What's with all the chapter/verse stuff?
One of the best parts of my seminary education is learning to look beyond chapter/verse markings in Scripture to try and make connections.
The crazy thing is that connecting the dots this morning is better attributed to the work of Andrew Peterson than my efforts at school.
I've been working at Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I love how these two work together. If you want to break from the patterns, from the formation that culture gives us, you have to actively seek counter-formation by renewing your mind.
This could be done through reading Scriptures, discussing what God's doing in your life, singing songs that seep into the earth of your soul, doing things that reflect Jesus' mission of justice in the world, and more - "offering your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (12:1)
This morning, as I was looking over those two verses, I looked back at 11:33-36, which is a doxology, or statement of praise:
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Then I started singing an Andrew Peterson song from Appendix A that sings that doxology almost exactly. As I was singing (quietly... still not much of a voice) I kept reading over 12:1-2, and noticed the end of 2, "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
And it hit me: These two sections go together. We see them in different chapters, but they're totally one piece. First, Paul tells the church in Rome how wise God is, how we have no idea what's going on in his mind, and we can't tell him what to do. "Therefore" (that should have been a clue), renew your mind by worshiping God, and you'll be able to test and approve God's will!
It all goes together.
It's encouraging right now. I'm trying to figure some stuff out, and the more I think about it, the more I find I have no clue what the future holds. Then I'm reminded to renew my mind, not by adding new information, or by thinking harder, or by talking to people over and over about it, but by offering myself as a living sacrifice.
That doesn't make any sense at all.
But, for those who have been following Jesus for a while, we know it makes perfect sense.
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise..." 1 Cor 1:27
Having a tough time figuring out life? Tired of talking it out?
Maybe it's time to worship.
4 comments:
Amen.
Dan - If I have taken away anything from New Testament studies courses, it's that when we see the word "therefore," we must look to the text that came before. I think you are correct in turning to the doxology in chapter 11, and I think 11:30-31 is necessary for understanding 12:2: "Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy."
Therefore, in light of the abundant mystery of mercy revealed, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds..."
The offering of ourselves as living sacrifices is done as a therefore; because of the mercy that has been revealed to us.
Thanks for this post. It is a great reminder to submit ourselves to the renewing of the mind - not in way of gathering more information - but in quiet and passionate submission.
Linz - :)
Andy - There's so much in Romans! It's so thick. And, strangely, it's one of the NT books I know the least of.
I think it's because I've always been biased against it, since it's the home of the "Romans Road" and I saw it as a book for bible-beating evangelicals. (I've never put that to words, but it's true.) I think the only reason I know 12:1-2 is because it says "worship," haha.
I love that you pointed out our worship is a response to the mercy that's been revealed to us. I was interpreting through a filter, which is how it spoke to me today.
But even more than my functional reading of why to worship, I love your reading that worship is our response.
I said: I need to have my mind renewed; I should worship.
You said: I've been shown mercy; I should worship.
Both are true. And both belong.
Thanks for your insights, as always!
sometimes you just need to hug it out
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