Romans 15:1-13

I am amazed at Paul’s command of Scripture. In a span of just four verses (9b-12) he quotes from II Samuel, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and twice from Psalms. Understand, folks, he did not have Google to search electronically for “Gentiles”. He KNEW where to find those specific verses. Amazing!!

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (v. 1) “…not to please ourselves.” I thought about this concept over and over when we were a two-service congregation. Was our church service supposed to be about making ourselves happy or about bringing in new people? Now, frankly, I don’t know whether outsiders (especially younger singles and families) would more appreciate the contemporary music of the second service or would prefer the traditions and structures associated with the first service (as I have seen quoted from sources outside our congregation). But the point to be made is that we should have been tailoring our services toward bringing in those outsiders – whatever form that might have taken. So even now, down to one service, if there’s something we don’t like we need to ask ourselves whether it’s our preferences that dominate or our outreach.

For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (v. 3) Those of you who are reading from the ESV translation (the one we use most often at St. Andrew’s) have lower-case letters on “himself”, “you”, and “me”. In general the ESV does not capitalize pronouns referring to God – to any of the three persons – and I think that’s unfortunate. I suppose the intent is to not bias the reader, but I disagree. If you go back to the Isaiah quote in verse 3, the “you” in that verse refers to God and the “me” refers to his “suffering servant”. Paul identifies the suffering servant as Jesus and the quote with capital letters makes complete sense. So, read the NASB, the anointed version, complete with Deific pronouns capitalized…!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 14:14-23

It’s a simple statement, but I love Paul’s wording: Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. (v. 15b) If our “liberty” in our behavior creates friction with another brother or sister, it’s better not to exhibit that liberty. I was trying to think of an example and came up with one related again to my politics post from yesterday – and our own current political climate. Beyond just being and voting Democrat or Republican, there are people out there who are absolutely in love with or who absolutely hate President Trump or past-President Obama. But one person’s visible and vocal liberty in loving Trump (or Obama) can cause another person’s blood to boil because of their disgust with Trump’s (or Obama’s) person or policies. Better to just be silent about your politics if you know it’s going to create friction with someone else. Reasoned discussion, yes, but poison politics, no.

Slava Bohu!

Romans 14:1-13

Paul could easily be talking to us today in today’s reading. Initially I was thinking Democrat-Republican policy fights and name-calling at the national and state level. Then I thought of our own Men’s Group Bible Study, how our discussions have sometimes gotten heated over politics – unfortunately, more often than not, way off topic. But those divisions clearly exist in our own St. Andrew’s congregation. There are good arguments on both sides and good debates could be had, but (again, unfortunately) party loyalty and television sound bites tend to triumph over reasoned discussion.

But then I thought further of our first service / second service history and the challenges we faced when we went to a unified service. There were first-service people who would never attend at 11:00 and second-service people who would never go to the 9:00 am service. Some people don’t like guitars and drums, while others don’t like vestments and choirs. But these are “earthly” matters – we Christians disagree on so many things. My Study Bible had a good quote: “Christians do not agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life, nor do they need to.” Finally, Paul says it best, I think, in his closing statements: But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. (vv. 11-13, NASB)

Slava Bohu!

Romans 13:8-14

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (v. 11) I think Paul is speaking directly to today’s Christian church – it truly is time to wake up!! We’ve been slumbering long enough and the “world” has taken hold of us. This verse hits home for me this time more than in the past. I think it’s the result of Archbishop Beach’s two recent posts, “Wake Up, America!” and “Stand in the Gap”. Those talks were eloquent, moving, and forceful. Again, if you have not listened to both of these posts and would like to, send me a note an I will make them available for you.

Slava Bohu!

Romans 13:1-7

A reading so appropriate for today’s political climate… I was particular taken by today’s last verse: Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (v. 7) I have no problem paying what is owed. Our tax filing deadline is ten days away and Carol and I are owing multiple thousands. Naturally we try to diminish our tax bill, but always legally. So taxes and revenue due as owed.

My difficulty comes with the respect and honor “payments”. Going back some 40 or 50 or even 60 years, both sides of the political fence have had substantial difficulties with this particular president or that particular senator or representative. And then when that position flips, those same partisan voters are elated that their men or women have been elected and things are right again. How do I know this? It’s exactly how I feel. For these many years I have been troubled during some administrations by who was serving as our president and then elated in other administrations by who was serving as our president. And it will happen again this November when the votes are counted – I’ll either be deeply troubled or joyfully elated. My academic job forced me to stay on top of the news, especially the economic issues and policies being put forward by either side, so I have some justification for my feelings.

HOWEVER, my feelings should not stand in the way of my praying for whomever is in power. Paul says explicitly, earlier in today’s reading, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (v. 1b) God knows specifically who and why these persons are in power. We cannot question His authority. So it is incumbent on us to pray for those in power. But I have a hard time praying and leaving my biases behind!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 12:9-21

I have almost nothing to add, except that Paul begins and ends today’s reading with the same thought: Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (v. 9) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (v. 21) Divine echo…??!! A message for us…??!! Again, as I posted either yesterday, please listen to Archbishop Beach’s “Wake Up America!” podcast. He is essentially extending these two verses from today’s reading. If “Wake Up America!” is not there, search for it. It’s worth a listen!

Yes, almost nothing to add – Paul says it quite well enough!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 12:1-8

After a great deal of theology in the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul now turns to some more practical matters.

Paul lists gifts of the Spirit on a number of occasions in his letters. Here he gives seven: Prophecy, Service (Ministry), Teaching, Exhortation, Generosity, Leadership, Mercy (vv. 6b-8). We all are gifted of God. So, of these seven, where are you? Don’t think too hard – you probably have more than one! And even as I am suggesting that you probably have more than one, Paul is telling his Roman listeners …not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think… (v. 3b) Frankly, I counted FIVE where I thought I was at least partially gifted. Am I thinking too highly of myself??

Do not be conformed to this world… (v. 2a) For three straight days, Archbishop Beach has posted a podcast online, “Wake up, America!” It truly is worth a listen. But you need to listen today; it might be gone tomorrow. He is especially strong in his comments when he says time and again, “Culture tells us…”. What a ridiculous set of items culture tells us. So really, listen to it – today!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 11:25-36

I’m trying to put together the whole of Paul’s salvation argument in chapter 11, including prior history:

1. God chose the Jews to be His people.
2. Their righteousness was based on faith, not works.
3. But they have been disobedient throughout their history.
4. God sent Jesus, born a Jew, to redeem all of mankind.
5. The Jews rejected Jesus and had him killed.
6. He rose from the dead and offers redemption and salvation to all mankind.
7. Peter, Paul, and others began speaking to the Jews about Jesus.
8. Their preaching expanded to the Samaritans, then to the Gentiles.
9. Many Gentiles, mostly through Paul, became believers.
10. Paul now wishes for all his fellow Jews to also become believers.

So now as we re-read chapter 11 we can see how the Jews’ rejection of the salvation message has opened the door for the Gentiles. Recall that Paul in his missionary work typically went to synagogues or other places of prayer and preached to the Jews. But their rejection of the Gospel and their intense desire to stop Paul’s preaching (and their endless pursuit of him) “forced” him to go to the Gentiles. Using Paul’s analogy, the Gentiles have now been grafted into the vine where branches (unbelieving Jews) have broken off. Paul summarizes all this in the following verses: For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. (vv. 31-32)

As a small point my Study Bible opened my eyes a bit on this sub-sentence: …a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (v. 25b) Their focus was on two words, “partial” and “until”. It was a partial hardening of Jewish hearts, not total, and that hardening is temporary, not permanent.

Finally, Paul ends this entire salvation section with a glorious close in verse 33 (and following): Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 11:11-24

So, today we are halfway through the year. And I’ve got a shocker of a proposal for you. It’s been on my heart for the last week that next year we do… The Psalms! You all know how much I love the Psalms…! But I think we should do them anyhow, same format, short spurts. Thoughts?

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (vv. 17-21) Paul is still following through on his “righteousness through faith” argument. In Paul’s analogy in today’s reading, the branches and the root are the Jewish people and their forefathers. The natural branches that are broken off are unbelieving Jews while those being grafted in are believing Gentiles.

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (vv. 23-24) My Study Bible explained this “contrary to nature” phrase. Evidently it is common to graft a cultivated vine into a wild vine and to see new fruit borne, but it is “contrary to nature” to graft a wild shoot into a cultivated vine – typically there will be no fruit. So the thought of the Gentiles being grafted into the Jewish branches is “contrary to nature”, but not impossible with God. Likewise, broken branches being brought back to life by being grafted back is also “contrary to nature”, but again, not impossible with God. Interesting…!

Slava Bohu!