Therefore…
—Romans 12:1
Dear Family of APUMC,
To build on our introduction of Romans 12 last Sunday, I wanted to share these words from theologians Sylvia Keesmaat and Brian Walsh in their book, Romans Disarmed (2019).
In an attempt to unpack the meaning of “therefore” for the present age, the writers offer this contemporary translation. I am including here just a portion of what is a much longer work.
Take your time with it. See what you think.
“Therefore, sisters and brothers, friends in Christ, if it is true that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, and that no other leader, or nation, or ethnic identity, or institution, or system of economics, or political structure can demand your ultimate allegiance;
If it is true that the gospel of Jesus is truer, more radical, and more transforming than any other grand narrative,
or worldview on offer;
If it is true that this gospel has the power to disarm all legitimation of violence,
to overthrow all scapegoating, all ethnic exclusion,
through the loving and inclusive embrace of Jesus;
If it is true, that this is a gospel of radical justice, rooted in the faithfulness of Messiah Jesus,
calling for a covenantal faithfulness of those who will follow him,
who will bow the knee or pledge of allegiance to no other god;
If it is true that while we were enemies,
God reconciled us, made us whole,
through the death and resurrection of Jesus,
that Jesus embodied enemy love on a cross
and broke the deathly power of injustice by breaking open the imperial grave;
If it is true that in this resurrection life
we are called to abandon all injustice
and present our bodies, every dimension of our lives,
as servants, instruments, tools, even slaves, of justice, regardless of the cost;
If it is true that God is taking a homeless
and divided people at the heart of the empire
and calling them to be family,
to make a home of welcoming hospitality together
in the face of generations of enmity;
If it is true that this restoring mercy of God
extends to all creation,
still longing for redemption in the face of ecological devastation,
crying out under the burden of climate breakdown,
waiting for the children of God to abandon an economics of extraction
and to take up a loving and regenerative relationship with creation;
If it is true, that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Messiah Jesus, our only rightful Lord;
neither death nor life…
neither violence nor unemployment…
neither ridicule nor terrorism;
If it is true that in a post-truth world
the depths and riches and wisdom and knowledge of God are unsearchable;
and if it is true that in a world of market supremacy that glorifies brash displays of gold-plated opulence
we stubbornly confess that all things are from God, through God, and to God,
and that all true glory is God’s and God’s alone;
If all of this is true…”
Then what? The authors continue on in their interpretation, but I’d like to pause and invite us to continue this reflection among ourselves.
If all of this is believed to be true, then Paul makes the appeal for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1).
What a phrase! What does “living sacrifice” mean to you? To the church of Jesus Christ at Ashland Place?
Let love be genuine, he says. Hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good (12:9). Everything else Paul has to teach us about Christian community is presented through that lens of authentic agape love.
That is our focus for this week.
Amidst the Hilarity of our Kickoff Cookout this Sunday, we will also be hearing from Dr. Blake Horne of Embrace Alabama Kids. He comes to share further testimony with us of lives that are being changed by the sacrifice of others whose actions have embodied the loving, gracious, and generous hospitality of God.
We look forward to a day of worship, feasting, laughing, cheering, playing and (maybe?!) dancing. Worship is at 10. Food will be ready by 11:15. The Mobile Fire Department truck will be rolling in at 12:15. Kickoff for flag football will begin at 12:30. Live music with Doc Rodgers and the Rock Dodgers will begin no later than 1:00. Other surprises are also in the works.
Looking at the radar, the cloud cover should work out perfectly.