The Enmity Is Slain

“...and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross on which He slew the enmity.” Verse 16.

The enmity between Jew and Greek was slain on the cross. And if such a great enmity was slain there, we can be certain that the cross has enough power in itself to slay all the enmity between the countless Christian denominations. Confessing Christians know full well that there is an enmity that has become “second nature” for everybody. But the fact that this enmity can be slain by the cross—this bothersome cross—is something they have never even dreamed of.

Nevertheless, they have been sincere in their own way and have made countless attempts to eradicate the enmity by different means. They have tried interdenominational meetings where, for once, they muster just enough tolerance and friendliness to endure being together with people who think differently—but who have come together for a common cause—for one, two, or three meetings at the most. In spite of the fact that these meetings are led by lead­ing men from different denominations, who are resourceful enough in their own way, it nevertheless does not occur to any of them that the enmity was slain on the cross, and that on the cross God made the two one, and thus made the many to become one. So when everything is over, they all go home to their own denomina­tions just as sectarian as when they came together for their inter­denominational meetings.

Others try to slay the enmity with human love. They set up committees and charities, choose chairmen, vice-chairmen, and secretaries. They sew, knit, and drink coffee, while others entertain with song, music, and reading aloud. They talk about being good, about doing good, and about making others good. In spite of all this, each one of them goes home bearing the same enmity in his breast. One can neither become good nor do good before the cross as slain the enmity. But what do the cross and a cozy religious atmosphere have in common, anyway?