a magic spell, which sorcerers bought from each other.
Peter was horrified and told Simon that, unless he truly repented, he and his money would perish in hell. Then Simon begged him to pray for him.
The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8: 26 – 40)
The Ethiopians Eunuch had made the long Journey to Jerusalem to worship and his shown as a God – fearer, probably converted to the Jewish faith through Jews who had gone to trade in Ethiopia.
He had bought a scroll of the prophet Isaiah and was reading it as he returned home in his chariot. However, he could not understand what he was reading.
Philip through the work of the Holy Spirit left Samaria and go along the Gaza road. The spirit told him to go alongside the Ethiopian’s carriage.
The man asked Philip to explain the passage he was reading (Isaiah 53). Philip began from this scripture and told him good news about Jesus.
Philip had been faithful to the Lord’s instructions. The sight of water suggested baptism to the Ethiopian who confessed faith in Christ. So Phillip baptized him.
The Ethiopian continued on his way, full of joy, passing on the message of the Gospel in Ethiopia, and the Gospel spread to unlikely places because of the obedience of one of the Lord’s disciples.
Peter’s role (Acts 10:1 – 11:18)
At noon Peter was hungry and was waiting for the meal to be prepared.
Suddenly he had a vision and saw a large sheet up like a bag, containing many kinds of animals, reptiles and birds.
He was told to kill some and eat, so he refused and said “I have never eaten anything that is ritually unclean.”
But the voice of God told him that he must not consider anything unclean which God has made “clean. This was repeated three times and peter was puzzled.
Then some non-Jewish messengers arrived from Cornelius the Gentile. Peter went to meet them as the Holy Spirit had warned him not to hesitate to go with them even though they were Gentiles.
Peter then went down and said to the men. “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
After hearing about Cornelius’ vision, Peter agreed to go with them to Caesarea, and they set out the next day.
They found a found a crowd waiting to meet Peter at the home of Cornelius. They wanted to refer Peter as a Superior but he stopped them, saying, ‘I myself am only a man.
Peter now understood the vision God been showing hi, that he must not think of any person as being ritually unclean, but must go to whom God has sent him, for God shows no partiality.
The fact that the twelve Apostles had witnessed the life, death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was the emphasis of Peter’s message.
As these people listened and believed they received the Holy Spirit and as a sign of this they began to speak in other tongues, praising God. This showed the Jewish believers who had come with Peter that God had accepted Gentile believers into his church, since he had given them Holy Spirit just as he had given to the Jews
Peter challenged just the Jewish believers who were with him and heed the evidence, that God had shown his approval of Gentile faith by giving them the Holy Spirit also. There was nothing to hinder their being baptised just as the Jews had been when they believed.
The results of Peter’s decision would be felt throughout the entire world for all the time. The Gentiles would be accepted as Christians without first becoming JEWS by circumcision.
PAUL’S WITNESS TO PEOPLE OF VARIOUS CULTURES
Saul’s conversion (Acts 9: 1 – 19)
Saul increased his persecution of the church, imprisoning many and executing others. instead of stamping out the “Seat,” the increased persecution caused the believers to
scatter, preaching as they went. The Gospel spread to new areas.
Saul heard that the movement was strong in Damascus in Syria and so he asked the high priest for letters of introduction to the synagogues in that area. These letters would give Saul the authority to search out these people of “the way”.
On the road to Damascus, this hard – hearted Pharisee met God’s challenge. Suddenly there was a blinding light and was struck to the ground. Then a voice asked,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Why are you kicking against your conscience and the working of the Holy Spirit?
Saul thought this must be God’s voice and the reply came, “I am Jesus ……………” Saul had to identify the “Lord ‘(Jehovah of the Old Testament) with Jesus of Nazareth whom he had persecuted through his followers. He realised that the crucified Jesus was indeed alive and able to communicate with people.
The tremendous shock of this revelation, together with the bright light, blinded Saul. He realised he had to change loyalty to be on the side of Jesus.
Three days of darkness followed. Ananias of Damascus was sent to help him physically and spiritually. Saul’s’ future work is then revealed to Ananias.
Ananias obeyed and went to Saul and called him, “brother” showing him that he now belonged to the people he had been persecuting.
As Saul’s’ physical sight returned, so his spiritual “eyes” were opened. He began to “understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptised.
The Church at Antioch (Acts 11:19 – 26)
When persecution struck the believers in Jerusalem some fled as far as Antioch and continued to preach the Good News there, but to Jews only.
Other Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene arrived and preached to Greek – speaking Gentiles and great numbers believed, forming a multi- racial church.
This news reached the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to see if this was of God and to give any help needed.
Barnabas was from Cyprus and spoke Greek. He knew the culture of these. He seeks out Saul from Tarsus to help hi, teach. He recognises Saul as a man with leadership abilities and a deep knowledge of scriptures.
Saul and Barnabas worked in Antioch for a year in a wonderful partnership of service, teaching in the church.
It was at Antioch that the followers of Christ were first called “Christians”. Many people were talking about there that the people nick – named them” Christians” or ‘Christ ones’
It was in Antioch that Saul began his great work to carry the Good News to people of many nations.
The Council at Jerusalem – (Acts 15: 1 -35)
The “ circumcision party” was a group of Jews who insisted that to be a true Christian, one first had to become a Jew by being circumcised keeping all the laws of Moses. They insisted the Gentile converts had first to become believers in Judaism.
Some of these people came to Antioch and taught that unless one was circumcised and obeyed the Law of Moses, could be saved. Paul and Barnabas argued with them and finally the church sent Paul and others to Jerusalem to present the problem to the Apostles and elders.
After Paul recounted what God had been doing among the Gentiles, there was much debate. Peter explained how God had chosen him to go to the Gentiles and also, how God has shown that people are saved by faith in Christ, not by laws.
They all agreed to write a letter and send it to the Gentile Christians through Paul, and Barnabas.
The letter pointed that: They were advised not to:
(i) Eat food offered to idols
(ii) Eat or drink blood
(iii) Eat animals that had been strangled, killed by snaring or those not bled properly according to the Jewish law.
(iv) Commit sexual immorality
The guidelines were not meant to make anyone a Christian, but simply to help Christians of Jewish or Gentile races to live at peace with each other.
INCLUSION OF DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES IN OTHER RELIGIONS
Islam in Zambia
Islam is not based on the customs or traditions of any one particular tribe.
Islam declares itself to be a universal ideology and makes no discrimination on the basis of race, Colour or language.
Any person, who declares belief in the Islamic creed, is entitled to the same rights as any other Muslim.
Muslim marriage laws, religious belief about prayer times, and rituals differ.
Zambian Traditional Belief
All human beings are to be treated with respect. This belief unites people and is to be obeyed by all.
All who subscribe to such a belief are welcome and have equal rights any other like-minded people.
Christian Churches in Zambia
Zambian churches have the aim of sharing the Good news about Christ with people of other races.
In most churches, people from any tribe, race or culture are welcome to come and listen to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many Christians make it their aim to witness to others who do not attend church services this is very important.
Christians today should follow the example of the early church by reaching out to others.
Christians travelled all over the known world to people of different races and cultures. No one was to be excluded. They obeyed the command of Jesus” You shall be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Assessment
(a) Relate the story of Paul and Silas casting the demon from the slave girl.
(b) Why were Paul and Silas persecuted after this incidence? State two points.
(c) A local authority tires to ban the church accusing the members of being partisan. What Christian advice would you give to the Church. State three points.
(d) State one similarity and one difference between Christianity and Islam with regard to their teaching on persecution.
