Becoming a community based on Galatians

In my last blog ("An interactive story of creation") I talked about how God seeks a relationship with us.  This experience with God is something that God longs to have with us.  A relationship not only with God, but also with each other is important.  Life, I believe, is to seek out this relationship with God.  Yet, God's purpose is not only for creation to have a relationship with Him, but also with each other.

Paul writes to the church of Galatians for a purpose, to let the Jews know that Gentiles are a part of the body of the church (Gal. 1: 14-15; 2:2, 7, 11-21; 3: 6-9, just to name a few).  Paul's letter demonstrates the need for fellowship, not just between Jews, but with Jews and Gentiles.  This was not taken lightly back in the time of Paul writing this.  Jews thought that Gentiles practiced evil and did not belong to the Kingdom of God.  The church in our world today seems to say the very thing to those outside of our belief.

One practice that has become common among evangelical Christians is the building up of our secret culture.  Christians have their own Christian Wal-mart with our own books, music, clothes, and even soap!  What has caused Christians to so separate themselves from society?  Are the books and musical tastes of our society remind us of evil?  Is Dial or Dove soap also associated so much with "the world" that we have to separate ourselves from even touching it by blessing the production of our own sinless soap? 

I do not mean to be so critical of the church.  I understand that the church, and the specifically the people of the church, try to reach the world in some manner.  Yet, is separating ourselves from the world what Paul meant when he said to be in the world but not of the world (see Romans 12:2)?  Except, the context to which Paul writes was not the case.  Paul is writing to the church in Rome who is struggling with the same problem of the Galatians church who is to stubborn to allow the Gentile Christians into their church!

Something I wish I could do is have the courage to talk with those I do not associate with.  Not in order to "make them Christian."  Nor to welcome into this evangelical seperation from society.  But, I wish to befriend those around me.  To be an image of Christ to the earth that welcomes those into my life that I am not used to having around me.

Paul speaks to the church of Galatians to say the same thing.  It is okay to associate with those around you.  It is okay to welcome them to your church.  But, please do not teach them the Law because that is not the goal, but the goal is Christ! (Paraphrasing 3:10-14).

I love the title of my blog because I both love coffee and I love to associate with others.  To me, a coffee shop represents meeting new people.  I love to chat with people about life and I also love to drink coffee at the same time :).  I want to be what Paul says to the Galatians, to live in faithfulness to Christ.