The Thursday After

Today at WMB (service, notes) Jeff talked about Romans 2. Remember, in chapter 1, Paul calls out “sin”. He probably anticipated the churchy types feeling superior, and quickly straightens that out with an individual personal you :

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! 

Romans 2:1, NLT

As was pointed out this morning:

This is individual. We are all being confronted with a forceful and unavoidable call to self-examination.

For me this brings up the image of the “Uncle Sam wants you” WWI posters.

Bringing in the story of how Jesus got along with Zacchaeus seems exactly right. Remember how the prophet Nathan did the same thing when he confronted David? (2 Samuel 10). Nathan told David story about a rich man and a poor man. David could clearly see the evil in the rich man, and only after realized it was himself. The story of Zacchaeus shows us similarly how Jesus wants us to behave. Its easier to digest because its a distant tax collector. If we unpack it even a little, it gives us some guidance on how to live out Romans 2. The Chosen (as I’ve mentioned before) has helped me see just how provocative it is for Matthew the tax collector to be an invited disciple of the Rabbi Jesus. I suppose Zacchaeus was a few rungs up the corporate ladder, so even more so. (Wonder if Matthew knew any of the people at the table). So how do I extend that same sort of life-involved friendship and love?

Romans 1 and then 2 reminds me of how John’s gospel describes Jesus

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

John1:14 (emphasis mine)

Somehow Jesus embodied full grace and full truth, which is what Romans 2 seems to be leading us to. So that’s what we need to do. This was explained really well to me in a sermon from Andy Stanley (cornily) called “When Gracie Met Truthy”:

The people Jesus loved were messy. The way Jesus loved was messy. He ate with tax collectors and talked with adulterers. His disciples struggled and we still struggle today to understand his extraordinary love … Andy Stanley unwraps the two ingredients that made Jesus’ love revolutionary – the secret of the most irresistible message ever preached.

part 5 of the “Christian” series

This whole series is helpful. It broadly asks the question “what would it be like if we embodied the one thing Jesus wanted his church to be known for” (John 13:35).

Its not what we believe, its how we act, or the “posture” we have.

Preston Sprinkle’s quote “Love the sinner, not your sin” is a pithy way to get started with that posture.

The “not your sin” part of the posture requires humble self-examination that recognizes “we are incapable of judging because we have a distorted understanding of truth”. This is trusting that God knows what’s best for us (remember Genesis 2?), and out of his kindness shows us truth.

I’ve studied the bible formally for an awful long time, got lots fancy degrees and all that sort of stuff and I can summarize the bible in one simple phrase: “Do you trust him?”

And the answer is either yes or no.

Jeff, WMB

Jeff spoke about how we are like “teenagers” and struggle with trusting that God knows best, and isn’t just out of touch with the times. If you’re older, then you know what it was like to be a teenager and should really understand.

The observation that “sinners” flocked to Jesus, but the religious did not is something worth meditating on. Seems the modern western church isn’t doing a great job of emulating Jesus.

For the “love the sinner” part, Sprinkle unpacks what that might look like in chapter 8 of “People to be Loved“.

There’s lots more to say about that message, but I promised myself to keep these blogs short. This message encapsulates the essence of the gospel: trust God because he knows what’s best. Become humble and look within. Exhibit love.

I think we could do worse than pulling up this message a few times a year, just as a reminder.