Readings for today: Romans 9-12
It’s hard to overstate the radical inclusivity of the gospel. It includes people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. It includes people from every social and economic level. It includes men and women and children. It includes people from every political party. It includes people from every sexual identity. Whatever the world marks as a “distinction” that sets a group of people apart - for good or for ill - the gospel tears down those barriers. And that’s why the Apostle Paul can say in Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
This was a shocking idea in first century Roman and Jewish society and frankly, it’s still a shocking idea in the 21st century. The Romans had a well-established caste system. Those with wealth and power advanced in society. Those who were poor and powerless were trampled on. Men were esteemed and honored. Women were limited in what they could and could not do. Following Aristotle, slaves and free people were both born into their condition. It was incredibly rare for anyone to break through all these barriers. For the Jews, the “system” was religious. People were divided into clean and unclean categories, depending on the particular sect you followed. Pharisees, Sadducees, zealots, Essenes, etc. all had their different rules and customs that a person had to follow if they wanted to be included. Of course, we see many of those same dynamics in play in our culture today. There are still vast differences between the rich and poor, powerful and powerless. People still divide along ethnic, social, and political lines. Careers depend on influence and access. Success depends on the circles one runs in. Inclusion requires conformity to a certain set of norms determined by those who are in charge.
The gospel pushes us beyond all these human-made barriers. It pushes us to reach across the aisle and expand our tent to include all who call on the name of the Lord. The only entrance requirement into the Kingdom of God is belief in Jesus Christ. Let me say that again for those in the back…the only entrance requirement into the Kingdom of God is belief in Jesus Christ. Anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. This is as radical a message today as it was when Paul and the other apostles first proclaimed it all those centuries ago. And any church that truly and honestly and authentically proclaims this message will soon find themselves crossing all kinds of barriers. It isn’t easy work, of course. There will be a lot of resistance as the Spirit breaks down the barriers we have created in our own hearts towards those who are different than us. There will be conflict as people naturally try to reinforce certain social patterns or cultural norms and impose them on others. But through it all, God promises to keep working with us. He promises to keep breaking us down and building us back up in His image. He promises to keep breaking down our churches and building them back up so they might become the inclusive communities He’s called them to be. God is faithful! And nothing will be impossible with Him!
Readings for tomorrow: Romans 13-16