Romans Chapter 16 cont'd
The testimony of your faithfulness to God has been reported throughout the whole world and I am glad that you've been honored like this. Just make sure that you preserve your spirit of innocence- be "streetwise" in good, but not in evil! And soon, the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Yes, Lord, let it be!
Comments:
I think it's interesting that, given the broad scope of the book of Romans for living a truly spiritual life, Paul only mentions Satan by name just this one time at the end of his letter. I don't believe this is because we should deny the reality of, ignore or underestimate the kingdom of darkness and its many hosts. Rather, I think that it is because the reality of evil and...the entities behind it all that manipulate humanity and so many cultural systems of this age...are a given in the worldview of his readers. And...the focus of the apostles seemed to be overcoming evil with good...first on a personal level and then corporately as the Body of Christ...versus hastily and angrily lashing out against all the evil about us in the name of serving God. (Notice the very practical nature of the "whole armor of God" that Paul exhorts us to "put on" in Eph 6:12ff that enables us to "stand" in an evil day.) Their instruction to us is not to panic or be overly-conscious of evil spirits and their craft, but to proclaim and live out the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to call all people to believe in and follow him, to leave sin in the dirt behind us where it belongs, to live in healthy interdependent relational networks called local churches and to lovingly reach out to the needy and broken people all about us with Christ's love and compassion.
When we are confronted by evil spirits, which will happen in the normal course of living out our mission, we simply exercise the spiritual authority freely entrusted to us in Christ and express the power of the Holy Spirit through our prayers, words and deeds. We often see the power of God working through us, his servants, in ways that trump and bust up the powers of darkness. Yet, this doesn't imply that everything will be or turn out fine here and now...there are casualties in this war. We "triumph through Christ", but not in a manner that smacks of the bloated "triumphalism" of so many modern (and ancient!) overly-zealous movements and sects. We have both many victories and many sufferings in our mission and God will use them all to make us more like his glorious Son.
Though Satan and is kingdom have been legally defeated and overthrown through all that Jesus accomplished in his first coming (his vicarious death and subsequent resurrection and ascension), the power of his deceptive lies still hold significant sway over many people and nations of this fallen world. Satan received a mortal blow at the cross, but he is, since then, a wounded and dying beast who is enraged at God and determined to destroy as many human lives as he can before his final judgment is leveled. Yes...we are to be well aware of the ancient enemy of all that is good and just and his classic schemes that keep so many people captive to do his will. We are aware of and buffeted by his constant attempts to assault and hinder what God wills to do through Christ-followers and our new covenant bands.
Finally, we are joyfully aware that, though we will experience painful and disappointing setbacks and losses in this battle, we minister, persevere, labor and fight with an indomitable declaration and promise of hope that rings and resonates throughout our entire being and throughout the entire cosmos. It is based on an inarguable eschatological certainty made so by the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to his place of highest honor and supremacy...soon, the God who brings true peace, will crush Satan under our feet. 'Nuff said...so carry on!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Romance of Romans-Part 126
Romans Chapter 16 cont'd
I urge you to take note of and avoid those people who cause divisions and offenses by embracing or promoting doctrines that are contrary to the ones you have learned. These kinds of people are not concerned with serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but with filling their unsatisfied desires. They employ good-sounding words and manipulative monologues that deceive the hearts of the undiscerning.
Comments:
Dealing with divisive and offensive people and/or groups is always difficult and can tend to distract us from a positive-oriented forward movement in life and ministry. It can also be confusing and oppressive for our minds and emotions. A number of questions rise in my thinking as I ponder this subject.
Do we forebear or confront? How can we measure if a matter is worthy of a confrontation? Do we go to someone who has offended us in private or bring a few others into the mix for counsel, prayer support and/or as witnesses? Do we warn others of spiritual danger? Do we speak out publicly on a matter and expose falsehood? Does God call some to such tasks, but not others? Do we leave a matter in the hands of God alone to deal with? Do we simply avoid a matter and even a person or a group of people? And...now that the globe is connected via mass communications...which errors do we pick to confront and/or expose, since we can research them all. Our entire lives could be swallowed up by presuming to be the universal cops of the spiritual landscape of the earth. I know it's not this last option for any of us!
Following are some of the convictions I have come to over the years of leading communities of faith that have caused practical and workable actions to present themselves.
I am convinced that these kinds of situations and our proper responses to them are always on a spectrum of severity...and usually without hard and fast dividing lines between the phases. We need more than raw principles or laws to go by in these situations...we need the real-time and direct spiritual wisdom of God to settle upon us for the proper timing and application of scriptural principles. We are called to be "peacemakers" as children of God, but this is not the same things as being a "peacekeeper". Peacemaking involves putting things in their proper places and this can often involve confrontation, righteous judgment and sanctions. Sometimes a confrontation, rebuke or fight becomes a necessary evil. However, peacemaking is always about praying and looking for minimal fallout and for the redemptive purposes of God to win the day.
Another thing is that the closer we are in relationship to a person or a matter, the more we have a right and responsibility to face them/it. Often, our designated function within a community can also inform us of our right and responsibility to deal with a difficult person or matter. Another principle is that it is good to confirm, confine, contain and rectify an error to as small a circle of people as possible. However, when a scandalous sin or a crime has been committed, it is better for the guilty to suffer than for the innocent and confession should cover the same social scope as the knowledge and damage of the offense.
One final thought on this complex issue (and so much more needs to be said)...when others "go public" with their erroneous and sometimes dangerous, beliefs and teachings, public challenge and criticism is warranted. We must be careful to not misrepresent what another is actually teaching and a personal "behind the scenes" inquiry and/or challenge might be called for, but ultimately, if one has the moxie to take his/her teachings to the public square, it is only fair to expect those who may disagree to openly say so. If one can't take the heat, then she/he needs to get out of the kitchen!
I urge you to take note of and avoid those people who cause divisions and offenses by embracing or promoting doctrines that are contrary to the ones you have learned. These kinds of people are not concerned with serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but with filling their unsatisfied desires. They employ good-sounding words and manipulative monologues that deceive the hearts of the undiscerning.
Comments:
Dealing with divisive and offensive people and/or groups is always difficult and can tend to distract us from a positive-oriented forward movement in life and ministry. It can also be confusing and oppressive for our minds and emotions. A number of questions rise in my thinking as I ponder this subject.
Do we forebear or confront? How can we measure if a matter is worthy of a confrontation? Do we go to someone who has offended us in private or bring a few others into the mix for counsel, prayer support and/or as witnesses? Do we warn others of spiritual danger? Do we speak out publicly on a matter and expose falsehood? Does God call some to such tasks, but not others? Do we leave a matter in the hands of God alone to deal with? Do we simply avoid a matter and even a person or a group of people? And...now that the globe is connected via mass communications...which errors do we pick to confront and/or expose, since we can research them all. Our entire lives could be swallowed up by presuming to be the universal cops of the spiritual landscape of the earth. I know it's not this last option for any of us!
Following are some of the convictions I have come to over the years of leading communities of faith that have caused practical and workable actions to present themselves.
I am convinced that these kinds of situations and our proper responses to them are always on a spectrum of severity...and usually without hard and fast dividing lines between the phases. We need more than raw principles or laws to go by in these situations...we need the real-time and direct spiritual wisdom of God to settle upon us for the proper timing and application of scriptural principles. We are called to be "peacemakers" as children of God, but this is not the same things as being a "peacekeeper". Peacemaking involves putting things in their proper places and this can often involve confrontation, righteous judgment and sanctions. Sometimes a confrontation, rebuke or fight becomes a necessary evil. However, peacemaking is always about praying and looking for minimal fallout and for the redemptive purposes of God to win the day.
Another thing is that the closer we are in relationship to a person or a matter, the more we have a right and responsibility to face them/it. Often, our designated function within a community can also inform us of our right and responsibility to deal with a difficult person or matter. Another principle is that it is good to confirm, confine, contain and rectify an error to as small a circle of people as possible. However, when a scandalous sin or a crime has been committed, it is better for the guilty to suffer than for the innocent and confession should cover the same social scope as the knowledge and damage of the offense.
One final thought on this complex issue (and so much more needs to be said)...when others "go public" with their erroneous and sometimes dangerous, beliefs and teachings, public challenge and criticism is warranted. We must be careful to not misrepresent what another is actually teaching and a personal "behind the scenes" inquiry and/or challenge might be called for, but ultimately, if one has the moxie to take his/her teachings to the public square, it is only fair to expect those who may disagree to openly say so. If one can't take the heat, then she/he needs to get out of the kitchen!
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