An Irony of Paul

Today at Salem we had our first ritual that introduced candidates that are preparing for either Holy Baptism or Affirmation of Holy Baptism. 

The first and second lessons that were appointed in the lectionary today dealt with community.  I preached today and will spare you the sermon but wrestling with Paul gave me some wonderful insights in being a part of a community. 

In St. Paul's letter to the Romans he is trying to reconcile the tension between Jewish and Greek Christians.  Romans 10:8-13 is a passage in which Paul is really trying to be all inclusive though we often interpret it to have exclusive meaning. 

Paul writes:  Brothers and sisters:  What does Scripture say?  The word is near you,/ in your mouth and in your heart - that is, the word of faith that we preach -, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.  For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame.  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him, For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'  

Many Christians see that text and think, "oh, that is all I need to do in order to be saved."  "To believe and to confess".  The irony is that Paul is trying to demonstrate some common ground with the Roman community, that there differences do not matter it is their common faith in Christ that calls them to be together in community.  I think many today may use this text as a way to see no need to belong to a community....they can individualize salvation and put the monkey on their back so to speak thinking that all they have to do is believe and confess forgetting that the faith with have is through Christ!

Paul is trying to keep a community together, he is saying that salvation is inclusive! NOT exclusive!  This Jesus and the salvation that has been won through the cross sees no distinction between Jew or Gentile......These groups of different background and culture can come together for they are now a family by belonging to Christ Jesus.

That was one of the readings read on this Sunday as Salem Lutheran Church welcomed Candidates who are beginning a process to say yes! to the invitation of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  When understanding Paul's context as he writes his letter to the Roman community, I was pleased to see one of the Sponsor and one of the Candidates.  The sponsor a Vietnam War Veteran, the Candidate a conscientious objector to the war, a rebel in his day.  To see that relationship blossom and flourish not just among them but within this church community gets me choked up.  Between those two gentleman though the world sees differences and distinction, Christ sees none and is Lord and Savior of both of them. 

There are times when I am frustrated and discouraged.  I look at the church and feel at times that we get it wrong more often than we get it right. 

Seeing this today was a instance in which I proclaimed gratitude to my God, these two men are examples of when the church gets it right, hears the gospel and lives it out.  Both inside and outside the faith community!

Thanks be to God!  Amen!