Do you read advice columns? They illustrate perfectly how relatives and religious people say some wonderful and awful things. In one column, a while back, a person wrote to say that his understanding of faith called for him to ‘spiritually divorce’ himself from anyone whose views were not in tune with his. The advice columnist response was this thinking did not fit with the general understanding that theology is about love rather than hate. So the concept of staying apart from those who disagree with you would not be wise. In a recent column “Ask Annie” was queried on how to stop a relative from being a bully? Citing an earlier bit of advice where Annie had said simply leave when relatives become insulting and overbearing (the advice seeker) said this did not seem fair, and wanted to know how to change the behavior of said relative? Annie responded by saying leaving is always the first best option because while we cannot change the way others treat us, we can remove ourselves from toxic circumstances.
I remember hearing a lively and engaging sermon some years ago. The title was “You Can’t Box God, Your Arms Are Too Short.” The premise was similar to most of the writings of Paul. Who are we to argue with the workings and wonder of God? Yet we humans have been doing just that for millennia. Fighting with God over who is elect and who is damned? Creating our own rules with regard to who is accepted and who must be shunned in the name of faith? Even to the point of killing people simply because their views are different. It happens yet today. In Romans 11 Paul is responding to serious questions. The first is why and how Gentiles can be part of the realm of God? The second is, if this is so, what becomes of Israel with regard to being the elect, or chosen of God?
In his wonderful rhetorical idiom the Apostle asks and answers the questions. Did God reject Israel? Of course not, and then to underscore this point, “I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.” As to how gentiles are part of the ‘Party’ Paul writes in verse thirty-two “God has imprisoned all in disobedience in order to show mercy to all.” This, of course, ended all dissent, debate, and demeaning treatment in all religious arenas. Remember our brother writes before the Church split East and West, denominations, the crusades and all the fun religious bigotry of the twentieth century. His point then and now still holds. It is God who invites and invests in humanity. In our dissent and undignified beliefs and behavior we often miss God’s graciousness.
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
