As John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ, Luke quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5 as he declared that God's salvation was to be offered to all flesh - the entire human race. Gentile readers everywhere love this Gentile writer for the inclusive aspect that characterises his Gospel. Luke 3:6 is the key sentence - a signpost to the whole book.
Who gets 'included' in Luke's panorama? Children, women, the sick, the poor, the crooked, the demonised, the outcasts and foreigners all feature among those to whom Jesus ministered. All could come to Jesus, and He changed them.
Does it matter which nationality you are from? No. Do you need to wear certain distinctive clothing to be a disciple of Jesus? No. Some form of identifying head-gear? Not at all. Is there a definitive language that Christianity is anchored to? No; how could there be - once we think of the many different languages that the cosmopolitan crowd at Pentecost heard announcing the good news of Christ? Every language that the Bible has been translated into is a valid vehicle of the salvation message.
Is there a particular region, a locality or shrine that believers hold as demanding their veneration? None. A particular form of authorised worship liturgy? Special formalised prayers? No; each culture is free to work out its own worship pattern.
BE GLAD THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS YOUR PARISH!
--ooOoo--
