Housechurching - Romans 11
Today we had a great discussion over Romans 11 for our housechurch. We discussed pride. Romans 11 is specifically written to the Gentile Christians of the Roman churches. (Romans 10 had specifically been written to the Jewish Christians of the same). Paul addressed pride a lot in Romans - pride from both sides. He told the Gentiles in Romans 11 to stop thinking poorly of the Jews. Even though they had rejected Christ, allowing the door to be opened to the Gentiles, God could very easily graft them back in. All hope was not lost.
He then got on a roll on one of my favorite topics - the fact that we, as finite human beings cannot possibly understand the mind of God. God sees the big picture. We might think we're good enough to see things as God does, that we may attempt to give Him advice; but we are fooling ourselves. As much as we think we know, we cannot even contemplate the fullness of God.
Like these Gentile Christians of the churches of Rome, we today often believe we have God all figured out. We have figured out those we think have accepted Him and those who have rejected Him. We have our theological ideals that we hold next to the Bible itself. But we don't know what we think we know. He is generous to all. He pursues us in His own will. As Taliesin and Nathanael told me in our discussion, God is extravagant in His love and His grace and His goodness and His peace. He bestows it upon all.
"Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do? Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask His advice? Everything comes from Him; everything happens through Him ; everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes" (Romans 11:33-36, The Message).
Just imagine what would happen if we, as followers of Jesus in 2014, would take this lesson to heart. Would we stop judging those that we feel are not quite as close to God as we are? Would we stop believing others' lifestyle is a little worse than ours? How similar we are to these Christians that Paul addressed here.
He then got on a roll on one of my favorite topics - the fact that we, as finite human beings cannot possibly understand the mind of God. God sees the big picture. We might think we're good enough to see things as God does, that we may attempt to give Him advice; but we are fooling ourselves. As much as we think we know, we cannot even contemplate the fullness of God.
Like these Gentile Christians of the churches of Rome, we today often believe we have God all figured out. We have figured out those we think have accepted Him and those who have rejected Him. We have our theological ideals that we hold next to the Bible itself. But we don't know what we think we know. He is generous to all. He pursues us in His own will. As Taliesin and Nathanael told me in our discussion, God is extravagant in His love and His grace and His goodness and His peace. He bestows it upon all.
"Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do? Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask His advice? Everything comes from Him; everything happens through Him ; everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes" (Romans 11:33-36, The Message).
Just imagine what would happen if we, as followers of Jesus in 2014, would take this lesson to heart. Would we stop judging those that we feel are not quite as close to God as we are? Would we stop believing others' lifestyle is a little worse than ours? How similar we are to these Christians that Paul addressed here.
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