The grave contains Jesus’ cold, dead body on Holy Saturday.  I am grieved at how much grave trampling is going on by those who call themselves Christian.

We’re concluding our Lenten devotional series on The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece in which Paul has been proclaiming,

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

The foundation of the Gospel is nothing less than the proclamation of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25).  Paul builds carefully on this foundation: Jesus Christ, crucified for our sake.  On Holy Saturday the light of Christ is extinguished in the grave so that on Resurrection Sunday and beyond, we can call Him Lord over death, Lord over life, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Yet, too many of us want Jesus as our Savior and call ourselves Christian–all the time denying belief in God’s Word (Genesis to Revelation) and refusing to obey Him.  Too few of us want to call Jesus “Lord” and mean it.

Where are you today?  Are you acquiescing to the culture, afraid to take a stand for the Gospel, too young to know wisdom, too old to want to stand firm, too concerned with what your fellow man thinks and unconcerned about what Jesus thinks?  Are you trampling on the grave of Christ? Jesus asked in Luke 6:46:

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

It’s Good Friday –a day to remember the way Jesus Christ suffered and died.  To remember how He bore our sins through His death on the Cross. 

Think about all His sufferings and how the insults we have issued to brothers and sisters (in humanity and even now in Christ) fell upon Him.  Insults to each other in addition to all of our collective insults to God Almighty directly!

It’s amazing how many ways we can inflict wounds upon our fellow believers and how often those conflicts are over theologically insignificant matters that we should learn to accept under the umbrella of diversity.  We insult God when we harbor ill will toward others instead of acting as we are instructed by today’s passage:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,  because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. (Romans 14: 17-18, NIV)

Someone must pay for all these insults (both personal and collective) in order for God to be a righteous Judge.

 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (Romans 15:3, NIV)

David, the author of the Psalm quoted in Romans 15:3 had guilt, but Jesus Christ–the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Son of God–did not.  In order for Good Friday’s insults to be dealt with completely, Jesus had to be numbered among the transgressors.

Read the account of the last hours of Jesus’ life in Luke 22:63-23:46.  See the insults He endured and how it was fulfilled,

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

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Give it up for Lent: Heaping insults upon Jesus by mistreating each other

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For further study,

1. Read Psalm 69, how does it speak of the ocean of insults?
2. Read Isaiah 53, the passage about the Suffering Servant.  How did this apply to Jesus?
3. When Jesus says in Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” how does this apply to us today?  Does it apply to non-Christians as well as to believers when we insult others? 
4. Do we realize that, as Christians, we heap insults upon God in whose Image all humans are made when we insult our neighbors?  Think about Jesus’ call to love our enemies.  Why would He have told us to do that?

Imagine that today, you’re standing before God, the Judge:

• Having to give an account of your life.
• Having to own up to all your sins. 
• Having to acknowledge the many ways you violated God’s commands. 
• Having to confess all the ways you capitulated to the culture.
• Having to explain why you took the wide, easy road of personal comfort and convenience instead of the way of holiness.

And then having your fellow man stand as a witness to how you judged him and placed obstacles–through your example, your acquiescence, your judgments by human standards, or your wrong-headed teachings–to his finding mercy in God.  Worse, for the person living in sin that you refused to point to the truth of Jesus Christ, he will face an eternity of torment apart from the mercy of God.

That day is coming. 

As surely as Jesus was heading to the Cross during Passion Week, He heads to the Great White Throne of Judgment and before Him, we will each give an account.

Romans 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. (NIV)

So, the question you and I face is:

How are we doing with our final accounting?

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Give it up for Lent: Living for comfort and convenience instead of holiness

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For further study:

1.  Read Revelation 20:11-15.  How ought that influence how you live today?
2. The accountability for our actions is articulated elsewhere in Scripture.  Read Psalm 62:12, Jeremiah 17:7-10, and 1 Peter 1:17.  What does it mean to live our lives here in “reverential fear”?
3. How is enabling people to live in sin nothing short of placing a stumbling block to their coming to faith?  How is the truth spoken in love necessary? 

Years ago, comedian Emo Philips performed “Once I was in San Francisco,” a routine that included a joke that has been voted the best religious joke ever (watch here):

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!”   He said, “Nobody loves me.”  I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”

He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”

He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me, too!”

Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.

The “Die, heretic!” conclusion of the joke was unexpected and makes it appropriate for today’s devotional on Romans 14:1-9.

We’re rapidly approaching the end of our look into The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece.    Paul has asserted that the Gospel is for all, that we’re all sinners and we’re all in need of salvation.  As he brings his letter to a close, he drives home this point:  Christ united believers through His death on the Cross, therefore, let us not divide ourselves over small things.

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.  If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. (Romans 14:7-9)

We belong to the Lord as believers, so let’s leave the judging to Him as Lord of life and death matters and every small matter in between.

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Give it up for Lent: Looking down on Christians who don’t believe exactly like you

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For further study, read Titus 3:1-10, noting all the ways this echoes Paul’s admonitions in Romans regarding how to live in community.

Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Submission to the government is easy!  Not…

Many days go by in which I wonder how Presidential spokesperson Jay Carney can look at himself in the mirror without cringing.  Speaking for the government as he does…with God watching?

In the days prior to President Nixon, I’m sure the White House lied. It’s human nature to lie.  But something happened.  When Nixon was caught lying to the American people, it shocked the nation, severing the bond of trust many of us had in our elected officials.

Today, lying seems to be the official job description of elected leaders and for them, abusing the trust of the American public is just another day at the office.  Yet, this is our government and what do we do with a passage like today’s (Romans 13:1-14)? It is well worth the read.

The million dollar question is,

How do we submit to a government we cannot trust to do what is right with the truth?”

The priceless answer is,

The same way Jesus did.”

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23

When you get a chance, read the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, sentencing to crucifixion, and burial in John 18:1-19:42.  Submission to authorities means entrusting the outcome of matters to God Himself.

We treat leaders, officials, and other authorities as God’s chosen ones for the purpose He has in mind.  Pilate wouldn’t have been God’s choice for Messiah, but was God’s choice to crucify Him.  Annas may have been chosen by God for Jesus’ interrogation, and Caiaphas for High Priest in order to fulfill Scripture, but neither of them dealt honestly with the Messiah. And neither of them were chosen to be disciples.  They served God’s purpose even in their wickedness.

The sovereignty of God and the grand sweep of redemption history is beyond our understanding.  God’s use of powerbrokers to accomplish His will has a long-established history–whether the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart or the dishonesty of religious leaders who led the call to crucify Jesus.

So, when we have cause to disagree with our government, become appalled at rampant corruption, grieve over the lack of personal integrity and honesty, we must remember that submission to authorities is what Jesus did and what we are called to do until He returns as our Righteous King.

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Give it up for Lent: Using Biblical counterculturism to cloak a rebellious heart

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For further study:

1. Read Exodus 9:16, 1 Kings 14:7-11, and Jeremiah 32:1-5 (fulfilled in Jeremiah 52:7-14).  What do these passages say about God’s raising up leaders for judging nations and individuals?
2. What does it mean for a leader to be “God’s servant” in verse 4 of today’s passage?  Does this mean the leader is good or just that the leader is God’s instrument of reward and/or judgment?
3. How does today’s passage affect your thinking about your current political system?
4. In reading the account of Jesus’ final days during Passion Week, where did Jesus draw the line with regard to the truth and personal integrity?

The cheese stands alone, the Christian does not.

It’s easy to be countercultural and come across as holier-than-thou.  Taking a stand on your principles sometimes means you need to stand alone (and is the result, but it should not be the goal).

Unlike the child’s game, “The Farmer in the Dell,” it’s not the goal to finish the game with the cheese standing alone.  Christians stand in community.

There’s a way to be biblically countercultural and a way not to do it.  Today’s passage talks about both.  These are instructions for wise community living:

Romans 12: 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  (NIV)

We aspire to live by principles, love our neighbors and therefore rejoice and mourn right alongside them.  We turn the other cheek.  We are blessed peacemakers.  We love our enemies.  We leave the judging to God and invest ourselves in doing what is right. That is how to be countercultural in a world that doesn’t value it.

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Give it up for Lent: Holier-than-thou attitudes

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For further study:

1. This is Passion Week (also known as Holy Week) in the Church.  Jesus was, in fact, holier than any of us.  Yet, how did Jesus act during the days prior to His crucifixion?  Read the account of Jesus in Luke 22:47-23:43.  How did He model what He expects of us?
2. Look at how many times in our passage today, it talks about our attitudes toward others and our view of ourselves.  To what extent are you willing to associate with people who are not like you?
3. In what ways can standing on principles lead to judging others?  What advice does our passage give to counter that?
4. What does it mean to heap burning coals on someone’s head?  The Message paraphrase records Romans 12:20-21 as saying, “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”  How might a guilty conscience also play a role?

When God calls the Church to be biblically countercultural, He doesn’t overlook that we are individuals. 

In fact, everything about our individuality matters to God.

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And while we might march to the beat of a different drummer, we’re all marching to the same Gospel tune.

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This intricate balance between the individual and the community is beautifully articulated in today’s passage:

Romans 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (NIV)

Just as a band or an orchestra needs all the instruments, a ballet company choreographs all the dancers, and a theatrical production requires all the actors, so a Church displaying diversity can yet march to the same Gospel tune.

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Give it up for Lent: Wishing you were gifted differently

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For further study:

1. Identify the areas in our passage above where Scripture points to the diversity of the individuals.
2. Now identify the areas in which the community is held together.
3. Why do you suppose it’s so hard in the Church for people to serve in the way they are gifted?  What types of things stand in the way? 
4. To what degree is the responsibility an individual responsibility and to what degree is it a community success or failure?  How do the commands beginning in verse 9 show us how to succeed as a Church? 

Pope Francis is a counterculturist and that’s a good thing.  Given the dank depths to which the so-called mainstream culture has sunk, being countercultural is a breath of fresh air. 

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Be a Biblical Counterculturist–that’s the message the Apostle Paul tells us in today’s passage:

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

In a culture that exalts hedonism, excess, self-gratification, sexual aberrance, license, tolerance–indeed celebration–of what God calls sin, and a selfish, godless human existence with few to no moral limits, Scripture tells us to be countercultural.

Don’t conform to that culture! 

Take a stand against all that!

Well done, Pope Francis!  Well done, Christian counterculturist!

By way of contrast to our modern culture, Biblical Counterculturalism calls us to self-sacrifice, holiness, worship of God, thanksgiving for His mercy, spiritual renewal, reformation of our minds and our churches, and by the power of the Gospel, it calls us to humility.

How are you doing with being a Biblical Counterculturist?

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Give it up for Lent: Conformity with an immoral world

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For further study:

1. In what ways was Jesus countercultural?  Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and identify ways in which Jesus preached a countercultural life for His disciples.
2. What pressures are placed against Pope Francis and other Christians to conform to what the world wants?
3. From where does a Christian derive his strength to stand tall and to resist conformity?  Name a few ways Christians can find encouragement.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)

Now that Paul has outlined the power of the Gospel and pointed to the mystery of how God saves both Jews and Gentiles within the family of faith, Paul cannot contain himself any longer.  He bursts forth in praise.

No matter how smart Paul is, he is overwhelmed by the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

The Gospel:

No human could have predicted it.

No one is beyond being answerable to it.

No human payment could secure it.

No one’s mind can fully comprehend it.

No book—including the Bible—has fully explained the mystery of it.

No one has conceived the full extent of it.

This is the primary reason I haven’t engaged in the salvation debates so far.  The truth is that none of us knows how God judges or the intricate mystery of how God saves.  We can’t figure out our own salvation let alone make determinations of how other people are saved or elected to salvation.  These things are too marvelous for us to know.

If we can’t comprehend it, what should be our response? 

Praise.  Unbridled praise.

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Give it up for Lent: Trying to be God’s mind-reader

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For further study:

1. Read again the words of today’s passage which is often labeled a doxology (a hymn of praise) and meditate on how far beyond our understanding are God’s workings.
2. Read Isaiah 40:6-31.  What about God merits our praise?
3. When is the last time you burst forth in unbridled praise of God?

The words “Time Out” have a couple of clear meanings to an American audience.  To parents, it’s a time when a child gets isolated, providing the child an opportunity for reflection upon the link between actions and consequences.  The other meaning comes from athletics: a “Time Out” is called so that a team’s coach can review strategy, articulate an upcoming play, give the players a breather or a pep talk, or to change the momentum of the game.

From the moment Paul began his Letter to the Romans, we’ve seen Paul’s outlining of the Gospel as first for the Jew and then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16-17).  It’s for everyone who believes.  But now, questions hang heavy in the air, particularly about Israel (e.g. national benefits, the Law, covenants, patriarchs, promises, etc).  Paul sees where their minds are going in Romans 11:1-11.

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1)

What about Israel now?  Are we being replaced as God’s chosen people?

Paul calls a Time Out, Times Two.

First, Time Out, huddle up!  Let’s look at the sweep of salvation.  From the time Adam and Eve sinned, God’s plan was to rescue His image bearers.  While He couldn’t rescue all of them (because some would continually rebel against God’s love and grace), God could rescue some.  Some would respond with faith in God.  While there’s a mysterious interplay between faith and grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), no one’s being kicked off the team on account of national heritage.

Paul says, Look at me!  I’m a Jew and I’m still on the team!

But right now, there’s another Time Out.  Israel has been benched with four fouls in order to think about how God’s salvation has always been by grace, not by the Law, not national heritage, and not by works.

Four fouls, but by grace, you’re still in the game.  Think about the fundamentals: faith, not works!  This remnant exists today just as it did in Elijah’s day.  Maybe you’re benched now because God wants to extend salvation to other players too.

At the end of the game it’s not just the players on the court who are winners!  It’s the whole team!

God isn’t disposing of people groups.  It isn’t first for the Jew, then throw them away, and on to the Gentiles as the new chosen people.  No,  Jew and Gentile, we’re a team—the Gospel invites us all through faith in Christ to be the team of believers in God.

So Time Out, Times Two.  Game Plan: the Gospel is first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles.  Actions have consequences: let’s focus on fundamentals of faith and not just works, and we’ll come out as winners.

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Give it up for Lent: Thinking that the Jews have been replaced by the Church

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For further study:

1. How might Christians treat baptism, the sacraments, church attendance, confirmation or Bible study as a suitable replacement for faith?  Do we risk being benched for such an attitude?
2. Read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18.  Elijah recounted actions he had been doing versus the Israelites, concluding with Elijah’s assumptions about being the only faithful one left.  What was God’s response to Elijah’s assertion?  In what ways do we act like we’re the only faithful ones left?
3. In the story of Elijah, we see that God has quiet hidden ways about His working.  How does our passage Romans 11:1-11 show that God is still working behind the scenes? See v 11 particularly.