It is hard for modern Christians to appreciate what a big deal it was that Gentiles were welcomed unconditionally into the Jesus movement. They were the “others” who the Jewish Christians had a hard time accepting as equal members of the Body of Christ. Maybe an analogy to the current political situation applies. Some in the USA have a hard time accepting that practicing Muslims are loyal American citizens. They are “other,” they don’t “share our values,” so their citizenship is suspect. But as we were powerfully reminded at the Democratic convention it is loyalty to the Constitution, not one’s race, ethnicity or religion that makes one a citizen. Similarly, St. Paul insists it is faith and faith alone that makes one a Christian.
