I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.
Today, I am reading and commenting on Romans 11-14.
Paul discusses his desire for all Jews to accept Jesus as their Savior. Today, we often speak of trying to convert Jews to Christianity. Paul did not see that as something to be attempted because he believed that putting faith in Jesus was a natural result of faithfully following Judaism. Paul tells us that at all points in history there will be a number of Jews who faithfully follow God and accept Jesus as Lord. He also prophecies that at some point all Jews will come to the Lord. However, my biggest takeaway from Paul’s writing here on Jews is that you cannot be a faithful follower of Jesus and hate Jews.
I want to write about chapter twelve because I think it contains some of the most important advice for Christians there is. However, I am unsure what to write because this is one place where what Paul writes is so clear and concise. All too often, we as Christians fail to listen to what he says here and allow ourselves to blend in. One of the most effective ways to reach unbelievers is to live our lives in a way which causes them to ask us, “Why are you different?” Paul is really quite clear. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, and thus transform us, we will conform to the patterns of those around us. Paul does not leave us to guess what that transformation would look like and he tells us how we can invite that transformation. The first step is to have an honest, accurate view of ourselves, not thinking ourselves better than others and recognizing that God has made us valuable to Him where and how we are. Whatever gifts He has given us we must put into use to the best of our ability, not spending our time attempting to do things which require gifts which God has not given us. Those who have been transformed bless those who persecute them and repay evil with good.
I considered passing over the end of today’s passage partly because I am running out of time and partly because it is difficult to reconcile with the need to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable to His word. Paul here tells us not to argue over “disputable” matters. He gives as examples of such matters, the issue of what is appropriate to eat or drink and celebrating holy days. On the issue of food and drink, I believe that Paul is referring both to Jewish kosher law and dealing with the issue of food sacrificed to idols (which he discusses in more details in his letters to the Corinthians). The important point about what he teaches here is that we should not attempt to force those who feel the need for more strict rules to abandon those rules just because we believe they are unnecessary. The key here is that those of us with a stronger faith should accommodate the beliefs of those with a weaker faith. In other words, if what you are arguing for is not fundamental to being a follower of Christ, you should drop the argument. Failing to drop the argument is a tacit admission that your faith is weaker than the person you are arguing with.