Shame

"I saw that they did not walk straight with the truth of the gospel," Galatians 2:14.

So Paul must call to repentance none less than the apostle Peter, and others walking hypocritically with him, from their wanderings. What was the nature of this hypocrisy? Did they promote Jesus not to be son of God? Did they teach Jesus failed to rise from the dead? No, none of these. It was what they did. And what did they do? They refused to fellowship in Christ with certain other believers. They separated themselves from such communion. And why did they withdraw fellowship? Because they feared what others might say. Others who saw them mixing with such folk. An equivalent accusation railed against Jesus when he sat at table with sinners and other ne'er do wells. With us. And that's why we practice open communion, we refuse to refuse any wishing to meet at the Lord's table. At the cross.

And so we're overjoyed that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters! So we worship together. Before too long, call a brother or sister, maybe someone you haven't chatted with in a while, and share our common joy with them.