A Gift Given, A Church Strengthened

Romans 1:8-17


It can be both amazing and devastating when a small, brief passage in the Bible exposes much artificialness and erroneous thinking that has crept into today’s church. On the surface, this passage may seem like nothing more than an obligatory Christian greeting. Paul includes them with all his writings. We Christians greet one another with our obligatory salutations everyday, often times without really expecting or caring for a response.

If, however, we stopped digging into the text at this point, we would miss many significant points that Paul, both directly and indirectly, communicates to the church in Rome. I will attempt to point out a few significant lessons that Paul provides, recognizing that pages and pages of commentary has already been written on this passage by men and women who are far my superior intellectually.

Although I do and do so quite often, I really can’t complain about my life. I am blessed with a wonderful wife and two amazing daughters. All of us have been blessed with good health and strength. I have a job. I have a home. And I have not experienced want in my life for quite some time. If there is something I want, I usually am able to get it, or I am able to compensate by getting something less expensive in its place. I know I have the tenacity to wear down my wife into submission, constantly pestering her until I purchase my toy or get my way. In short, I am able to make a way.

I have a creeping suspicion that much that goes on in the church (generally speaking – this is not an indictment on my home church) is a reflection of this lifestyle and culture. Many Christians and Christian leaders are driven by this concept of the perfect church. A healthy church should have this. A healthy church should be doing that. A healthy church should be growing this many. A church does not need to be a mega-church or a seeker-sensitive church to be a consumer-driven church. How much do we do not in the name of the Great Commission but in the name of appeasing someone?

Paul informs us in this passage that he has not visited the church in Rome just yet. The language that he has used up to this point could be mistakenly interpreted that he knows these Christians, he has nurtured their faith, and he founded the church. He loves them. He constantly prays for them. He wishes to give them a spiritual gift for their benefit. What a piercing conviction to my heart! I have a hard enough time remembering to pray for those who I know, who I love and who with I already have a relationship. Paul shares these feelings and then reassures the Romans that it is not from a lack of desire that he has not visited Rome. No, he hasn’t visited Rome yet because the opportunity has not been presented.

There are three elements that Paul addresses in this section: desire, opportunity, and timing. What Paul states in counter-cultural: desire is subject and submissive to opportunity and timing. That doesn’t seem to be the case in my life. If I want something, I make it happen. It seems to me that Christians have often omitted or diminished the role of opportunity and timing. Instead, they rationalize that the desire only need be good or have the potential for good. And with that, they’re off! Paul wanted to impart a spiritual gift to the Romans. And he waited because of lack of opportunity.

Another area of conviction that this passage brings to me is focusing on what God has placed before you and not wander into the unknown or future. Paul trusted God that Rome would present itself in God’s timing. He need not worry. Rather, Paul was to remain singular in his focus on the ministry and mission in front of him. Paul was not a daydreamer. I tend to be. Paul was not contemplating on greener pastures. He was where he was at for a reason.

Finally, Paul helps clarify for me a healthy perspective for church growth. He wishes to impart a spiritual gift to the Romans. Most commentators suggest he’s talking about the use of his own spiritual gifts, namely his gift of preaching, teaching, and discipleship. Paul is convinced it will produce a harvest. The harvest will be twofold: first, it will establish fruit among the believers, and second, it’ll usher in new converts into the fold.

I know a number of well-read, devoted Christians who are mature in their faith who shy away from any talk or growth or numbers. I suspect it is because other churches have tainted or misused growth evaluations. There are Christians who believe the bigger the church, the better the church. They want the church to be everything, provide everything, and do everything. Others believe that the most pious and committed Christians will join with smaller churches. They don’t want their gospel to be watered-down or polluted by contemporary elements. They want their organ, they want their charter members, and they want the church to die when they die. One way or another, most Christians have an opinion on both church size and church growth.

Paul believes that the harvest will strengthen the church. The question for us is, “how will it strengthen it?” First, new believers, or maturity in existing Christians, will expand and increase the number of spiritual gifts available to that church body. Each believer possesses unique gifts and roles in the body. No person is blessed with all the spiritual gifts (although you and I might know of some who believe they that are the exception). Second, a harvest will contribute to the zeal of the church that only a new convert can contribute. Have you ever been around people the moment they enter into the family of God? It is absolutely intoxicating. During my two years in Young Life and five years in youth ministry, it was conversions that carried me through lock-ins and leader / student conflict and the rest of the baggage that accompanies the youth sub-culture. Seasoned Christians can provide perspective and wisdom that comes with fighting the good fight through life’s dark tunnels. New believers can provide the enthusiasm and gung-ho zeal that is a natural by-product of the born-again reality. Third, a new harvest provides a broader distribution of leadership and authority. The constant wave of new believers prevents the few holding all the power and authority in the congregation. It is a healthy model of shared-ministry and shared-leadership.

I have a confession to make. I get extremely irritated whenever a Deacon or Elder serves two consecutive terms, or when after one term is satisfied, the spouse is the incoming leader that takes the spot of the outgoing leader. I hate legacies in leadership. I’m not sure if I can scripturally defend my distaste for it, but there I admit it. I’ve had several friends and faithful brothers and sisters in the faith participate in this legacy of leadership and I try with all my heart try and understand it and not think less of them for it. I am convinced that a dynamic and vibrant church (or at least a church I want to commit myself and my family to) is not fearful of leadership and responsibility that is dispersed amongst many different members of the body.

Fourth and finally, a harvest will strengthen a church because new zealous believers and maturing believers can help combat false doctrine, false leaders, and false teaching in the church. Much of the reasoning is directly tied into the shared leadership and the zeal of new believers. Shared ministry avoids too much authority given to one person. The zeal of new believers provides boldness that will challenge false teaching. All four of these points are interrelated and systemic. They pour into one another.

From a logical standpoint, if a new harvest results in these four consequences which strengthens a church, it could also mean that the definition of a dying or weakening church is one that does not witness, experience, or see new converts in its midst. The limitation of spiritual gifts can lead to a weakening or dying church. The lack of zeal from new believers can weaken or kill a church. The leadership of only the few can contribute to the weakening or death of a church. And finally, the lack of bold accountability against false doctrine, false leadership, and false teaching can weaken or kill a church.

I tried to think of some catchy or profound climax to this devotion, perhaps some provocative questions to consider. In the end, the passage speaks for itself. And hopefully, the conviction in our hearts and the power of God’s grace and forgiveness speaks for itself. Are we about our Father’s business? Or are we still about getting our way? Can we trust our desires? Do we justify our wants with the potential or possibility that it might help lead someone someday at some point to the gospel? Are we witnessing new converts? Do we even care? Are we uncomfortable with young zealous believers? Are we willing and able to let go of leadership to others? So much to consider. I hope we do so. Blessings.