Romans 11 1-2a, 29-32

Chapter 11

Romans 11:1-2a

[Ro 11:1] I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.

Romans 11:29-32

[Ro 11:29] For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. [30] For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, [31] so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. [32] For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Romans 11:1

[Ro 11:1] I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Preferred traditions vs. Gospel imperatives

Paul wants to correct the Jewish Christians – but not destroy them. He wants to firmly slam the door on ritualism, yet open a window on the wealth of the Jewish heritage; the history of God's people without the baggage of their prejudice, pride and classism. You might well hear Paul saying; “Keep it lean and lose the fat. Share the ripe history of your faith – but don’t try to make your history, the next generation’s mandate. It won’t work. They have a right to work faith through to fruition, let them also adapt traditions that will help them worship Jesus and be renewed to do His will.”

How often do we think that the music that worked for me – must work for everyone else? It is sad to see that the gap between old churches and young churches today are primarily lines drawn over Preferred Traditions – not Gospel imperatives.

“We’ve always done it this way,” versus, “It doesn’t work for me.”

These divisive issues are not scriptural. They are part of personal or communal sin: The book of 1^st Opinions versus the attitude of 2^nd Invitations. Unfortunately, it happens on both sides of the chronological spectrum.

Young families gather together and create new home churches. Others participate in thousand-member churches with multi-million dollar worship facilities. Meanwhile, older families cling to empty monoliths and preferred traditions and wonder; “What’s wrong with young people today?”

It’s not that they can’t relate – it’s that they won’t try. “This is the way we’ve always done it,” versus, “It doesn’t work for me.” Is there no medium?

From; “What’s wrong with them?” To, “How do I need to change?”

Only on very rare occasions, should we look at scripture as a tool for judging others. After all, when we judge others, ‘by the book’, we invite God to judge us by the same standard. The primary question in this week’s scripture is; “How does this reading suggest I need to change? How does it suggest my fellowship needs to change?”

Often, churches may do an extensive amount of evangelism only to find that most people who do return to the church, don’t stay. The church may change its pastor; they might even remodel the sanctuary. They might throw thousands of dollars into a publicity campaign. Yet, they are entirely ‘missing the point’.

What is the point?

1. They haven’t changed the ‘Preferred Traditions’ of the church. People come back, see the ‘same-oh, same-oh’ and leave never to be duped again.

2. The point of church is not to ‘get more members’ anyway. The point of church is to send out disciples. Church doesn’t occur on Sunday mornings – it occurs in the Gospel harvest field and in mentoring and study during the week.

3. The biggest ‘turn-off’ for most newcomers is not the music – but the way of doing business:

· Older churches do ‘business’ in a format that is preponderant and bureaucratic – not at all conducive to today’s society. Gossip is an affirmed style of communication and those who are most belligerent dictate the direction of the church.

· People today are not called to bureaucracy and committees – they are seeking relationships and meaningful involvement.

Leadership’s Role

So the impetus falls back upon the church leadership. They must constantly seek answers to questions like:

1. What are some conflicts that could arise between Preferred Traditions and Gospel Imperatives in the pews (this is Paul’s question in Romans)?

· “I ‘have a pew’ in the back and I won’t give it up.

Toward the back and nearest the door is the prized real estate of most churches (what does that say about us?). This is the place most newcomers seek when they first come to church.

· “I don’t like praise music.”

Most families today do not seek one style of music. They seek a blended worship; including traditional and contemporary music.

· “I don’t like an emotional pastor.”

The style of many denominational pastors over the last fifty years has been to reason and intellectually involve the congregation. That style does not work with today’s families who are seeking to be ‘involved’ and ‘in relationship’. Jesus, with his tendency to use stories and go straight to the heart would still be an exemplary preacher today.

· “What’s all this stuff about vision and mission? Why can’t we just do what we’ve always done?”

“What we always had,” didn’t even work for the last generation. Our churches – with the exception of Catholicism and Mormonism – have been loosing participants in droves. What is left is often a small group of people who romanticize the past. Each year that group gets smaller and smaller while the burden of the church becomes larger and larger (maintenance and pastoral salaries).

People are seeking relationships and meaningful involvement. If we want to know what will build the church of tomorrow – we shouldn’t be asking each other. We should be asking the young adults. “But we have none,” many churches say. “Get outside the doors,” is my response. Take field trips to churches that do have young adults, see what those churches are doing. Read books by pastors who have made the changes successfully. Seek mentors, the leadership of area churches who have made a successful transition to a culturally and chronologically blended church. Do all of the above!

· Why do people have to raise their hands and say, ‘Amen’? When I was young everyone knew that you didn’t publicly show your emotions.”

What I did when I was young is irrelevant to what I need to do today to reach a new generation. It is time to get that recitation out of our wallets. Doing what I have always done will only get me to where I have always been. It will not take me to where I need to go.

The fact is, people didn’t show their emotions in public but those displaced emotions came out in many unhealthy ways. The product of displaced emotions was gossip and bullying. We have a generation of displaced families who are now trying to learn how to relate with the only tools being; “I know how I don’t want to relate.” As a result, even our church marriages have a 51% failure rate.

The church today needs to provide opportunities for relationships and meaningful involvement. This means we need to teach people who reveal themselves appropriately and provide opportunities for them to experience successful ministry encounters.

2. What are some conflicts that could arise between Preferred Traditions and Gospel Imperatives in your fellowship?

· Encourage new people to help develop new traditions.

Instead of saying; “Here’s what we have… if you participate – you’re one of us.” Ask; “How can we make this a more exciting church for you?” “What do you think people your age are looking for in a church?” “What brought you here?” “What would make you want to stay?”

· “Oh we’ve already tried (in 1972) that and it doesn’t work in this church.”

The truth is that most canned door to door and mailing campaigns will fail unless the way the church ‘does business’ has changed before people walk in doors. Remember, the person who does walk through the doors has made an incredible commitment already. Can you remember when you first walked through a new church’s doors?

Most people who walk into a church have already driven by it (or seen a sign about it – or heard a friend talk about it) seven times. Very few people come to church without an invitation and that invitation (as just stated) needs to be offered multiple times.

Yet, true evangelism is like a velvet brick. It is much more invitational than over-ambitious. It is inviting someone into the shallows to learn to swim – not pushing them into deep end and saying; “You’re going to hell if you don’t learn to paddle.”

Evangelism needs to be focused on the pew level. People in the pews need to be given tools to share the Gospel ‘in all seasons’ (all situations). This needs to start with the Deacons/Elders of the church and work its way into the trenches. You cannot send people where you have not gone as a church leader.

· “We’ve always done it this way – and it’s always kept us happy.”

Once again, we need to rid ourselves of this memory verse; “We’ve always done it like this.” The us that it has always kept happy is obviously not the them that is going to reach the harvest in the future.

Ask; “Do I want a church that was valid – or is valid?”

· “Our congregation does not like that ‘kind of music’.”

‘Our congregation’ is going to get smaller and smaller if we don’t ask what ‘tomorrow’s congregation’ needs to be involved. It is not a matter of competing for scarcity in an either/or framework. There is richness in blending – unless our minds are closed against it. That is when it becomes a biblical issue.

Remember, even the Psalms were new once!

· “People won’t come back if they hear that kind of emotional preaching.”

People who aren’t drowning want a lifeguard who is calm. People who are drowning want a lifeguard is passionate enough to save their lives by any means possible.

The greatest contradiction in church is a body of older believers who have already ‘made theirs’ and now seeks to ‘enjoy it’ – and a body of people who feel like they are drowning. There are many who are tanning on the deck that feel like the lifeguard is too overanxious and the people who are drowning got themselves into their own situation and should pull themselves out of it.

Where would Christ be at the pool? Look at last week’s Gospel reading. Was he in the boat watching Peter sink or in the waves ‘immediately’ taking Peter’s hand? Where should the church be?

· “I was bored when I was a kid in the pew, now it’s their turn. After all, what’s wrong with kids these days?”

“What is wrong with kids these days?” They are being raised in an extremely dysfunctional society. A society they themselves did not create – a society that I had a hand in passing on to them.

Television became the primary baby-sitter under my watch. The school became more important than the family under my watch (with the rise of the dual-income family). Alcohol became the placebo in the generation before me and my generation improved the potency and availability of the ‘drugs of choice’.

To wash my hands of the sins of my generation is to take my place next to Pontius Pilate and proclaim; “I am innocent of this man’s (these children’s) blood.”

Jesus preferred the children over the Pharisees (pious Christians) and his own flock (the disciples). Do our churches resemble his? Are we outdoors with children climbing all over our Lord in play? Are there children sitting in our laps being blessed in His name? Are children spontaneously proclaiming Christ’s name in the temple?

Admittedly, this is one of the primary reasons that our band (The Freed Band) keeps playing at the homeless shelter every Sunday night. Not only because those children are the victims ‘of my watch’ (and the fastest growing demographic group of homeless in the United States), but also because they are just plain fun to be with during worship. Call me selfish – but, you will have to stand in line to do so.

There are a lot of people who think that ‘we don’t pay our pastors to go there’. When a prophet came to town, he didn’t stay inside the house. It is time our congregations free their pastors to do their job. It is time our pastors stand up and go regardless of the consequences. It is time our churches take their place at the prophet’s sides – or, at least get out of the way!

Sometimes, it helps me to compare the ‘preferred traditions’ list of my life with the Gospel Imperatives list of Romans.

For example;

· “Would I rather have my preferred music all the time – or young families in my church?”

· Would I rather do things as they have always been done – or am I prepared to mentor a new generation of people as they try learn how to make it work for them (like I did when I was their age)? Every church leader (if you have been in the church for over a year – sometimes even less – than this means you) should have a mentor – do you?

· Would I rather have no kids at all – or kids that are ‘harder to control’ than they ‘used to be’?

· Would I rather have no new families – or families that are single, blended and experiencing the difficulties of the battered society in which they were raised? The pickings among ‘perfect families’ is getting really slim these days.

Listen to what Paul called ‘the perfect church’:

1^st Corinthians 14:23-25

[23] If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? [24] But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; [25] the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. (NAS)

When Paul addresses ‘speaking in tongues’ he is addresses something that edifies the individual; something that is between the individual and God. We can also interpret this to include anything that fosters a relationship of “Just God and me.” Many people say; “Well, I like my style of music, my style of prayer, my order of worship.” That is not an attitude of worship that would work in the style of church Paul was building in the Holy Spirit.

Paul was addressing the crumbling church at Corinth. A church inundated by people who were saying; 1) My gifts are greater than yours, and 2) my gifts are the only way to truly worship God.

Paul attacks this thinking. He basically states; “If we all do our own thing – if we all focus on what gives me personal edification then you will drive away new believers. Instead, everyone must prophesy (tell how Jesus is influencing their life) making Christ the center of worship – not myself.”

If Christ is the center of proclamation, then new people will come. They will be convicted by how empty their lives are and how hungry they are for a new life. Why in the world would we want our agenda and our traditions inhibit that kind of future???

Romans 11:2

[2] God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.

Paul is not rejecting the past

God doesn’t want to see the old ways rejected, no more than He wants to see the young people turned away. That, in essence was the ‘Roman Problem’.

It is rejection based upon human parameters that God rejects.

Rejection based upon Preferred Traditions. It is unfortunate that people see this as an either/or proposition, forming territories and turf battles around such ridiculously peripheral issues. Taking positions, threatening to ‘fire the pastor,’ ‘leave the church’, ‘take my money down the block’, how childish we become. How embarrassing to our God.

That shows the humanity in us – not the divine. That is exactly the church that most people have decided to leave and to which they will not return. Too many young adults have witnessed that ‘kind of crap’ in their homes – they simply will not witness it in a ‘fellowship of their choosing’. That is the church that needs to change.

The formula for change is not difficult – the attitudes of change are difficult. However that is only a problem if we are trapped in fear and pride (does that make it any easier)? Still, who is the healer of all fear?

I John 4:18-19

[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. [19] We love, because He first loved us. (NAS)

Seven Steps to Church Change and Growth

1. Personal repentance;

I John 1:7-10

[7] If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (NAS)

2. Agree on ‘rules’ of scriptural communication;

3. Leadership repentance;

4. Communal repentance;

5. Seek what the scriptures say – not the popular opinion;

6. Pray, fast, retreat (wait upon the Lord for the ‘forty days’ – scripturally that means ‘as long as it takes’);

7. Bury the past (have a funeral if necessary) and go on to the future (have a baptism if necessary).

8. Start to ‘work for’ God – not ‘work on’ each other.

If, at that point, the current leadership is not trusted to pursue growth by Gospel Imperative, then seek someone who has addressed these issues successfully in a church that is now ‘out in the harvest’.

Paul offers a ‘olive branch’ (sign of peace) to the Jewish Christians for ongoing relationship. “Your traditions are rich! They are my traditions too. This is not easy for any of us; after all, I was once a Pharisee.”

Paul doesn’t want to see the Jewish Believers leave. He loves the heritage – he is enamored by the whole story of God – the covenant Jesus fulfills, the story that leads to the promise. However, he will not abide the church to be subjected to the law which is death. Only to Jesus who is life. He doesn’t want the Jewish Christians to leave – but will he change his message to accommodate them? We will he tone down his words and allow them ‘a little sin’ and ‘a little pride’ over the new Gentile believers. That is about as likely as slime becoming man. Some choose to believe it – but that doesn’t make it true.

God is a ‘tough lover’. Still, we must remember – if faith is easy, it is not of God. If our god is homeostasis – it is not the God of the bible.

Our God is a tent God. He wants to keep us on the move. We need to carry only what we need for the day – no extra baggage. Not even a compass or a jack knife. Our God will be a “column of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night.” If we show up on the hillside with a few barley loaves and a couple of sardines – he will still feed the ten to fifteen thousand. Our God has carved us into the palm of His hand. Could you ever forget the pain of scar like that? Put your finger in the nail marks – give Him all the doubt and take from Him all the faith you need for the journey.

Sadly, if I have a problem leaving the past behind – then I would have a problem with Avraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Haggai, John the Baptist on and on through Jesus – then through Peter, Paul, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Pope John the XXIII, Martin Luther King, Jr., Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa. (Man… If I am going to have problems with people – I don’t want it to be those people)!

Let me have problems with the right things – not with things that hardly even matter in the moment!

Remember these words by Ralph Waldo Emerson?

How do you measure success?

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people

And the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

And to endure the betrayals of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better

Whether by a healthy child,

A redeemed social condition,

Or a job well done;

To know even one other life has breathed

Because you have lived –

This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do you want to hear about your endeavors on the earth?

· “He sure knew Robert’s Rules of Order.”

· “He could always argue a point of view.”

· “He got what he wanted.”

Or, do you want to hear:

· “He loved the Lord.”

· “He allowed himself to be used by Jesus and Jesus used him all up (to the heavenly realms).”

· “You could see Jesus in him – in the way that he loved the least of these and antagonized the most of those.”

The Gospel Imperatives

Still, the grace is this: Paul tells us that God doesn’t hate our traditions. Social gatherings at churches that were practiced by ‘my grandma’s mom’ are not ‘an abomination before the Lord’. Hymns (that were taken from bar songs in the 1600’s) can still bring hope today. The critical argument that Paul is making is that we cannot make ‘our way of doing things’, God’s imperative. We cannot say; “It worked for me – it has to work for you.” We need to ask; “What is essential to bring new people to Christ today.”

And what are the Imperatives?

· “God is love. God loves you!

· God is joy. God has joy in store for you!

· Jesus can bring us into relationship with God. You can bring others into relationship with Jesus.

· Now, how can I help YOU experience that love today?” “What kind of music, preaching, fellowship, bible studies, service would lead you into meaningful relationship with our Lord today?

The hardest thing that Paul did for the Jewish Church was love her – as the Bride of Christ. She banished him from her walls and he loved her. She was eventually responsible for having him put to death. Yet, he loved her.

Paul saw the Bride of Christ for what she could be and he loved her. Then, he saw the Bride of Christ for what she really was – no make up, no holds barred – and he loved her.

Finally, he made the toughest decision of anyone’s life and chose to once again see her as she could be – and he loved her. He loved her even when she killed him.

Romans 11:29-31

The irrevocable call

Verse 29 is an “hallelujah’ verse of the greatest kind. God’s blessing cannot be taken back. His call to our hearts are (in Greek) without repentance – they cannot be turned around.

Think of it. It is not you who are holding on to the Lord by the tips of your brittle fingernails – it is God who is hanging on to you by the firmness of His embrace.

To put that into courser terminology (for those who aren’t conditioned to the frilly language of empowerment and love): God is like the Drill Sergeant of your worst nightmare. You may go AWOL – but he will hunt you down and find you and drag your whimpering carcass back into the barracks whether you go kicking or screaming. You might hide in the bottom of a bar glass – but he is the scalped crew-cut giant leaning over your shoulder with great big purple veins protruding from you think used to be a neck and shouting in your ear: “Soldier – you want to wear that glass or are you ready to take this man’s army seriously! If you had half the brain I think you have – which would be a quarter of the brain you probably do have – you would be streaming out of here for base with nothing but the bottoms of your shoes showing! NO MAN WALKS OUT OF MY ARMY!”

You were once disobedient

The term used for disobedience is ‘willful and perversely un-persuadable’. Not just disobedient like a puppy that does not know better. It is like an adult that does know better and still acts willfully perverse.

This would stab to the hearts of the Jews – yet, it would be undeniable. Even more, Paul was condemning himself in this statement. Paul is intending to raise guilt. How unlike strategies that psychologists and popular self-esteem pushers would instruct us today. “Oh you mustn’t upset the fragile self-esteem.”

“Bull-booties,” Paul would respond!

Paul would use whatever it took to awaken God’s people to God’s role in their lives. In this case, he was dredging up their sinful past to tell them to quit dredging up the sinful past of the new Christians. “That puddle of muck you’re standing in ain’t holy water,” Paul was saying. “You better step out of it before you pick up any lightning bolts to cast at others.”

For Christians, judgment should always begin with self-judgment.

Matthew 7:3-5

[3] "And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [4] "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? [5] "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (NAS)

Your greatest tool

What Paul goes on to reveal is the greatest tool of Christianity. It is not our arguments that convert, nor our traditions, rituals, or constitutions. It is our humility.

People are converted when they see the power of the risen Christ on another’s face.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me;

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

- John Newton, slave tradesman turned preacher

The greatest tool of a Christian is not, “You should…” Our greatest tool is, “What He did…”

Romans 11:32

[32] For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

This is not a very pleasant tag line to today’s reading. The word ‘shut up’ doesn’t mean that he will tell judgmental loud mouths to ‘shut up’. It literally means He will powerfully and inconclusively shut them up. It means that he will take the lot of them, bind them together and conclusively deal with them. Or, as Jesus said;

Matthew 13:30

30 'Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (NAS)

Now the humble believer may not be around to see it – but He is gonna do it! The truly humble believer does not look forward to this happening. There is no revenge on their lips. There is only pleading as Stephen did for his murderers – who happened to include the Apostle Paul;

Acts 7:60

60 And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep. (NAS)

Had Stephen not prayed that prayer – I don’t think that Paul would have been saved. I believe that the worst punishment was in store for Paul. He was going to be ‘shut up’ and burned.

That is the framework from which Paul preaches – a framework of a man confronted by sin – willful and perverse sin – and then, set free by the freedom of a man he murdered.

Click here to sign-up for the weekly Bible Study