Despite what you may have heard, the New Testament book of Romans is not the Apostle Paul’s systematic theology. Although this writing is very theological, Romans is actually a letter Paul writes to Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome who are at odds with each other. In other words, this letter was written to respond to a conflict that Paul sought to resolve. In that sense, Romans is offering what we might think of as a lived theology because Romans is concerned with not only what we believe about the gospel of Jesus Christ but also how we put the gospel into practice.
So this past Sunday, I preached on Romans 15:1-3, a sermon I titled Welcome Each Other. Here is the text:
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again,“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.1
That title is taken from the Common English Bible translation of v. 7, “So welcome each other in the same way that Christ has welcomed you, for God’s glory.”
Assuming we understand that the gospel means God’s promise of salvation is for all people, the text of Romans 15 offers instructions for how we should treat each other. If we take this text seriously, than acceptance of each other is a big part of how we embrace the salvation God has made us a part of in Christ.
Such acceptance is the lived theology of Christian unity—oneness in Christ. Our acceptance or welcome of each other is possible because, as the text instructs us, we adopt the same attitude of Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 2:5). Our new attitude results in what Scot McKnight describes as “a Christoform act of crossing boundaries and turning no status into in-Christ status.”2 That is, even when we disagree with other believers and even believe they are wrong, we still love them and serve them in a manner that says we are all siblings in Christ.
Except this is where we run into problems. Some Christians insist that unity means uniformity. Even if they don’t teach uniformity, their lived theology rejects acceptance of any believer who differ in their understanding and practice of the Christian faith. As a result, Christianity is turned into a sectarian religion that accepts as a true Christian only those who conform to the narrow expectations of the sectarian believer.
Let me be clear that such sectarianism is sin. Beyond that, the uniformity that sectarianism demands is practically impossible because where two or more people are gathered, there will be disagreements on matters of the Christian faith and practice. If you don’t agree with me on that, then you’re already proving my point. Our lived theology of Christian unity means accepting one another even when we have differences.
Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ that God has made us all his children and therefore brothers and sisters—siblings in Christ. Therefore when we encounter each other, we must know each other the child of God that God knows us as through the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ.
Now I do believe there are some limitations. I mean, there isn’t any unity apart from a shared confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. And there are times when people live in such a rebellious manner towards Jesus Christ, that they functionally deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So I’m not suggesting that our lived theology means reducing the Christian faith to an ignorant universalism. But that’s for another discussion. What I am talking about is a lived theology where we seek to serve each other and build each other up as brothers and sisters in Christ despite our differences.
In other words, our understanding of certain doctrines may differ. We may lean towards Calvinism or Arminianism or we may understand the meaning of justification, faith, and baptism in Romans differently. We may differ in our ecclesiology, just like we may lean towards complementarianism or egalitarianism. Whatever the case might be, we still must welcome each other as Christ welcomes us.
But there is more to press in on given where America as a society seems headed, I want to say a little more about Christoformity and our current cultural climate. Our lived theology as Christian unity does not require us to agree on who we should vote for in a political election, or whether we should even vote. We don’t have to agree on what kind of education—public, private, or homeschool—is best for children nor do we have to insist everyone share our preference. We don’t have to like the same movies. We can go watch movies like Barbie or Sound of Freedom, or not go to the movies at all. Accepting each other certainly means that we avoid labeling our brothers and sisters in Christ as “woke” because they like Barbie or as an “extremist” because they like Sound of Freedom.
Our lived theology of Christian unity must reject the subjugation of each other to any label other than brother or sister. Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ that God has made us all his children and therefore brothers and sisters—siblings in Christ. Therefore when we encounter each other, we must know each other as the child of God that God knows us as through the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ.
Our gospeled witness is a beautiful portrait of God’s redemptive work in Christ when we accept of each other as siblings in Christ, despite our differences. In a society that is fracturing with intolerance and hostility on every side, churches can demonstrate a different path that points to the redemptive love of God in Christ.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright 2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scot McKnight, Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire, Waco: Baylor University Press, 2019, 21.
Rex,
Apologies up front that this posted comment is not pertinent to your post. Please save the information below and delete from your blog post.
You might find of interest the Memphis area church leaders that gathered at HST with Williams and Thompson yesterday, 9/28. I'm providing a link to the audio of the meeting. Since this was public for the area ministers, I believe it is acceptable to share the audio with you publicly (apologies up front if someone who did not speak up loud enough in the conversation is hard to hear). I also believe that what was addressed is far greater than just the impact of the decision on Memphis. The things addressed should be, and need to be, heard by a wider audience. Below is a link of the conversation that took place. If you are comfortable sharing this publicly on wider scope, it is certainly at your discretion to determine to do so.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUb-540DG0JQLtPHKgnW33Ze2EtQMq7P/view
P.S. I prefer to be anonymous, if you don’t mind.
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Original email concerning the announcement:
Area Ministers:
On Thursday, September 28, Dr. Mike Williams, President of Harding University and Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, the Executive Vice President, invite you to join them at Harding School of Theology for a discussion regarding the transition of HST from Memphis to Searcy, Arkansas.
This will begin at 1:30 PM in the Hospitality Room located in the classroom building. Deserts and coffee will be provided.
Please RSVP so that we can plan accordingly.
Jim Martin