Last week we began our journey through the more practical
applications of the soteriology that Paul has been outlining thus far in his
letter to the Romans. So far, we’ve learned what a believer ought to do—worship
God and be transformed by the renewing of our minds (12:1-2). However, knowing what
to do and how to go about doing it are two very different things. Therefore, as
Paul continues his message to the church in Rome, he outlines three encouragements
that believers should follow if they hope to execute their activities well in
the context of the ministry. Not only will these encouragements help the church
achieve spiritual health, they also help prevent spiritual diseases that are
unfortunately all too common in many contexts.
a. Hold on to your
Faith with all Humility-12:3
Now that Paul has outlined what believers are to do—worship
God and be transformed—he moves on to describe how they are to do it in the
context of the church. After all, a believer’s faith, although personal, is witnessed,
proven, and exercised in the context of Christian community. Believers do not
ultimately worship nor are they transformed in a vacuum. They worship
corporately and are being made into a royal priesthood. However, because people
are involved in these processes and program, there is always the potential for
issues. This is why Paul provides three encouragements for the church in Rome
to heed as they do their best, in God’s grace, to execute their activities
faithfully in the context of the church.
The first encouragement he gives is “hold on to your faith
with all humility.” 12:3 reads, “For through the grace given to me I say to
everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think…”.
As was the case in the garden of Eden, proved to be the case in the first
century church, and continues today, pride suffers devastating consequences,
especially among God’s people. It introduced death and sin into the world, saw
many devastating results among the churches we read about in 1 Corinthians, and
Galatians, and continues to break up ministries and give the people of God a
bad name on the world’s stage today. This is why Paul calls on his readers not
to entertain an inflated view of their own importance (Mounce, Romans, 233). J. Denney writes, “To
himself, every man is in a sense the most important person in the world, and it
always needs much grace to see what other people are, and to keep a sense of
moral proportion” (Denney, St. Paul’s
Epistle, 689).
Instead of living one’s life perpetually impressed and
increasingly infatuated with oneself, Paul calls the church to “think so as to
have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (12:3b).
That Paul is made to use such strong language in his correction of those in the
church at Rome betrays just how out of touch with reality the believers there
really were concerning their opinions of themselves. One might say (and Mounce does),
that they were in danger of becoming “egoholics.”
Alcoholism is a very real disorder that renders its victims
at risk of endorsing habitual behaviors that can lead to the destruction of all
kinds of things. Regardless of what kind of drunk someone proves to be—a crazy
drunk, silly drunk, or even violent or abusive drunk—alcoholism claims
marriage, families, friendships, jobs, even lives. It is a serious issue
requiring serious treatment and should be seriously avoided at all costs. Like
alcoholism, egoism is a very real disorder that renders its victims at risk of
self-promotion, using others for personal gain, deception, etc. Regardless of
what kind of egoist someone proves to be—a self-righteous zealot, busy-body, or
braggart—egoism claims relationships, hinders one’s usefulness in building the
kingdom of God, and even divides churches. It is just as real as alcoholism,
only more widespread. This is why the encouragement Paul gives first is so
important. As believers worship together and are transformed together as the
people of God, they will be significantly inhibited, if not completely derailed
in that endeavor if they “think more highly of themselves than they ought.”
Instead, they should have “sound judgment” concerning where they’ve been and
how they have arrived where they are. They were desperate sinners and saved
only by the grace of God. What is there to be proud about in this? Nothing!
Save from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In fact, everyone is in the same boat—saved by faith. This
is what is meant by “each one was given a measure of faith.” As a result, all
are equally a part of the same united and diverse body of Christ. This leads
directly into the second admonition.
b. Embrace the Beauty
of Diversity and Unity within the body of Christ-12:4-5
The second encouragement offered by Paul is “embrace the
beauty of diversity and unity within the body of Christ.” Paul describes the
nature of church as follows: “For just as we have many members in one body and
all the members do not have the same function” (12:4). Here, the apostle reminds
the church that just as the human body is made up of many members performing
various functions, so also are those in Christ the many distinct members of one
spiritual body. On this diversity, Paul says the following in 1 Corinthians
12:14-21,
“For the body is not one member, but many. If the
foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the
body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of
the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a
part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a
part of the body. If the whole body were
an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the
sense of smell be? But now God has placed the
members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If
they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are
many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no
need of you’; or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’…”
In 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and Romans 12 diversity in
the body of Christ is portrayed as essential to the function and success of the
church. An eye cannot do the job of a hand. A foot is not capable of performing
all of the functions necessary for life. Neither is everybody equipped to do the
same thing in the church. Neither is one person equipped to perform all the
functions necessary for a healthy ministry. Believers are limited in what they
bring to the table much as individual organs are limited in what they
contribute to the health of the body. These limits require the kind of diversity
where multiple varieties of uniquely equipped people come together for the sake
of the whole.
This “coming together” is just as important as the diversity
already described. After all, you might have a variety of gifted organs, but if
they never come together appropriately, they will do more harm than good. Paul
continues “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another.” The diverse body of multiple organs and systems must
be united so that people can worship well and be transformed in the right way. If
unity breaks down and this encouragement is not heeded, an entirely different
problem may emerge.
There is a medical phenomenon called ”host verses graft
rejection” that takes place when a transplant recipient’s body rejects a
received organ/graft. Though the organ was chosen and applied to the body to
save or improve the quality of life of the recipient, when the host rejects the
graft or transplanted organ, severe medical complications could occur that lead
to sepsis or even death. Similarly, as people are being added to the church, it
is important that they unite with the people of God so that complications don’t
arise that potentially inhibit or kill a ministry. Diversity is essential.
However, equally important is unity in
Christ. This requires that believers follow the first encouragement—holding
onto faith in humility.
Ephesians 4:2-6-“Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond
of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope
when you were called; one LORD, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of
all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Holding onto one’s faith in humility keeps the church sober
and free from becoming a collection of destructive or impotent “egoholics.”
Embracing the beauty of diversity and unity in the body of Christ keeps the
church from suffering from host verses graft rejection/syndrome and falling
prey to system failure.
c. Utilize your Giftedness
Accordingly-12:6-8
The final encouragement that Paul provides in this passage
is “utilize your giftedness accordingly”—"since we have gifts that differ
according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them
accordingly…”(12:6a). This statement suggests that every member of the church
is quipped by God with special abilities. Such abilities are bestowed to
individuals out of grace and are to be used appropriately. Taken with what has
already been discussed, appropriate use of a variety of gifts ought to
encourage and build unity within the body and be exercised with all humility.
1 Peter 4:10-“Each of you should use whatever gift
you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its
various forms.”
Both Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4 highlight the use of gifts
alongside a recognition of diversity, commitment to unity, in the context of
humility. So what might these gifts be and exactly what is involved in their
use?
Paul lists 7 gifts in the remainder of this passage that
help provide an idea of how God equips the people in the church in special
ways. Given that lists of spiritual gifts found elsewhere in the New Testament
are different and of varying lengths (Romans 12 has 7; Ephesians 4 has 5; 1
Corinthians 12 has 9), it is important to understand that what Paul describes
here is not intended to be exhaustive. Instead, it is a representation of some
of the ways that God empowers people for service in the context of the church
(perhaps a customized representation of those gifts that were especially
significant for the church in Rome).
The first of these is prophecy—“If prophecy, according to
the proportion of his faith” (12:6b). The New Testament prophet was a person
who spoke for God. According to Ephesians 4:11, prophets served together with
apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the preparation of God’s people
for service. This gift does not assume people can predict the future as much as
it implies that some people are especially gifted to spur the church of God on
through proclaiming what God has already revealed. Those quipped with this gift
are called to exercise it in proportion to the faith that has been given. This
is important because those who proclaim the Word can only do so as much as they
are willing to trust what it says and buy into its implications. As the adage
goes, “one can only lead someone else to a place that he/she (the leader) has
already been.” This is true when it comes to faithful preaching and
proclamation of the Word of God.
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one present
was gifted in proclaiming the Word of God?
Next, Paul discusses the gift of service—“if service, in his
serving” (12:7a). Quite simply, if someone is gifted in serving, they ought to
be serving somehow. . . Brilliant! The Greek word group implicated in the term
“serve” is related to the word for “deacon” and envisions people carrying out
the practical needs of the church, especially on behalf of those who need
special help or assistance.
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one present
was serving the people in general and those in need in particular?
Third, Paul indicates that teaching is a spiritual gift—“or
he who teaches, in his teaching” (12:7b). Teaching was an ancient and honorable
profession in the Jewish culture. This was doubly true in the context of the
church. So much reverence is associated with the gift of teaching that James
even says “let not many of you become teachers, my fellow believers, because
you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). Paul says
elsewhere that “the elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double
honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17).
In other words, teaching was a big deal and plays a vital role in the vitality
of any church. Therefore, those who are gifted in teaching ought to be
supported in their endeavor to rightly divide the Word of God and stave off
false doctrine in the context of the body of Christ.
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one was
teaching the doctrines of Scripture?
Alongside preachers, servants, and teachers there are those
uniquely gifted to provide necessary encouragement—“of he who exhorts, in his
exhortation” (12:8a). One commentator defines this gift as “the stimulating of
faith in others” (Philipps). It is one thing to know what to do after sitting
under good teaching. It is another thing entirely to be encouraged to do it.
Luther says of teaching and encouraging “teaching is meant for the ignorant and
exhortation for those who know” (Romans, 156).
Paul assumes that there are those who are gifted encouragers who spur people on
to righteous living through challenge, conviction, words of affirmation, and
helpful admonitions. Such people ought to be allowed to provide such to the body
of Christ.
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one was
following up with people and encouraging them in their faith?
Next Paul identifies the gift of giving. If a person’s gift
is contributing to the needs of others, then generosity is what is called
for—“he who gives, with liberality” (12:8b). After all, if God had not given
people means, then the church would be unable to execute a fruitful ministry,
people would not be served in practical ways, and teachers/proclaimers would
not be adequately supported as the Bible demands. Paul shares this admonition with Luke.
Luke 12:48b-“From everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
On giving and those who do elsewhere Paul says the
following:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you
should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you
abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you
will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
People who have been uniquely gifted with a capacity to give
ought to do just that—give (generously and cheerfully)!
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one gave to
the ministry or if people who could give much decided not to at all?
Leadership is another gift Paul identifies in this
passage—“he who leads, with diligence” (12:8). “Although leadership in the
contemporary world is often seen as the fruit of ambition, persistence, and
good fortune (cf. Matt. 8:9), biblical leadership is essentially a service
carried out for the benefit of others” (Mounce, Romans, 235). Leadership is vital because “Where there is no
guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory”
(Proverbs 11:14). However, such leadership ought to be handled and exercised
very carefully so that this role is not abused and the glory is pointed in the
right direction—heavenward!
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if there was no
vision—no leadership?
The final gift that Paul describes is mercy—“he who shows
mercy, with cheerfulness” (12:8d). This describes those who are inclined to
provide sympathy, empathy, and emotional support to those who are afflicted,
needy, or discouraged. Showing mercy also implies supplying what is needed in a
multiplicity of situations and, therefore, is very much related to the gifts of
service and giving.
Ask yourself, what would a church be like if no one showed
mercy toward others?
In this last gift, Paul reveals that many of these different
gifts are related to each other. Certainly teaching and leading are related. So
too is giving and serving. Again, these gifts are not given nor are they
exercised in a vacuum. They instead are areas of special aptitude that can
overlap other areas to some degree. No one is exclusively gifted in only one
area and not everyone is especially gifted in all areas. However, those with
special God-given abilities in any of these areas ought to be contributing
meaningfully in their appointed lanes of service.
All these gifts (and more) need to be exercised in the
context of the church so that the church is equipped, supplied, motivated, and
supported in its God-given mission. A church filled with gifted people who are
not employing their gifts might be comparable to a person who, because of a
lack of movement or muscle use, suffers atrophy or paralysis. The saying “if
you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” applies in the context of a church and her
members with respect to their God-given gifts.
So What?
Certainly worshipping God and being transformed are noble
activities (Romans 12:1-2). However, divorced from the encouragements found in
this passage, these processes will be significantly inhibited. Any
church/church member that fails to walk humbly, embrace diversity in unity,
and/or exercise his/her gifts, runs the risk of becoming an “egoholic,”
suffering from host vs graft rejection, or bringing atrophy and paralysis upon
his/herself. As real as these physical/psychological maladies are, so too do
these spiritual issues surface in churches who go about their activities in the
wrong way. Maybe today in lieu of this passage you need to go in for a
spiritual examination and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether or not you
endorse any of these afflictions. Are you prideful? Are you disconnected from
the body, unable/unwilling to really relate to those around you? Are you
inactive in the ministry for which you have been equipped? The good news is
this! We serve a great physician who can cure us of these habits, inhibitions,
and diseases.
A healthy church is a church that is used of God to grow His
kingdom. Therefore, let us demand of ourselves and of this place that we are
spiritually fit so that we are used of God mightily and draw much attention to
the Son.
No comments:
Post a Comment