Core of Christian Living

Having dealt with how to relate to the family of believers inside the church, Paul now, in verses 14 to 21 of Romans chapter 12, turns to our conduct with the outsiders, that is, outside the church, namely the non-believers and the non-Christians, with whom we live as neighbors. This would form the core of our Christian living, containing the rules and the principles that need to govern our relationship with our fellow-human beings in the world.

Reflecting Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:44, Paul pleads with Christians to bless those who persecute us and to bless and not to curse. To bless is to wish well and pray for that person who persecutes us.

We have the example of Jesus, who sought forgiveness for those who crucified him, because they knew not what they were doing. Luke 23:34. He did not revile back 1 Peter 2:21-23, but like a lamb that was led to slaughter was quiet. Isaiah 53:7.

The other example is the first martyr Stephen, who as he lay dying by the stones thrown by his country-men, prayed for God to forgive them. Acts 7:60. We have an example of such Christian largesse closer home in Gladys Steins, who in 1999, within days of the burning of her husband and two innocent children, said she forgave the murderers. She was not looking for their punishment even.

A colleague of mine could not understand how she could do that. She thought it was not normal for a person to forgive the killers of her husband and two young sons. Yes, what is a mystery to non-believers is a truth to us, because Christ laid the path of forgiveness before us and walked in it first. Because of that his followers also can do it. It takes a strong man not to retaliate. And we are empowered to do this by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Next, Paul asks us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. This is the simple rule of sharing the joy and sorrows of our neighbours. In this world, common sorrows and joys entwines human life. We need to enter into the sorrows of our fellow-men and extend a helpful hand, showing mercy, kindness, understanding and love to those who are suffering.

Rejoicing with those who are rejoicing is a little tougher than partaking in others’ sorrows, because we might become envious of others’ achievements and joys and resent it in case we have not made it. The worst human being is one who cannot stand another person being happy. We are not to be like that. A good and sincere heart will rejoice in the success and happiness of our neighbors as in our own.

We are exhorted to live harmoniously with one another and be devoid of pride and conceit so that we associate with people of low position. Pride and snobbishness are not to be our characteristics. Slaves and masters are to sit side by side in the church. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. But easier said than done.

In India when missionaries came in 18^th century and people started to accept Christ, separate churches were built for upper castes and the lower castes, because of the strong resistance of the upper caste to associate with the lower caste. With the result, sadly, even today we have caste-specific churches in India, especially in rural areas. This is a blot which needs to be removed from our country, definitely from our churches.

We are not to repay evil with evil, but do what is right in the eyes of everybody. We need to show respect for the moral standards of the non-Christians around us. We need to be sensitive about it. Paul elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 says it is none of our business to judge those who are outside the church. God will judge them. Jesus asked us not to judge in Matthew 7:1.

Our aim is to live above reproach in the eyes of all. Proverb 3:4. Same law is written in their hearts too, as said in Romans 2:14. There is a universal common code of morals for the human beings as a whole. Let everyone obey it. Let that form the basis for our harmonious relationships with the others.

Paul exhorts that ‘if possible,’ and ‘as far as it depends on you,’ live in peace with everybody. He is giving here lot of latitude to cover our human frailty. But let the provocation or the first blow, not be from us. Christ was born to bring in peace on earth. We need to put away strife and learn to live peaceably with our neighbors as far as possible. Galatians 6:10.

We are not to take revenge, but leave it to the Lord to act on our behalf. Our God is just and will extract requital without our interference. The principle of retribution is enshrined in our universe. We need not attempt to get even, but leave it to the Lord to do it. 1 Peter 2:21-23. We do not know all the facts involved in a case or the circumstances under which an act was committed. So, it is difficult for us to judge correctly. God alone is omniscient, let’s leave vengeance to Him.

Thereafter, Paul quotes from Proverb 25:21-22, to impress that if the enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing we might heap burning coal on his head. This heaping of burning coal, might be a reference to an Egyptian tradition of carrying a pot of burning charcoal on one’s head as a public act of repentance.

The idea behind this is that when we treat our enemies with kindness, they might become so ashamed of what they did, they could be led to repentance and subsequent forgiveness. The best way to get rid of an enemy is to turn that person into a friend, which is achieved by praying for them.

The last exhortation of Paul is ‘do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ We must never give that much of power to evil to overcome our goodness, since we have spiritual defenses to overpower evil. We pray to our Father in heaven, ‘to deliver us from evil.’ Matthew 6:13. We are aware of God’s warning to Cain in Genesis 4:7, “if you do not do what is right sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Have we also not been given the weapons for spiritual warfare in Ephesian 6: 10-18? Let’s use it all, with the help of our Counselor, the Holy Spirit, and overcome the evil. Evil can never be overcome by evil, but only by a greater good. We need to meet evil with love, a sure antidote to the poison.

Let us live up to the image of a perfect Christian in this world, as exhorted by Paul; it is difficult, but not impossible, especially with God’s help.  

God bless you all.

Amen.