The season of Easter is an opportune time to explore the lessons from the book of Acts. It is to be reminded of the way the early church exploded across the region. It did so by crossing boundaries for the sake of the gospel. Saul, recently blinded by light (come on, how can you not include a Bruce Springsteen reference?), is healed by Ananias in Damascus, a man who doesn’t want to have anything to do with Saul, but who is persuaded by the same Spirit that this is of God. Peter, in Lydda, is persuaded to come to Joppa to speak life into Dorcas (or Tabitha), a disciple who had recently died. Peter chooses to enter the homes of Gentiles and eat with them, explaining that he had a vision which bade him to “never consider unclean what God has made pure.” A vision to “come over to Macedonia and help us” finds Paul making the acquaintance of Lydia, a Greek cloth merchant. A conversation leads to conversion, baptism, and the formation of a new gathering of believers.
All of these stories point to the work of the church in crossing societal boundaries with an invitation to the gospel way of life, which breaks down barriers. Where are the barriers being re-erected in your community? Around immigration? Racism? Sexism? Education or employment? What stories can you share of contemporary disciples who are intentionally breaking down barriers for the sake of the gospel? How can the reality of this bold resurrection faith impact your community?
Breaking down barriers is hard work. No one wants to go first. No one wants to risk the hostile stare. No one wants to be ostracized by their community. When I was a very young child, a new family moved into our neighborhood. I was beyond excited that they had a girl my age. We played together nearly every day and are friends to this day. Because this family is African-American, one of my family members threatened to keep his children from coming to our house if my parents allowed me to play with my new friend. That didn’t actually happen, but knowing that my parents made a stand in the 1960s has helped me to make some of my own. My friend is a grandmother now. She sent me a picture of her newborn grandson a few years ago. “He’s beautiful,” I cooed. “How long before I have to tell him he is scary?” she asked me. 50 years later there are still people who want to raise that racism barrier.
The powers and principalities will always resist the barrier-breaking power of the risen Christ. There are pockets everywhere where the power of Easter has not yet been proclaimed. That’s our work – to break down the barriers that are not of God, one conversation at a time, one friendship at a time, one step at a time, one eye-opening connection at a time.
Grace and peace,
Claire