5th Sunday
BECOMING A CHURCH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Romans 12:9-16
This morning I want to talk about the importance of being part of the Body of Christ … of being, not just a receiver of, but a giver to, your Church family.
Every now and then someone will ask me if I really think it’s necessary to be part of a Church. And my immediate answer, without any hesitation at all, is always … “yes! Absolutely!”
And the reason is, when the Church is behaving like the Church, it’s the most wonderful thing in the whole world … and you and I can’t truly “live” without it.
So, what do I mean by “when the Church is behaving like the Church”? How’s the Church supposed to behave? We’re going to look at a passage of Scripture, which as Earl reads it, will almost sound like a grocery list. It’s a bunch of things that Paul says are necessary if the Church, (which is us), is going to make a difference in this world. And I can’t imagine a time when it’s been more important for the Church to do just that.
So listen now to what Paul has to say to the Church in Rome … and to the Churches in Rolling Meadows; specifically, Kingdom Life House Of Prayer and The Community Church Of Rolling Meadows …
Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold tight to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in time of trouble, and never stop praying. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you – yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad. Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think how smart you are.
May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen
At Christ The King Catholic Church in San Diego there stands a statue of Jesus, with His arms outstretched underneath the words … “Come Unto Me.”
But back in 1980 vandals ransacked that Church, and in so doing, broke off Jesus’ hands.
As the congregation began to put their Church back together again, there was much discussion as to what to do with Jesus’ statue. Finally, following an evening of prayer, they decided to leave His hands missing, and change the inscription from, “Come Unto Me,” to, “Christ Has No Hands But Ours.”
What a picture that is of how we’re supposed to respond in the world today … because in a very real sense, Christ has no hands but our hands. We become the hands of Christ to the world.
Now if you followed along as Earl read the passage from Romans you have to have obviously recognized that it’s not possible to love God and not serve God. If we love God we will serve Him.
I’ve met people over the years who’ve said to me, “I love God … but don’t ask me to do anything in the Church. Don’t ask me to serve.” Well, if you love somebody you will want to serve them. And if you’re a genuine follower of Jesus you will want to express that love by serving the Lord, and serving others, in His Church.
So how does a person who’s committed to living a life of service to the Lord … how do they live? With what marks can we identify them?
Paul tells us that such a person will have a compassionate love for God’s people. He says that we’re to, “Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another.”
Romans is one of the books that I did concentrated study on while in Seminary. And I quickly learned that Paul spent a lot of time in it describing God’s love for us. And the word he used is “agape.” (Most of you know that there are 4 different Greek words that describe love. I’ve taught this numerous times.)
• “Eros” (ἔρως) is love between the sexes
• “Storge” (στοργή) is family affection
• “Philia” (φιλία) is friendship, and
• “Agape” (ἀγάπη) is the love of God
Throughout the 1st 11 chapters “agape” is used exclusively to describe the love that God has for us. And then in the 12th chapter Paul begins to describe the love we’re to have for one another. We’d expect him to use “philia” … but he says we’re to have “agape” love.
He’s saying, “Take the love that you have been loved with by the Father, and use it to love one another. Love one another in the same way that God has loved you.”
We know that Scripture commands us to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
“And … ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” (Mark 12:30-31) A believer’s life is to be marked by his/her love for others.
Now I’ve heard people say, “I love the Church, I love God … but I just don’t like the people in the Church.”
Well, I’m sorry … we don’t have that option. God loves us with all our flaws; sorry as we can be at times … He loves us. (Romans 5:8) And if we love God we’re going to love those whom God loves … period.
“If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.” (1 John 4:19-21)
And this isn’t just some little flippant, “I love you.” Scripture puts some teeth into this command. “Love must be completely sincere.”
Now this was obviously a problem in the early Church. And I know that because almost all the N.T. Letters address this issue.
“Now you can have real love for other believers because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred … so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts.” (1 Peter 1:22)
Why would Peter write that? Because his readers were doing what we so often do … claiming that they loved one another … but not expressing in tangible ways.
“Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)
In other words, we’re not just to say that we love one another … we’re to demonstrate it.
And the command, “love must be completely sincere” is followed by a description of just what God expects. “Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another.” Woops.
Paul just had to put that little adjective, “warmly,” in there, didn’t he? That implies feeling to me. My heart’s got to be in it. And then, there’s the word, “respect.”
(Our choir should be doing a little Aretha Franklin here … “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”)
Respect means holding people up in a place of honor.
“Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
So, mark #1 … we’re to have a sincere love for each another.
And then, Paul goes right from love to hate. He says, “Hate what is evil.”
Let’s stop and think about this … we’re to “hate” evil things. Actually the word that Paul uses means to “passionately despise.” We’re to love God with all of our hearts. We’re to hate evil with all of our hearts.
At 1st these truths might seem to be at odds with one another, but they’re actually quite compatible.
“To honor the LORD is to hate evil.” (The Proverbs 8:13)
“The LORD loves those who hate evil.” (The Psalms 97:10)
Why do we hate evil? … Because the Lord hates evil. It’s evil that caused Him to send His Son into the world to die. (1 Peter 3:18) God hates evil with a passion. And if we love God we will love the things that God loves … and we will hate the things that God hates.
Scripture tells us, in no uncertain terms, that God passionately despises evil.
“You love what is right, and hate what is wrong.”
(Hebrews 1:9)
If we truly love the Lord we will hate evil. And that’s really the only safe defense we have against it, isn’t it? To have a holy hatred for it. Unfortunately many today have forgotten this advice; and rather than hating evil, tolerate it … and then end up embracing it.
We’re to hate evil; and we’re to “hold tight to what is good.” You’re thinking, “Well, Rande, that’s a no-brainer. Obviously followers of Jesus want to do good.”
Well, that’s not exactly what Paul says. We’re not to “want” to do good, or “try” to do good. We’re to “hold tight to what is good.” In fact, the word Paul uses means “to be glued to” the good. We’re not to let it get away.
Why should we be concerned about this? I believe in 2013 this is one of the most important things we can major in. How many of you, as you observe society, think that the good is just slipping away? …
Every day, every week, I see it in the news … because of our lack of vigilance, and our unwillingness to take the stands we should, we’ve allowed so much that has been good to simply be taken away.
This command tells me that there’s a natural tendency in humanity to let the good fall by the wayside. Paul warns, “Don’t let it happen. Hold tightly to it.”
Now I know that holding on tightly to those “good” things makes us look like prudes, or old fashioned … don’t worry about it. We need to be spiritually concerned about what we’re handing off to the next generation.
Scripture commands, “hate what is evil, hold tight to what is good.”
And then, our life should be marked by contagious enthusiasm. We’re to “work hard and do not be lazy.” If we’re going to make a difference, if anybody is going to be attracted to the God that we serve, then there better be something exciting about our life.
We can take a lesson from the secular world here. Successful men and women give, without regret, of their time and energy … counting no sacrifice too great. They don’t do what they do because they have to, but because they’re excited about what they’re doing.
And we, as followers of Jesus, should not be left behind in the way we approach our responsibilities.
I love the story about Alexander Maclaren, who did what I do … he was a preacher. And he became concerned as he looked around he saw a lot of other preachers who didn’t seem to work very hard.
So he made a promise to God that he would not let that happen to him. He would get up early each morning and study. And he did. He’d get up, put his comfortable slippers on, and go down to his office. But one day he thought about this … and so the next morning, instead of his slippers, he put on his old heavy work boots before going to his office so that he wouldn’t forget that he was a workman of the King.
Listen to a couple of verses concerning that.
“Whatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)
“Let us not become tired of doing good; we will be rewarded when the time is right, if we don’t give up.”
(Galatians 6:9)
And then Paul goes on, “Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.” We’re to have a spirit filled with excitement when it comes to serving God. One translation puts it this way; we’re to “glow with the spirit.” I like that.
We read in the N.T. about Apollos, who was a great preacher. “He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus.” (The Acts 18:25)
Would people describe you as having “great enthusiasm” for Jesus? It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us why so many people aren’t attracted to Christianity today. It’s because so many of us believe what we believe so quietly … so passively … so indifferently.
We get all excited about the Chicago Bears, (they’re 3-0!), and we’re called fans; but if we show any excitement at all about Jesus, we’re called fan-atics.
Do we really believe what we believe? Or do we simply go through life with a kind of laidback attitude about our faith? Is there a fire in our heart; do we glow with the spirit, about the things of God?
Paul talks about an outward enthusiasm … an inward enthusiasm … and then he realizes that there must be an upward enthusiasm. “Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.” We’re to eagerly do it. We’re to fervently do it. We’re to be “chomping at the bit” to do it. And I know that some of us are … but we can all do better.
So, I don’t want to hear any nonsense about how much someone loves God if they’re not serving Him … because if we love God we will be serving Him … and doing it enthusiastically.
This is a good check list for us, isn’t it? Let’s see what Paul says next. “Let your hope keep you joyful.” When I hear that, do you know whose face comes right into my mind? … Audrey Koester! I miss her. Audrey had 2 husbands pass. She had children pass. A couple of years ago, a great-grandchild passed. Who would blame her if she walked around with a “woe is me” attitude? But Audrey exhibits joy because she has a living hope.
“Be patient in time of trouble.” If I kept a list of the many prayer requests I’ve received over the years, I’m sure, hands down, the winner would be “for patience.”
“Lord, please give me the patience I need to deal with this problem or issue.”
If you’re a follower of Jesus, and feel like the walls are closing in all around you at times … the thing that will keep you going is the knowledge that it won’t last forever.
It’s one of the reasons I love the 42nd Psalm. David is completely discouraged. His own son has betrayed him. He’s dealing with that, and his heart is breaking. And in the midst of this horrible trouble David realizes,
“Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God,
and once again I will praise him.” (The Psalms 42:5)
What did David do? … He had a little talk with himself. Have you ever had a little talk with yourself? I have … actually I do that pretty regularly.
David said, “Self, why are you moping around? God’s going to work this out. He’s in control. So I just need to be patient.” Scripture says, “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
How many of you know that our hope is ultimately in God? (The Psalms 33:20) … No matter what may be going on around us, the one thing that we bring to the table is a confident assurance that God is in control. (The Proverbs 19:21)
Be patient … and hold onto that truth.
Paul continues, “Never stop praying.” What this means is that we’re to be devoted to, steadfast in, unwavering, dedicated … (you get the idea) … to prayer.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, when you have a problem you pray. You may not pray any other time, but when you have a problem, you pray. That’s what we do.
Now if you happen to be somebody who prays normally, regularly, routinely, here’s something else I know … when you have problems, you pray differently than when you normally pray. You don’t just pray, but you cry out to God. (The Psalms 57:2) So, never stop praying.
The next trait is … we’re to be marked by generosity; sharing what we have with the saints.
Scripture teaches that those who are rich, are not to be haughty about it, but to use those riches in a way that would bring glory to God … so that we might become rich in Heaven. (Mark 10:21)
Followers of Jesus are not going to be stingy when it comes to helping others within the family of believers.
And we not only have the ministry of generosity, but we’ll also have the ministry of hospitality. Now to be honest, this, at times, attacks my comfort level. But Jesus commands us to open our lives to other people.
“Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
That’s an interesting thought. I suspect that there will be a lot of surprises, (good and bad), in store for us when we ultimately stand in front of Jesus.
“When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?”
And what does Jesus say? “I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” (Matthew 25:37-40)
That brings us to the final directive, and it’s a very revealing one as well. This one concerns the ministry of mutuality. These are the things we do back and forth with one another.
“Bless everyone who mistreats you.” Well, let’s stop right there … you’ve got to be kidding. No, that’s what it says, “bless and not curse.” And if you think that’s hard … the word “bless” here actually means to eulogize. “Eulogize those who curse you.” (And I know what some of you are thinking, “I’ll be glad to do that … if it’s their funeral.”) But that’s not what Scripture is suggesting.
“Eulogize those who curse you,” means that, if somebody says something bad to us … we respond by saying good things to them.
“Be happy with those who are happy.” Now if we’re honest, there are times that that can be just as difficult as the “bless everyone who mistreats you” directive.
For example, here’s a husband and wife who have been married for 10/12 years, and haven’t been able to have a family. And down the street is a woman who has just becomes pregnant again, for the 4th time, in 5 years.
Everything in them probably wants to go off and sulk. But Scripture is teaching that they should go to their neighbor, put their arms around her, and say, “We’re so thankful that God has blessed you in this way. We rejoice with you in this pregnancy.”
Or, you’re trying so hard to make ends meet, and here’s somebody who’s just been given a big promotion. The world tells us to be bitter … Scripture commands, “be happy with those who are happy.”
If we’re going to have any impact for Jesus in a world that’s looking for answers, then our behavior, our responses, have got to be Spirit led. “Bless everyone who mistreats you … be happy with those who are happy.”
And, “be sad with those who are sad.”
This is an area where, as 2 separate congregations, we’re walking in step with God’s Word right now. Kingdom Life is incredibly sad. And I hope you, who are members there, recognize that we at Community Church are here with compassion and love, doing whatever needs to be done to help you through this difficult time.
Okay, we’re closing in on the final marks of becoming a Church that makes a difference. Paul says, “Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think how smart you are.”
Followers of Jesus do not hold grudges. Get over it. We don’t allow the attitudes and reactions of the world to enter the Church; it destroys unity. Confusion and disunity are marks of the Evil One, who absolutely loves it when believers don’t get along. (Romans 16:17)
I’ve told you the old joke about the shipwrecked man who was marooned on an island. And as his rescuers are taking him back out to their ship they notice 3 shacks on the shore. “What are those buildings?” they ask.
“Well, one’s my house. And one’s my church. And the 3rd one is the church I used to go to.”
What message does disunity send to the world? They see people not getting along all the time: in their families, in their work, in government, etc. If the Church is no different, why should they ever be attracted to it?
If a person has The Holy Spirit in them, they will … “live in peace with each other.”
“Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.”
I witnessed this early on in my own Christian walk. I had recently got out of the Army, and had volunteered to help with a dinner back at my home Church. (Graystone Presbyterian Church has lots of “important” people as members.)
And as I was working in the kitchen I noticed our state senator washing dishes. There were university professors making jello salads … ordinary tasks, not being done out in the spotlight. I’m telling you, that made an impression upon my young Christian spirit.
Jesus loved to be with common ordinary people. Throughout the Gospels we see Him hanging out with regular everyday folks.
Scripture tells us, “The common people heard Jesus gladly.” (Mark 12:37) So, “do not be proud, but accept humble duties.”
And then, Paul concludes, “Do not think how smart you are.” Don’t miss what he’s saying. He’s certainly not downplaying education. What he’s telling us is … we’re not to be wise in our own opinion. We’re not to be the only person who thinks we have all the answers.
Have you ever been around somebody who’s impressed with their own wisdom? They like to tell you all they know.
Scripture says that we’re not to get caught up in who we are. In fact, 8 separate times we’re told, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Isaiah 5:21) (say that with me) “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Why’s this such an issue?
Because if we’re running around thinking how smart we are, we won’t have any room left for the wisdom that God wants to impart. If we’re so full of who we are, and what we think we know, God can’t get our attention with the wisdom that really counts. (The Proverbs 1:7)
So as we take this passage, which just seems at 1st to be a lot of disconnected phrases … we discover a picture of the kind of life that God wants us to have, that He can use, in a way that makes an impact in the world. When we allow these things to take control of our lives we become the kind of people God wants us to be. And we’ll be a Church that makes a difference.
That’s the message of Romans 12. And this is the job that we have to do. In this age of skepticism toward the Church, and antagonism toward Christ … this may be the only way we can reach our generation. It’s no longer just by our words … it’s by our life.
MARANA THA
You need to be a member of The Reimagine Network to add comments!
>>>KEEP SCROLLING for RELATED CONTENT & COMMENTARY, RESOURCES & REPLIES