Clergy Comment Article

Here is my article published in the August 4, 2016 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

In Romans chapter twelve, the apostle Paul reminds Christians in Rome and us that teaching and action, faith and life go hand-in-hand. A living faith, according to the apostle Paul, is real and true when it is practiced. Paul here is bursting with advice on how to live and practice our faith. He has included material in this passage reminiscent of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, along with quotes from Deuteronomy and Proverbs.

   With the mass media dominated by news reports of evil and violence, the apostle Paul’s words are as pertinent today as they were in his day. He teaches us in verse nine to “hate what is evil.” In verse fourteen he counsels us to “Bless those who persecute you…do not curse them.” He continues with this message in verse seventeen by saying: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.” Paul shifts the message slightly in verse nineteen when he allows for God’s wrath and vengeance: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written,”—then he quotes Deut 32:35—“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

   In verse twenty, Paul counsels us to offer hospitality to our enemies, and quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22: “No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Scholars have wondered about this reference to burning coals and have offered a couple of comments. Martin Luther thought that it meant the enemies would regret what they had done when they received such hospitality. Another scholar, Roy Harrisville, has pointed out that there is an Egyptian tradition of placing coals of fire on one’s head as a rite of penitence. In verse twenty-one of this passage, Paul continues with his previous train of thought, emphasising doing good in the face of evil: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

   I think most of us struggle to overcome evil with good, and we find it difficult to love our enemies. Yet, such endeavours can and do make a huge difference. Paul himself is one example—after his Damascus road encounter with Jesus, he was transformed from being an enemy of Christians into being one of Christianity’s most articulate preachers, missionaries and theologians. Mother Teresa, speaking of her work, once said: “It’s only a drop in the ocean—but the ocean wouldn’t be the same without that drop.” So too, Christians together doing good can, by God’s grace, overcome evil and transform enemies into friends.