Showing favoritism

We all know the story well, Cornelius, a Roman centurion calls for Peter to come visit him. Peter has a vision as the men are on their way where 'unclean' animals are brought down on a sheet and God encourages Peter to eat them but he refuses. It is a crucial moment in Peter's ministry as he realizes that God doesn't show favoritism.

And so he goes to Cornelius' house:
While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” (Acts 10:27-29 NIV)
Peter heads inside and sees an impressive crowd, and he reminds them that what he is doing would be completely against Jewish law, yet he's not Jewish but a Christian now and God has now made it very clear to him that he is allowed to do this, so he went, not raising any objection, indeed Peter doesn't even know why he was asked for he went because God told him to go.

Cornelius tells Peter his side of the story:
Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” (Acts 10:30-33 NIV)
And so we hear about Cornelius' prayer, he is clearly very devout even though he is not ethnically Jewish which must push Peter even further, here is a Roman who is not at all ethnically Jewish but he talks about how he lives a devout life for God, Peter is fast having to adjust.

So Peter does adjust:
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:34-38 NIV)
Peter finally realizes that it is not where your from but what your relationship with God is and as such he sees that Cornelius is acceptable to God and he feels free to preach the Gospel to the audience even though we don't see anyone there as ethnically Jewish, the church is starting to spread to the Gentiles!

So while this might not be a huge issue for us, the Jews and Gentiles divide we still have divides. Whether they be political, cultural, based on socio-economic status, they are all wrong. We are all acceptable to God, and he doesn't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat or an ALP man or a Liberal man, that's all irrelevant to him and so it should be to us. The election season has kicked off in the US and we must not let this define us but rather our relationship with God.