November 6, 2026 - Romans 14-16

As Paul so often does in his correspondence with the churches, he begins to close out his letter to the Romans by reminding them about how they should live as followers of Christ.  He has, in this letter, already laid out his theological arguments and, now, he fleshes out the practical  workings of it all.  As believers, the Roman Christians (and we) must respect one another:  “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself” (14:7).  We must be sure “never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (14:13).  Rather, “Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (14:9).  Furthermore, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me’” (15:1-3).  Paul’s counsel got me thinking about our recent election season, which took place with much rancor, candidates not only disagreeing but sometimes hurling ugly allegations.  Of course, some of those allegations are true, but my point is not to argue politics and policy.  It is simply to remind us that we in the church, as Christ’s people, are to live differently than the world.  How did Jesus himself put it?  “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).  In his first epistle, John instructs, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).  From what hymn might we quote, this morning, but John Fawcett’s!

Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love;

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne

we pour our ardent prayers;

our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,

our mutual burdens bear,

and often for each other flows

the sympathizing tear.   -- John Fawcett (1782)