Christian Unity Glorifies God
This week, the largest evangelical group in the United States met in their annual conference. Among the decisions they reached, was not to further restrict the role of women in the church. While 61% of those voting were in favor of further restrictions on women in ministry positions within the Southern Baptist Convention, the vote failed to reach the 66% that was required to pass the proposed restrictions. For now, there is still room for women to work in positions of leadership within Southern Baptist Convention churches. Those women and men continue to work together in Christian unity to glorify God. Paul’s message in Romans 15:1-13 was on that called for unity in the church. He urged Jewish and Gentile believers to accept one another regardless of their background or imperfections and to lift one another up, all for the purpose of glorifying God. I pray that we will seek to glorify God in all that we do, and that we will work in unity with other believers for that purpose. Amen.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:1-4) Paul encouraged Christians who were stronger in their faith to help build up those who were weaker. He urged us to think of others as opposed to thinking only of ourselves and acting to please ourselves first. Paul cited scripture and Jesus’ own actions as support of his call for us to think of others first. Scripture should give us encouragement and help us through example to endure. The result of our encouragement of one another and the encouragement of scripture should help us to endure and remind us of the hope that we have in Jesus.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6) Paul offered a prayer of encouragement and endurance for Christians here in verses 5-6. Our desire and aim should be to glorify God even in our trials, both individually and corporately with our conduct.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:7-13) Paul called upon the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome to accept one another and to be unified in Christ. God always intended both Jews and Gentiles to worship Him and Paul cites multiple scriptures to confirm that. As Christians, we too are to accept one another, despite our shortcomings and shortfalls. Why? Because Christ accepted us even though we were (and still are) anything but perfect. Finally, Paul closes with a prayer and blessing. His prayer is that God, who is our hope as Christians, would fill us with joy, peace and faith in Him. And that God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would cause us to overflow with hope.
Paul’s message in Romans 15:1-13 was a message calling for unity in the church. Unity in the body of Christ that would allow us to lift up those who are weak to help them grow stronger in their faith. Unity in the body of Christ that would help us to heal divisions that arise due to differences in background, gender, ethnicity, race, etc. Unity in the body of Christ that would encourage us in the face of trials and tribulations in our lives, and help us to endure. And unity that reinforces to us that we are one body in Jesus and our faith and hope is in Him. When we love, work and worship together with other believers in harmony, rather than engaging in practices that divide, exclude or ostracize members of the body of Christ, we find that our calling as Christians is justified, the devil is horrified…. And above all else, God is glorified!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
