In my view, the phrase “one in Christ” represents how everyone, despite their race, gender, social class, sexuality, and beliefs, are accepted and expected to be treated equally by Christians. I was raised as a Catholic Christian – as I am reminiscing my childhood memories of going to church every Sunday morning I remember being welcomed by many people and gave me a sense of belonging. There was a particular Sunday morning where the priest openly discussed about the equality among the diverse range of individuals inside the church and how we were all created and loved by Christ. God created us all with our own unique traits which makes us different from one another, however, we are all brought up as brothers and sisters.
Meaning that we are all brought up to become part of one family, treating each other the same as how we would like others to treat ourselves. As said in one passage: Matthew 5.46-48 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you only greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – the message that I received from Matthew’s passage, is that we should not let differences between each other forget how Jesus Christ makes us feel accepted. He does not treat people differently, whether they possess a contagious and incurable disease nor seen as an outcast and deviant in society, Jesus Christ taught us to treat others the same even if within those who we have nothing is common with.
We are all part of one family, being one in Christ may not mean that we are all the same – it means that we are all part of one community who are meant to welcome everyone with open arms those who we cross paths with throughout our lives. Black History Month is dedicated to those who were not accepted in society in the past and are now creating huge impacts in history. This ethnic minority has faced so much inequality within the society for decades – being one in Christ has represented the Christian community’s duty to never make anyone become isolated from others just because of their differences.
We all may have our own differences from one another, but that should not prevent us from being more open-minded and becoming more accepting of people because, in the end, we are all one. Jesus Christ taught us morals and we have been instructed to follow them. We all have similar beliefs, just because we may have a few other similarities does not give us a right to dissociate others from the feeling of being accepted. As quoted: Galatians 3.28 “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
