The Table-Fellowship of Jesus

In the Bible we read of Jesus practicing a radically inclusive Table Fellowship (TF) with the 'others' as a central strategy in his announcement of the in-breaking reign of God. In his message and table praxis Jesus thus challenged the existing boundaries of gender, ethnicity and class. In the Church at Galatia, constituted of the Paphlagonians, Phrygians, Pisidians, Lyconians, Isaurians, and Jews, Peter's table praxis with the multi-ethnic church members there was an official stamp of approval on the union and equality of Jews and Gentiles. Peter later, however, pulled out of the TF when Jews from Jerusalem came and told him that his TF would harm the mission engagement among the Jews in Jerusalem. On this Paul had to oppose Peter head on because the single most pressing issue for the churches at that time was the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. And failing to rebuke Peter then would have led to a split within the church on ethnic lines. Paul then went on to underscore in his letter to the Ephesians that through the blood shed on the cross Jesus had made one new humanity out of the two: Jews and Gentiles.

 It is rather unfortunate that in our own generation increasing number of churches are established on ethnic lines. Dr. McGavran's sociological observation that people 'like to become Christians without crossing racial, linguistic and class barriers' have, so to speak, become a missiological principle for churches. Thus, in our very cosmopolitan capital Delhi we have mushrooming growth of churches based on ethnic lines: Malayalis, Mizos, Nagas, Tamilians and others. This may be recent phenomena in Delhi, but observing such homogenous churches in a heterogeneous culture has been a worldwide practice. Apart from other issues, The Lausanne Theology and Education Group (LTEG) was set up to explore the implications of the Lausanne Covenant. Under the chairmanship of John Stott, the LTEG discussed and finally issued a statement that a church established on ethnic lines- “if it remains in isolation, it cannot reflect the universality and diversity of the Body of Christ. Nor can it grow into maturity.” Therefore, such churches “must take active steps to broaden its fellowship in order to demonstrate visibly the unity and diversity of Christ's church”. Since “the church is an eschatological community… it is called to anticipate on earth life of heaven, and thus to develop both cultural richness and heterogeneous fellowship.” *

 It is understandable when people are not open for multiethnic churches because such structure would reduce the chance of non-believers of their community joining the church. But isn't it like Peter's refusal for table praxis thinking that such subversive act would lead to a negative impact on Jewish mission for which Paul was forced to oppose Peter. Jesus was concerned for the Pharisees, yet he offended them with his table praxis. We can be all things to all people, but when it comes to a fundamental teaching of our faith such as this, the Bible is absolutely clear on the unity of the Body of Christ made possible through the cross.

 

The “Word became flesh”, writes John, “and made his dwelling among us.” Incarnation is a theme basic to Christian mission. For the message to be understood the messenger has to incarnate. As Christians wherever we go we need to incarnate, for the Word to make sense. Failing to incarnate and carrying along the ethnic badge even with regard to church membership in an alien land would not do justice to Christian mission. It seems that inability to accept and love the 'others' is one of the main reason for the Gospel to remain with a handful population in India even after nearly two thousand years of Christ's name being proclaimed on the Indian soil. Homogeneous churches in heterogeneous city like Delhi can never faithfully demonstrate what Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so do I send you.” To be faithful to the mission our Lord sent us for, we must love the people, learn their language, and be with the people wherever God has placed us. That is the minimum of what incarnation would look like in our context.

 *John Stott, Making Christ Known: Historic Mission Documents from the Lausanne Movement 1974-1989, (Paternoster Press:  1996).

 Jeremiah Duomai & Raaj Mondol.