What steps can we take to ensure inclusivity in our church today? Setting the stage Ezekiel 47 describes a life-giving river flowing from the future temple, picturing God’s restorative work. Verse 23 closes the passage with a striking command: “‘In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, you are to assign his inheritance there,’ declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 47:23) God insists that non-Israelites living among His people receive a genuine share in the land—equality sealed by inheritance rights. The principle is clear: people welcomed by God must be welcomed by God’s people. What the text affirms • God alone assigns inheritance; His word is final and literal. • Foreigners who fear the Lord stand on the same footing as native-born. • This inclusivity is not symbolic only; it is concrete, practical, and measurable. Linked scriptural threads • Acts 10:34-35—“God does not show favoritism.” • Ephesians 2:19—“You are no longer strangers… but fellow citizens.” • Galatians 3:28—“You are all one in Christ Jesus.” • Romans 15:7—“Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you.” • James 2:1-4—A warning against partiality in worship gatherings. Practical steps toward God-honoring inclusivity 1. Identify every “foreigner” among us • New believers, ethnic minorities, special-needs families, singles, widows, refugees. • See them as “native-born” brothers and sisters, not guests. 2. Grant real inheritance, not token gestures • Share leadership roles—elders, deacons, teachers—based on calling and qualification, not background. • Open membership pathways that recognize baptism and confession of faith without cultural hurdles. 3. Communicate value in visible ways • Use multiple languages or clear translations in signage, bulletins, and projected lyrics when needed. • Encourage diverse musical styles that remain doctrinally sound. • Showcase testimonies from varied backgrounds during services. 4. Practice table fellowship • Host regular shared meals. • Rotate homes so hospitality is mutual, not one-sided. • Celebrate cultural dishes while offering familiar options for everyone. 5. Train the body to spot and repent of bias • Teach through James 2 and Acts 10 in small groups. • Offer workshops on biblical hospitality and cross-cultural sensitivity. • Model public repentance if partiality is uncovered. 6. Provide tangible support • Establish benevolence funds for immigrants or members facing systemic barriers. • Assist with transportation, language tutoring, or job networking. 7. Pray corporately for unity and growth • Schedule times of focused prayer for ethnic harmony, using passages like John 17:20-23. 8. Guard doctrinal purity while widening the welcome • Hold every member—old or new—to the same confessional standards. • Teach that unity flows from shared truth, not watered-down doctrine (Ephesians 4:13-15). Why it matters for gospel witness When outsiders see an inheritance freely shared, they glimpse the coming kingdom where “a vast multitude from every nation” worships the Lamb (Revelation 7:9). Obeying Ezekiel 47:23 today testifies that God keeps His promises—literal land once, a renewed earth soon—and that Christ’s church is the preview of that inheritance. |
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