Dateline: lifelong learning:
I recently completed a course on the Book of Romans for seminary. We were asked to share our thoughts on the school's blog. I would like to share my post with you...
I recently completed a course on the Book of Romans for seminary. We were asked to share our thoughts on the school's blog. I would like to share my post with you...
It can be said that the Book of Romans is sorely overlooked, tragically undervalued, and dangerously ignored by the churches of today. Some people write off the teachings as antiquated and the doctrine as confusing and esoteric. Others don't find the "hard truths" easy to digest in this culture because far too many of us believe, "if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad." We find ourselves living lives devoid of any sacrifice much less looking to become living sacrifices. We fill our minds with benign entertainment rather than tuning in to the transforming power of God's word. We have become a nation of chameleons, putting more stock in social media status updates instead of trusting in the God wrought process of sanctification. All of this is undoubtedly the handiwork of sin and might very well be one of Satan's most crippling tactics against the Christian lifestyle.
What is the remedy? The remedy is found in the power of the Gospel and we must cease being ashamed of it or we will certainly be overwhelmed by a downward spiral of humanity that will relentlessly continue to break hearts and ruin lives. Does this sound grim? Certainly but life without God is grim. Living in Adam rather than in Christ is deplorable. Existence without the power of the Holy Spirit is futile.
I once saw a Bible in a church with a handmade book cover that read, "Instruction Manual." Perhaps, The Book of Romans ought to be the first place a Christian goes when looking for instruction in today's society. In fact, the Book of Romans should be the lynchpin of instruction for the Christian life in any society.
An old adage for Biblical interpretation speaks about crossing the "theological principle bridge" from the Biblical era to our own. When it comes to lifestyles represented in the book of Romans and those of today, that chasm hardly needs a bridge to get across. As they say, "When in Rome…" I say, according to the Book of Romans, we already are.
