MAKING ROOM IN THE CHURCH FOR THE MULTITUDE

(An article I wrote for my local church bulletin)

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands" (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

I was reading this passage the other day again and, as often happens, the Lord showed me something else that had never occurred to me. How did John know they were from many nations, tribes, peoples, languages etc. - just by looking at them?

Then it occurred to me that they may all have been in white robes and holding palm branches - BUT .... they were not necessarily all the same. I kinda like that they may have been all different sizes, different complexions and facial features. Perhaps different hairstyles, singing styles, etc. Maybe some were swaying and tapping feet, and some I know of, probably "air-guitaring" with their palm branches. Some maybe looked a bit like you and some a bit like me and a whole lot who thankfully looked like neither of us :-). Some may be were playing drums and upturned bins, others flutes, tambourines and bells. Others may be clapping sticks and boomerangs and playing didgeridoos as together they make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

To think of "Christians" simply as people like ourselves is such an easy trap to fall into. But it was a very, very long time before ANY Christians were English speaking, western cultured, suited and tied, Summer dressed, middle classed people.

But the Lord does not call us to liken ourselves to each other, but to Christ Jesus. A lower classed, cloaked, tunic and sandal wearing, Jew from the Middle East who never spoke a word of English in His entire time on Earth. But equally clearly we are to liken ourselves in the spirit and not in the flesh / clothes / eating habits / housing styles / income bracket / age group / way of speaking / etc.

 Therefore, next time you warmly welcome to your fellowship those multitudes whom the Lord has drawn from  "every nation, tribe, people and language" just as they are, remember that the only thing the Lord has asked them to give up from their multitude of cultures and lifestyles is that which is sinful, not that which is different. And do not forget to welcome also those brothers and sisters in Christ He has drawn from out of those other oft forgotten foreign, and not so foreign places from which the Lord rescues His people. Those He has redeemed from the tribes of the gangs of the streets, the peoples of addiction, the nations of the disabled, the people of poverty, the children of abuse, etc.. Welcome equally, ALL who have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb and been redeemed by the same God who redeemed even us. Let there be no distinction among those in Christ.

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise"

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"Making Room In The Church For The Multitude" 

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D.J. Ludlow copyright 2013.

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