Christ and the gospel are not exclusively for people like us, or for people we like.

“…and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." Acts 10:11-14

Peter was praying. While praying, God gave the Apostle a vision, a vision that troubled Peter. In the vision God showed this devout Jewish man all kinds of foods that Jewish people were forbidden to eat. And God said, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." Jewish people who are truly committed to the Jewish dietary laws do not merely “not eat” forbidden foods. They wouldn’t “dream of eating” those nasty things! Peter replied, "Not so, Lord!“

Besides the fact that under the New Covenant in Christ, dietary laws are set aside, the point the Lord was driving home for Peter is that unclean people (gentiles), not just foods, are no longer to be rejected.

This was far more important than the good news that we can eat pork! (which is good news, indeed!) It means that all kinds of people, not merely Jewish people, need to be embraced and told about Jesus and the gospel.

Being gentiles rather than religious Jews, we do not have an aversion to gentiles as Peter did. But we may have ill feelings about other people who are not like us. Our aversions may be racial. We must renounce such aversions. They may be cultural, ideological, or political. These too must be renounce for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

Christ and the gospel are not exclusively for people like us, or for people we like.