When in Rome...

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

A little disclaimer, me writing about a topic does not presume that I have mastered the topic. On the contrary, it usually means that I am struggling with it. I have had this in my mind for over a month and I am looking for peace. Writing helps me. Maybe it will help you.

Paul wrote a good deal of the bible while in chains. In the process of his arrest, he appealed to Caesar. I think he did this for a couple of reasons, first as a citizen of Rome he had the right to make the appeal to avoid a trial in a foreign land already predisposed to his guilt. He also wanted to stand before Caesar to make his case for the gospel. The larger stage meant the gospel would spread faster.

Rome was a juggernaut. It had a large territory and was always hungry for more. It had the strongest military, and it was not a democracy. Caesar was a dictator. What he said became law. Dissent was met with severe penalty, like death. Paul made a choice knowing what the consequences were. The journey back to Rome was filled with risk. They traveled by ship. They traveled on foot. It was not an easy journey and it took a long time. And all it took to receive a death sentence after such an arduous journey was a simple thumbs down.

Paul had enough freedom to write, so he did. God used Paul’s time in captivity. He did not have the “distractions” of freedom. Paul did not decry the politicians holding him captive. He did not mention political parties or how one was better than the other. He did not offer opinions about the balance of news coverage regarding his plight.

Instead, he addressed letters to churches. He encouraged them. He corrected and offered guidance to them. He loved them. He told them not to give up and how he longed to see them. They exploded. In a land not stacked in his favor, Paul had God’s favor behind him. It was all he needed. Paul had no interest in advancing a political agenda. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. He offered no solutions to problems of the day other than peace in spite of them. As a result, Christianity grew at an unprecedented rate.

Today, we are surrounded. Political parties are not debated, they are vilified. Opponents are not engaged; they are presumed evil. We assume our ways of life will be destroyed by the next politician elected with the same tenacity that others assumed their life would be destroyed by the one leaving office. Although overwhelmingly loud, neither position is accurate.

I have heard fears about losing the right to carry guns, new taxes, old taxes, programs cut, programs expanded and on and on. We have arguments over the relative lawfulness of dueling riots. Churches are worried that they will be shut down, banned or worse – taxed. The latter is ironic because the threat to tax means at least some form of control over how churches operate. Maybe it would be better to cut that cord anyway. I have been told numerous times that if I only knew what was “really going on”, I would be up in arms too.

I see people having conversations and pleading for prayer hoping for a savior named Donald, without which all hope will be lost. I see people having conversations celebrating a savior named Joe, without which all hope will be lost. We have fallen for a bait and switch. Satan has to be laughing at our folly.

I expect panic from the worldly. The faithful are supposed to be better. I keep thinking that if I were new, if I did not know Jesus, I would have nearly no reason to turn to Him based on the evidence on display.

Just like Paul, we see persecution. He faced death. We face inconvenience. We are the hands and feet of God here, not the hands and feet of the Republican or Democratic party. We should do better.

Who is more comfortable in your ear, God or Satan?

Do we really think that God is limited by any human?

Do we really think God is only enabled by one human not named Jesus?

Do we really think that our system of political parties represents eternal good vs evil? If so, how do you feel about someone assuming you are bound for Hell? Sort of discourages conversation, doesn’t it?

Challenge: Life is not easy. Stop expecting it to be. Faith will be tested. Stop expecting it not to be. Consider the possibility that all of the uneasiness in our world today is an opportunity to reach the most hard to reach heart. Maybe that heart is in your chest. Consider the opportunity the church has, maybe we need to do as the Roman church did.

Rick Claiborn