DAY 227

FOR I AM PERSUADED

Psalm 89 & 90 and Romans 14

“For I am persuaded that you love is established forever…” Psalm 89:2a.

Persuaded is an interesting word; somehow – someway, God has persuaded the Psalmist that His Love is everlasting…it is as I have said before hesed. To know this deeply in your mind, your heart, indeed in your bones is, what Paul has been driving at throughout Romans. Do you remember some of those “gem verses:” Verses such as “nothing can separate us from the love of God.”

It is this foundational idea, the foundation of God’s Love with Jesus as the Cornerstone, which is the basis of all we have read in Romans. It is this confidence in God’s love that allows chapter 14 to shine. I have before used the image of mountain climbing. We are almost to the top, and I find this chapter as a bit of a resting plateau. We can look down at all we have scaled, we can look up at the small bit that is left, and we can stand on this plateau, and with Paul say with great confidence that some of our behaviors are irrelevant when compared to our relationships with other followers of Jesus.

Chapter 14 is all about relationship. Paul writes,” I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself…” Another persuaded person and it is his persuasion, his confidence that tells others not to worry about “rituals” if those rituals will cause another to stumble. What is important is living in a way that communicates real confidence in God’s Everlasting Love found in Jesus Christ.

It actually is that simple, today’s reading is more than a bit of a rest, we are near the summit of all that Paul is driving at…full confidence in God. 

DAY 226

IT DEPENDS

Psalm 87 & 88 and Romans 13

Yesterday I suggested that Paul outlined four basic relationships: to God, to ourselves, to one another, and even to our enemies. Today in Romans 13 three other relationships are offered: to the state (the conscientious citizen), to the law (loving your neighbor being its fulfillment), and to the day of the Lord’s return (living in the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’).

This chapter has, quite frankly, troubled people for centuries. Do we really need to obey the state, especially when the state is evil? That is so often the question. Some read Romans 13 as suggesting we passively submit to the state. Relations between church and state have been notoriously controversial since the birth of Christianity. John Stott describes four patterns:

1.      The Constantine method, where the state favors the church and the church accommodates the state in order to retain its favor.

2.      A Theocracy, where the church controls the state.

3.      The model where the state controls the church…think Nazi Germany

4.      The Partnership model where each, church and state, recognize each other’s God-given responsibilities.

The fourth sounds a lot like, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Yet I want to push in a little on the question what is a Christian’s duty to the state? I would suggest that the answer to this is, “It depends!” One of the most powerful stories of the 20^th century is that of a man named Dietrich Bonheoffer. Bonheoffer was a brilliant theologian doing his post-doctoral work by age 24. As a pastor-theologian he returned to Germany after Hitler came to power and the German Church began to capitulate. Bonheoffer at first thought he would reform the church from within, then he set up a parallel effort, and finally he actively supported, even participated in, the failed assassination attempts of Hitler. He did not start out as in this position, but he ultimately concluded that the evil that Hitler was perpetrating warranted this drastic step.

If I return to the Romans 13, I think it has much more to do with how you can witness to the Gospel in the country and system of government you find yourself in. Paul comes from a context where the Jewish people wanted to literally overthrow the Roman authorities and set us a theocracy. He and his people spent a great deal of energy to this end. In fact, many Jewish people could not accept that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah because he was doing the exact opposite. He, Jesus, did not try and defeat them, He let them kill him.

So what is the answer to the question, “What is a Christian’s duty to the state?” As I said earlier, it depends. In the first century, when Christianity was not legal, we read that first century Christians took in widows (without a male provider they had few options – prostitution or slavery). In the first century, Christians took in babies left on the streets, orphans. In the Letter to James we read that “true religion is to care for widows and orphans.” My point in this example is quite simple; these Christians lived in a state where widows and orphans were viewed as less-than-human. Christians treated them otherwise. The result is that people were saved, and more people came to hear the story of God come to earth…and were saved…all because they “put on Christ.”

Is that always the answer, again, no because “it depends.” Many good Christians have challenged the state when it is acting ungodly. They just did not seek to become the state. And then I come back to the situation where a Christian, Bonheoffer, sought to overthrow the state.

The key, “put on Christ” and get engaged. The world is full of darkness, darkness that needs the light of Christ.

DAY 225

GIVE YOUR “ORDINARY” TO GOD

Psalm 84, 85 & 86 and Romans 12

I love Romans 12. The opening is dramatic, “I appeal to you…” All the groundwork has been laid, and what follows s in these final chapters is wonderful counsel, counsel that can now be given because Paul’s argument for God’s unconditional love…to both Jew and Gentile…has been completed. And this counsel that is being offered is important. Here is paraphrase of Romans 12:1-2:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

It comes from The Message and I particularly like it. “Take your everyday, ordinary life…fix your attention on God…God brings the best out of you…”

I know we have been knee deep in theology, but as Paul so often does, without abandoning the theology, is he gets practical. In Romans 12 Paul will challenge us to think about our relationships. John Stott presents as follows:

1.      Our relationship to God: consecrating our bodies and renewing our minds

2.      Our relationship to ourselves: thinking soberly about our gifts

3.      Our relationship to “one another”: loving our family, i.e. the church

4.      Our relationship to our enemies: love not retaliation

These relationships start with our union with God. Paul’s theology is refreshingly honest. Becoming the people God calls us to be does not happen instantly, nor does it happen magically. It happens by us committing ourselves to God, and renewing our minds…that sounds like work…because it is.

The Gospel is God’s offer of love to us…that is free…no work needed. The Christian Life is then the task of living into this love. We will of course not be perfect, and we should let people know that we are not perfect. Somehow the message of the church has become one of “judging others” when it should be one of “running a race.”

I attended a marathon a month back (no I was not running it). What struck me was the community. Here were several thousand people, turning out to either run 26.2 miles or encourage those who were. A few did it with style, but for most is was a real struggle, and for a few you might say “it was not pretty.” But you know what…everybody was cheering everyone else on. No one, from what I could tell, was judging: everyone just wanted the others to finish. These strangers all had a common bond, a common relationship, and therefore encouraged one another.

That is what the Christian Life and the Church is all about. We are free to exactly be this way because we are secure that God loves us. So today, I urge you, I appeal to you, my brothers and sisters, to take your ordinary, everyday life, and offer it to God…and love one another, encourage one another, to in this walk.

DAY 224

NEVER BEYOND GOD’S REACH

Psalm 81, 82 & 83 and Romans 11:19-36

Do you ever think it is too late, that you are somehow beyond God’s reach? Do you ever think there are some people that are beyond God’s reach (I know we are not suppose to judge, but maybe there are those moments)?

Chapter 11 of Romans answers that question for God’s Chosen People, and in fact for all of us. Paul has been dealing with the troubling situation of his own people, people from whom Jesus’ earthly parents descend…Jesus the Jewish Savior that the some, maybe even many of the Jewish people, reject.

Paul has been “asking and answering questions” as he has probed this dilemma. In chapter 9 he deals with the paradox that they are both uniquely privileged while entrenched in unbelief. He explores whether God has somehow been unfaithful or unjust in the matter; the answer is “of course not,” but rather this is all part of God’s plan and purpose. In chapter 10 he presses further into their human obstinacy in the face of God’s advances. As I have been reading about Israel, I cannot help but think about much of our so-called current Christian world which has similarly rejected Christ; all those who have been baptized, all those who are “culturally Christian.” Many of these people that I meet have been hurt by the church, by Christians who have judged them. Others of them have been “dealt a difficult “hand” in life” and so struggle with how a loving God could allow such a situation. The people of Paul’s day have those and other issues.

As we turn into chapter 11 Paul looks at the implications of this situation by asking two questions…and keeping it at this level keeps it somewhat simple:

1.      I ask then, did God reject his people? By no means (verse 1a) and he continues to unpack this verses 1-10.

2.      Again I ask, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! (verse 11a) and he continues in verses 12-32 culminating in a song of praise, a doxology for the balance of the chapter.

The point for Paul’s kinsman and for ours is quite simple…no one is ever beyond God’s reach. He has not rejected…He is waiting…like a parent for the children He loves.  I so often want “it all to work out now.” By that I mean I want people who are rejecting Jesus to accept him now. But God has a plan and a purpose. Our job is to keep praying for those we know and those we don’t who have yet to fall in the merciful loving arms of God. And to pray that those “things,” those “issues” which have gotten between them and God will dissolve away, and then God will be able to connect with them…for no one is ever beyond His reach and love.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Another gem!

DAY 223

HOLDING ONTO GOD

Psalm 79 & 80 and Romans 11:1-18

Tomorrow we will return to Romans, for today the Psalms have grabbed hold of me. Psalms 79 & 80 are thought to have been written during the destruction of the Temple and the subsequent Babylonian exile. The people of Israel have lost almost everything, and in these Psalms you can see them holding on for their lives to God, maybe even barely holding on.

“How long , O Lord? Will you be angry forever...But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever…”

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel…Restore us, O Lord of hosts! Let your face shine that we may be saved!”

Maybe in your past you have had a season of great loss and trial; maybe you are in one of those seasons right now. Maybe it is not a “great loss,” but rather a steady and heavy weight with the end not in sight. What do people of faith do?

They pray, they even cry out…they hold onto God…and at times they even get angry at God. Some people would be shocked and say, “How dare we be angry at Almighty God?” I can understand that sentiment, but my response is in the form of a question, “Do you think God is big enough to handle our anger?” I do. I can picture in my head children getting mad, really mad, at an adult. The adult stays calm, understanding the source of the child’s frustration, but also able to see the bigger picture…the adult doesn’t leave, or get angry, or respond petulantly.

Nor does God leave. He stays with us, even, maybe especially, when it is tough. That can be hard to believe when we want Him to “move His hand” and deliver us. It is why the Psalmist cries out, “Restore us O Lord” for that is what we seek. But the point is that we hold on, don’t let go, even if you are angry, keep talking, He listens for He loves you.

DAY 222

FAN, FANATIC, OR FOLLOWER

Psalm 77 & 78 and Romans 10

We continue in the portion of Romans where Paul is wrestling with how his countryman are and are not responding to the message of the Gospel.

Yesterday in chapter nine the emphasis was on God; think back to the four questions I outlined, they were all about God and God’s purpose. Today the emphasis is on us, humans. After Paul sketches out the situation in verses 2-4, he then focuses on this human situation in three progressive steps:

1.      The need for humans to understand the Gospel (in verses 5-13)

2.      With that understanding to necessity to proclaim the Gospel (in verses 14-15)

3.      And that this Gospel proclamation must be received by faith (in verses 16-21).

In many ways, as much as the previous chapter looked back, this chapter turns to the present. In the blog today I want to communicate two things: some gems (that should be short), and then, by looking at what Paul is saying about his own people, look at how we can fall into the same trap…first to the gems.

I mentioned that I would try and point them out and chapter ten has a few! Consider

·         "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Verse 8-9.

·         For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Verse 10

Turning now to what Paul is saying about his own people. He opens the chapter again with a personal plea. Today we read, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved (verse 1). As these chapters role forward his pain is increased. J.B. Phillips in a paraphrase senses this as he translates the verse as “from the bottom of my heart I long and pray…” This is not just theology for Paul, it is personal.

Paul has already in 9:4 pointed out the privileged position Israel enjoys. In pains him to see them combine their privilege with prejudice. Why do I say it is prejudice – because the persecute those of The Way. In addition, he is equally concerned with their combination of ignorance and zeal (his words). He has no doubt of their sincerity, he can testify about it, in fact he was exactly in their shoes, he was extremely zealous as he persecuted and killed followers of Jesus. As he looks at them he is looking back at himself, which allows him to conclude that their zeal (like his), indeed their obsession, is not based on knowledge.

Yet “Sincerity is not enough, for we may be sincerely mistaken. The proper word for zeal with knowledge, commitment without reflection, or enthusiasm without understanding is…fanaticism. And fanaticism is a horrid and dangerous state to be in.” (from John Stott’s commentary on Romans) Paul points out the specific problem in verse 3… For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Paul is working on his own people, Jewish people who reject the Jewish Messiah: said differently Jesus came from inside the Jewish system of religion…Let me ask you to “jump forward” with me. My belief is that today…inside the religion of Christianity, we are doing the same thing to Jesus...we, the Church, are dismissing Jesus. It is the Mainline Churches that have the promises of Christ and enjoy the privilege of being the established organization. It is the Mainline Church that is extremely sincere about all sorts of things. It is the Mainline Church that at times is extremely zealous for “this and that” cause. Now don’t misunderstand, these causes are important, but here is where I see the connection…the causes (to the right or to the left) can never be more important than the Person of Jesus Christ. When they become more important than Jesus we see God’s Word twisted and distorted to meet the needs of the zealous. Paul described it as “seeking to establish their own (righteousness). The result is “Christians look like fanatics:” Fanatics loudly yelling, often at each other as they place themselves on both sides of an issue. Again, I say the issues are important, and maybe they are not always yelling, but the media loves conflict, and what happens is great attention is given to the conflict…it all gets as I say, “loud;” so loud that the Gospel cannot be heard and in the end the people do not hear about how much God loves them and that this love is found in the Son, Jesus Christ.

Our task is straightforward, invite people to meet God through Jesus Christ for 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

As I read Chapter Ten, I think not of the Religious of Paul’s day, but I find myself looking in the mirror. May we stay on task, the task of proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ to the world for God seeks neither fans nor fanatics, but rather followers.

DAY 221

FAMILY

Psalm 74 & 75 and Romans 9

On July 29^th we set out on our Himalayan hike up through Romans. Have you ever been on a long journey, so long, that you almost forget your purpose? Before we plunge ahead let’s just quickly look back and try and get our bearings. Here is a snippet of what I wrote those nine days ago: “Romans is the longest and most systematically reasoned of Paul’s letters. Paul announces its theme in 1:16-17: the gospel is God’s power of salvation, because it shows us that the righteousness of God is through faith for all who believe. Paul explains the need for justification through faith because of sin (cf. 1:16-4.25). He then spells out the results of justification by faith in terms of both present experience and future hope (cf. 5:1-8:39).”

Does it seem like you have been up to those two mountain plateaus, places you paused and clearly saw your arrival upon them – our need for justification by faith, and the results of justification? Let’s just look back.

On Days 211-214 we wound our way through the first four chapters of Romans, you may remember it. As I tried to unpack it I asked two questions and pointed out that there are three kinds of people – and all of that was trying to get you not only to understand Paul’s point of view, but to ask if you agreed with it. Do we agree that all, all of us, need to be justified by faith, all other paths lead nowhere? With great persistence Paul argued that first of all we need to be saved, and secondly he argued not only that we cannot do it ourselves, but that we cannot and should take credit for adding even one little ounce of our “good work” to that part of God’s action.  That is the first plateau we stood upon.

Then on Days 215-219 we continued pressing up to the end of Romans chapter eight. In these chapters the wonder of grace, the glory of grace…the message of grace was being presented. You would have thought it would have felt like a beautiful party, but of course it was more climbing. Paul was answering his critics…well if grace comes from sin, then let’s keep on sinning…do you remember that bit? He spends chapters five through eight giving us both this Good News and disarming his critics…and reaching that wonderful grand conclusion that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we find in Christ Jesus…nothing!

Before I go on, I am not sure if amidst this “legal brief” (as I have called it) you have come across those verses which are gems; verses like 8:28 or 8:38-39. Sometimes when I am on a hike I miss the beauty. Let me encourage you to linger over a few of them, I will try and point them out along the way.

So where are we? We are standing on the plateau that says nothing can separate us from the love of God that we find in Jesus Christ our Lord. You might just want to stay here, but we press on. The next three chapters deal with a serious issue. It is a serious issue for Paul and if we are going to be people who claim that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish carpenter, is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Jewish Messiah, then we have to look at a serious question…what about the Jewish people in all of this? That is what Paul, a Jews Jew, is leading us through. Paul begins each chapter with a personal note…he writes of his anguish over them, his longing for their salvation, and his conviction that God has not rejected them. This is not a mere intellectual matter…it is about family and family is about the heart, not the head.

Let me give you a thumbnail sketch of chapter nine as he goes about approaching this deeply personal question.

First his deep personal connection is expanded beyond verses 1-3. In verses 4-5 he list eight (yes really eight) unique privileges that the Jewish people have received.

From there he adopts a method we have seen before: asking and answering questions. The questions have to do with Israel’s situation. If they are the Chosen People, then what has happened? He asks (and answers):

1.      Has God’s Word failed (v.6): of course it has not and he makes that point in the subsequent verses.

2.      Is God unjust (v.14): again, of course not, both mercy and judgment are compatible with justice (v.18).

3.      Then why does God still blame us (v.19): here Paul spends 10 verses describing how some might have a wrong view of God…does not the potter have the right to shape us and does not Scripture, since the beginning speak of the inclusion of the Gentiles?

4.      What then shall we say in conclusion (v.30): answer, the acceptance of the Gentiles is due to God’s mercy and the some of Paul’s own people “stumble” over Jesus – yet they don’t have to.

The situation is not fully addressed; two more chapters will be needed. Today, in chapter nine, we have read Paul’s reasoning with respect to God’s purpose, and it is not one that is opposed to His Chosen People…God is not opposed to any of his family…for this is not just an ache in Paul’s heart, but in God’s…but we know this, don’t we, because matters of family are deeply important.