The Promise of God: Inclusive or Exlcusive?

Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

The big argument in Romans is that apart from Jesus Christ, no justification before God is possible.  We cannot through our own good works achieve and maintain our relationship with God. We cannot be born into our salvation or have it transferred from another person.  Each of us stands before God, individually, and in desperate need of redemption.  The good news of the gospel is that through Christ we do not stand alone. As the Lutheran formula on justification I was taught declares: by grace, through faith, apart from works of the law.  On our own we are in trouble, but through the amazing gift of grace and the death and resurrection of Jesus, we share in the promise of eternal life.

This promise is articulated succinctly in Romans 10:9.  If you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in the resurrection you will have salvation.  By grace, through faith, apart from works of the law.  This is the promise Jesus gave his life for, a promise that is good news for us and the world, a promise God will keep and which we can trust.  But what about those who do not confess or do not believe?  Does this positive promise mean that those who do not believe will necessarily receive the opposite?  Are those without faith going to burn in the fiery depths of hell?  Is salvation a take-it-or-leave-it, one-time only, proposition?  Are the promises of God for everyone or just Christians?  Is God obligated to punish unbelievers in hell as he is obligated to grant mercy to those who believe?

These are deep are troubling questions that Paul raises that have an incredible relevancy to our cultural context today.  As a person of faith I deeply believe in the promise of salvation by grace through faith, but I also struggle with the notion that a loving and merciful God would offer grace to some and punishment to others.  I say this knowing that several places in scripture point to exactly this.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

I might wish to say that all people, no matter who they are or what they believe, will be saved, passages like John 14:6 give me a difficult time making the case biblically. Jesus himself tells us that the only way to God is through him.  The good news of salvation then carries with it an urgency for those who like me have trouble thinking of people cut off from the promises of God. We need to share the good news with the world. 

Paul himself in Romans 9-11 struggles with these questions as he considers that fate of Israel, the chosen people of God.  It is Paul's deep hope and belief that somehow God will provide a way to include the Jewish people.  While Paul affirms the exclusivity of Christ as the only way to salvation he also understood that God's heart is for all people and that no one is excluded from God's love.  God desires that all people will be reconciled to God.  Jesus points to this inclusive heart of God as well:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.¹⁷   Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

The heart of the gospel is expressed in this passage.  Jesus came to save and God's heart is for the whole world, not just for a few.  So what do we do with all of this?  Do we continue to maintain that only through Christ and only to those who believe that salvation can happen?  Or do we somehow believe that God's plan will eventually include all people and the whole creation?

Ultimately we all have to sort this out for ourselves and in relation to how we live in the world.  Do we aggressively evangelize people from other faith traditions?  Do we keep our faith to ourselves and hope for the best?  I believe in the promise that through Christ I am saved.  I believe that because of Christ's death and resurrection, God offers to all people the gift of grace and mercy.  I have accepted the gift and I have received the promise. I trust the promise and strive to live my life in response to it.  But it is not for me to know or decide about the salvation status of anyone else.  Salvation is God's business.  I know the promise is real and true but after that God is God and I am not.  As Jesus tells the disciples immediately before his ascension:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority." Acts 1:6-7

As much as we might want to know what happens outside of the promise of Christ it is simply not for us to know.  God will handle it.  We must simply trust the promise given as a free gift of grace and share the love of God, first given to us, with the world.  For now, that is enough.

Boast in Hope and Suffering!

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings. Romans 5:1-3

It is easy to give God glory for the good things in life. When all is well we naturally make a conscious link between our good fortune and God's blessing upon our life.  This is of course very appropriate--we should give God thanks for the good things in our life. But what about when we suffer and endure hardships?  Do we then blame God?  Do we believe God is rewarding us when things go well but punishing us when things go poorly?

It is these types of questions that Paul is addressing in Romans 5:1-5; how do we understand times of blessing and times of suffering.  For Paul, it starts with being justified, or made right, before God.  Because of God's amazing grace we have peace with God.  We no longer have to worry where we stand with the Lord because of what God has done for us.  We know how the story ends.  God's love for us trumps everything else and we receive the gift of God's grace which offers the promise of eternal life in the future and peace in the present.  Paul says we should "boast" in our hope because we will share in the glory of God.  We should be so strong in our faith, so confident with our standing before God that we boast.  We have nothing to fear!  God has won the fight and declared victory on our behalf!

But for Paul it is not just about boasting in times of triumph but boasting in our suffering as well. Because of what Christ has done for us, not only do we know how the story ends, we also know that the pain and sorrow of this world can be redeemed for God's glory.  We can learn from our suffering; we can grow from our hardships.  In fact, it is often when we suffer and struggle that we have the opportunity to depend on God in powerful ways.  In my life, it has been when situations have overwhelmed me, when I was out of ideas and struggling that I turned to God in pain and desperation.  Those moments helped me grow and while I do not wish to go through them today, I would not be who I am without the experience of pain and suffering.

When we have peace with God, and confidence in God's grace we can truly boast in our success and suffering.  Thanks be to God!

The Wrath and Grace of God

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18

God's wrath. How does that make you feel?  Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable both because it challenges my image of God as loving and gracious, but it also makes me very nervous.  While the Old Testament is filled with stories that depict God as angry and judging, the prevailing image of God in the New Testament is found in the person of Jesus Christ.  Some might even argue that because of Jesus' death and resurrection God is no longer angry at humanity but loving.  What then do we make of Paul's argument about God's wrath in Romans 1:18?

In Romans Paul offers a powerful indictment against all who seek to justify themselves outside of Jesus Christ.  The ungodly Gentiles who believed they did not need God and the Jewish community who smugly thought they would be acceptable to God based on their merit or birthright are called out and blasted by Paul in the first two chapters of Romans.  Simply put: there is no way to God through our own effort.  On our own God's response to us is wrath.  God is angry at our wickedness, our sin, our rebellion.  While God's wrath may make us uncomfortable, shouldn't God be angry about some things?  When is wrath from God the appropriate response?

I personally want a God who gets angry at injustice, oppression, and suffering. I want a God who cannot tolerate the evil that is present in our world.  War, greed, indifference, exploitation, racism, abuse, all should make God full of wrath and fury.  If God cannot get mad at these things so present in humanity, then what does that say?  I believe God is a God of justice and wants us to actively fight for justice in the world. 

At the same time, God's grace not God's wrath gets the final word.  Paul's argument is that while we too deserve God's wrath, because of Jesus' death and resurrection we are offered the gift of grace rather than punishment.

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

Through Christ we are made right with God, not because we deserve it (we deserve wrath) but because of what Christ did for us.  The grace of God gives us a pass from God's wrath.  But just because God is gracious and loving does not mean God accepts sin and wickedness.  Perhaps a way to think about it is this: without God's wrath there is no need for God's grace.

What then is our response?  Will we simply rejoice in the gift of grace, celebrating that we will not suffer punishment?  Or because of what God has done for us are we called to speak against injustice, oppression, and exploitation and seek God's will for the world?  God's grace has changed my life, but not just for me but for the world.  What do you say?

1.  Do you respond more to God's grace or God's wrath?  How are you responding?

2.  What should God be angry about in our world today?  How should be respond?

3.  How can we receive God's gift of grace and avoid judging others?

Journey of Faith

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

The Story of Abraham is a story of great faithfulness and trust. Abraham is told by God to leave his home, his family, and everything he knows to go to place the Lord will show him. Abraham didn’t know where he was going or how long it would take; he simply trusted God would lead him where he was intended to go. It is because of his great faith and trust that Abraham is recognized as the “father” of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith. What is particularly striking to me is Abraham’s willingness to go on a journey of faith and that he discovers himself and God’s plan for his life along the way.

We are all on a journey in life and certainly with God. While we may often wish to plan out our every decision and chart a course for our life, more often our journey is filled with surprises, setbacks, and moments of grace. Abraham learned how to be faithful by going on his journey, not by knowing everything in advance. Similarly, the first followers of Jesus were not called “Christian” but people of “the way.” The early disciples realized that being faithful to God involves moving out of our comfort zones and trusting God to lead us where we need to go. It is never easy to depart from the safety of the known, but faithfulness requires that we move past of fears and need to control and move toward the path of discipleship.

What is holding you back from going for God?

Do you truly trust God in your life or do you really prefer to be in control?

Imitators of Christ

The apostle Paul was integral to the growth of the early church. Paul traveled throughout Asia Minor to share the good news of Jesus with all he met. When he was received well he would often stay for extended periods of time to begin a new local congregation. Paul used the time to instill the basic message of the Gospel and train local leaders to lead the congregation. Once Paul felt the local church and leaders were ready he would head to the next town and start over. Paul used letters to correspond with the churches he established as a way of continuing relationships and offer guidance on specific issues and problems the church faced.

While Paul certainly was held in high esteem as leader of the church, he did not see himself as superior or above the leaders he helped train. Most often, Paul used the language of partnership to describe his ongoing relationship with church leaders. In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul specifically gives thanks and praise for the faith and leadership of the church leaders. Paul also shared how he had been praying for the leaders of the church and giving thanks for their many gifts. This is a spiritual friendship of mutual respect but also one characterized through mentoring. Paul is mentor to the leaders of the church while also showing deep respect and gratitude for them.

Paul was a mentor to the burgeoning church leaders through imitation. As he tells the Thessalonians:

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Paul, who is imitating the example from Christ, asks the church to imitate him to learn how to be faithful. This is not Paul displaying arrogance or trying to imply that he is the only example to follow. Paul’s method of mentoring is behavioral and implies that we learn how to be faithful to Christ by learning from others and imitating their example. It is in relationship with those who have already developed a deep relationship with God that we can learn to be faithful. Put another way, we all need spiritual mentors in our life. We need faithful saints who have been through much in life and who have wisdom and love to share.

If you are in the beginning of your journey it is time to seek out an experienced and respected person of faith. Take time to learn from them how God has worked in their lives. Take notice how they make regular time from prayer and scripture. Observe how they respond to stressful and difficult situations. See how they use their gifts to serve others, how they give generously of their time, talent, and treasure. Very often God will place these faith giants in our life for our benefit. We need to humble ourselves and seek their guidance and counsel.

On the other hand, if you are a person who has a strong faith and developed a deep relationship with Christ, consider whether God might be calling you to mentor a person at the beginning of their faith journey. You have much to offer and those new to the faith need to learn how to be disciples. You don’t need a advanced theological degree or a position on a church staff, simply a strong faith and love for others. In the end we are all seeking to follow the crucified and risen Christ, and in this journey of faith we are meant to travel together.

Praying for One Another

Spiritual friendships are absolutely critical to our faith development. There are so many challenges and setbacks in life that we simply cannot walk alone. When we enter into intentional spiritual friendships which center on supporting and encouraging one another, we can endure hardship and overcome obstacles in ways we could not on our own. Alone we are easy prey for the evil one, but when we stand together in faith we can be strong for each other and experience a deep connectedness to one another and to the Lord. We are designed to be in relationship with God and each other, and when relationships of trust, encouragement, and accountability thrive we deepen our faith in profound ways.

Jesus understood the need for relationships for his ministry and for the church. As he prepared to go to the cross he took time in prayer to lift up concerns for the disciples and their future.

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:9-11

When Jesus discusses his earthly ministry he centers his work on the relationship he has with God and with the disciples. Jesus says he is “glorified in them” which implies that the work of Jesus (his life, death, and resurrection) is fundamentally connected to the relationships he has. Jesus could not be our Lord and Savior without God and without his disciples; we find our meaning and purpose in relationships.

Additionally, Jesus’ prayer expresses his deep and abiding concern for the disciples. He asks God to protect them and to help them continue in relationship with each other. As Jesus prepares to go to the cross he knows how tempting it will be for the disciples to go their own ways and not maintain their unity. Jesus’ prayer is that the relationships he helped establish between the disciples be maintained and strengthened. He knows that together they will be able to carry on Jesus’ ministry and start the church. On their own they will be easily dismissed, distracted, and dismayed.

Jesus’ prayer tells us that we are not meant to be alone. We must seek relationships with others for mutual support and encouragement. We must give and receive the prayers of others in order to fulfill God’s call on our lives. We cannot do it on our own but with God and the prayers of others all things are possible.

Transformation through Giving

Luke 19:1-10

The story of Zacchaeus is well known to those of us who grew up learning the Sunday School song: Zacchaeus was a wee little man and we little man was he…. This song captured the eagerness of Zacchaeus to see Jesus for himself and Jesus’ deep desire to be in relationship with Zacchaeus. What this children’s song misses is the transformation Zacchaeus undergoes as a result of his encounter with Jesus.

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector and very rich according to the scriptures. In those days the Roman Empire collected taxes from the residents of the land they had conquered. Their method was to enlist the help of the people to collect taxes from their fellow neighbors. In this case Zacchaeus, who is Jewish, is working to collect taxes from his fellow Jews for the Roman Empire. These taxes were extremely high (70% or more) and were collected in ways which were often corrupt and unjust. The tax collectors would then get a commission on whatever taxes they collected and then send the rest to the Romans. Needless to say tax collectors were despised and generally considered unjust and corrupt. To become a chief tax collector was to not only collect taxes but to oversee the entire tax collecting operation. Zacchaeus was well known by the people and hated for all that he had done. There is little doubt that Zacchaeus cheated, stole, and bribed his way to the top.

The people were thus shocked when Jesus invites Zacchaeus into relationship. The people would have expected Jesus to side with those who were oppressed and poor and instead Jesus seeks out the powerful, rich, and corrupt tax collector. Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus is transformational.

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Luke 19:8

Zacchaeus is confronted with the truth about himself when he sees Jesus. He can no longer hide behind his wealth and power when standing before the Lord. His declaration is one of repentance for all that he had done and become. He certainly had cheated and defrauded others and become rich while making many people poor. Jesus confronts Zacchaeus by showing him the truth. While we may want to discard and dismiss the oppressive Zacchaeus, Jesus singles him out and calls him into a new life.

The transformation of Zacchaeus can be described as going from being a taker to becoming a giver. Being a follower of Jesus means we are not only concerned with our own well being and wealth but we are concerned with others. Being a follower of Jesus means it matters how we make our money and how others are affected by our wealth. Jesus also knew that Zacchaeus could not be faithful until he knew how to give to others.

It is in giving that we are most like God. It is when we share with those who are in need that we can understand the meaning of grace in a new way. Zacchaeus needed to be transformed by God’s love before he could understand who he was, a child of God in need of redemption. Once he had been given grace by God he could then become generous and gracious to others. May we also receive and know the love of God, become transformed from the inside out, and be generous with all we have as God has been generous with us.