Food for Thought

The church in Rome had Christians who were Jews and Christians who were Gentiles. Naturally, there would have been friction between them. The relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians was a major issue in the New Testament church. (See Acts 15 for an account of how the issue was resolved.)

Here’s a challenge for you. Take today’s reading (copy it from an electronic version if you have one), and make the following substitutions:

• ·for the word “Jew” substitute “Christian.”
• ·for the word “law” substitute “Bible.”
• ·rewrite verses 21-23 with some ways that you realize you don’t live up to what the Bible tells us to do. Some suggestions: Do I ask God for forgiveness while I refuse to forgive someone who has hurt me? Do I claim that Jesus cared about the poor and then refuse to share with someone in need? Do I proclaim that the Bible is God’s word but not read it thoughtfully and regularly? Do I take seriously what the Bible says about sexual relationships, marriage and divorce? About money?
• ·for “Gentiles” substitute “unbelievers.”
• ·for “circumcision” substitute “baptism.”

Now read what you have written.

Don’t get me wrong. Baptism matters. Keeping the law of the Old Testament matters. Jesus said that not one dot will be deleted (Luke 16:17).

But throughout his teaching, Jesus emphasized that while we pay attention to the outside, God sees our hearts and judges us on what is inside.

RESPOND

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 KJV)

Annabel Robinson