Romansनमूना

United We Stand

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. – Rom 16:17

One of the main reasons for Paul’s letter to the Romans was to promote unity within the church, especially between the Jews and the Greeks. The greetings Paul sends in the closing chapter of this letter show us just what a melting pot of cultures this church was.

The names listed in chapter 16 are a mix of Jewish and Greek names. But the different ethnicities of the Roman church are not all that they show us. They also show that the church had members from different social strata. While some people like Phoebe and Priscilla and Aquila were wealthy enough to be benefactors or to host churches in their houses (v1-5), others like Ampliatus and Urbanus were probably slaves (since their names were common slave names of the time). Over one-third of the names are of women, six of whom are commended for their ministry, showing that both men and women served in the church.

In such a diverse mix of people, it is very easy for divisions to crop up. So, Paul warns them once again at the close of his letter to watch out for those that cause divisions. They weren’t to allow false teachers, like the Judaizers or others, to divide the church based on ethnicity or wrong attitudes of superiority or inferiority. As Paul had written earlier to the Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28).” 

Even today, like the Roman church, the global church is composed of a diverse mix of people. Paul’s warning to the Romans is equally appropriate for us. We should be wary of teachings that cause or promote divisions among Christians. When God sees us all the same, there is no point in us getting caught up in our differences.

Do you encourage diversity in your church?