Romans 12:1-2; 9-21                                            Ordinary Time

 The simplest outline of the book of Romans and many of Paul’s letters is found in seeing the two parts – the theology part (what we believe) and the ethics part (how
we live). In Romans, the division between the two parts happens at chapter 12,
the part we are reading. This is the beginning of the “Therefore” part. Paul has
spelled out Christian doctrine – theology and now he’s telling us how to live.

 He’s already talked about the fact that all sin and fall short of God’s glory and all
are justified by God’s grace as a gift.” He’s talked about the value of faith. He’s
said that suffering leads to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope
which keeps us from disappointment because of God’s love and the Spirit. He’s
talked about dying to sin and trusting in the goodness of God to triumph over
every evil because if God is for us no one can be against us. He has said that
nothing (not even the Jews rejection of their Messiah) can separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For the promises of God can never be
erased. They are irrevocable because the wisdom and knowledge and judgments
of God are not to be questioned.

 So then....here comes our passage....hear the word of the Lord.
     (Read text)

 We could say that all of Romans up to this point was about being justified by God,
being saved by the grace of God – something God does for us as a gift, which we
receive by faith but not by anything we have done.

 And that from this point on, Paul is talking about sanctification, the process of
becoming holy, becoming the person God wants us to be. Sanctification requires
some discipline on our part. We have to want it, work it out, never stop trying,
even though we know when we change that it is really the Spirit in us,
accomplishing that work.

 As Paul says in the first two verses....being a Christian involves presenting
ourselves as an offering to God, turning away from the values of the world and
seeking the transformation God desires in us. Be transformed. Metamorphosis is
the Greek word. Changed. You might say that we are like a bunch of
caterpillars, gobbling up everything in sight. Consuming more, more, more.
God’s Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Service to Others is our cocoon. We must stay
in our cocoon enough to grow beautiful butterfly wings – to become the people
God wants us to be – a people who live peaceably with all.

 Very quickly we see that being the persons God wants us to be involves humility.

 The part in the middle of the chapter that we did not read is a beautiful statement
about our being differently able. We have diverse gifts and Paul challenges the
Romans not to think too highly of themselves. Isn’t that where problems begin?
When I think I’m right or I’m more important, then it’s set up for disastrous
relationships. So being true Christian means I am humble about my gifts and glad
for the gifts of others.

 With verses 9-21 Paul spells out what he means by not being conformed to the
world, but transformed so that our minds are made new and are able to be
discerning about what is good and acceptable and perfect. If I had to sum it up in
two words, it would be “sacrificial love.” Love that doesn’t stop giving, the kind
of love we see best in Jesus Christ.

 Our Presbyterian forebear John Calvin says, "it is difficult to express how
ingenious almost all [people] are in counterfeiting a love which they do not really
possess. They deceive not only others, but also themselves, while they persuade
themselves that they have a true love for those whom they not only treat with
neglect, but also in fact reject."

 It is so easy to say that we care, but real care for others is seen in the degree to
which we will sacrifice for them. I love my neighbor, but how far does my
hospitality extend? I love my family, but do I work to outdo them in showing
honor? I love those who are suffering, but am I willing to suffer with them, or do
I just pretend to care?

 I say that I’m not haughty. I’ll associate with anyone. So why do I care what
neighborhood I live in, what clothes I wear, what car I drive. I recently read an
article about some Christians in Tampa who are choosing to live communally in
the inner city. A couple of families with few single people. Not conform to this
world, but transformed by the renewing of their minds. They have more money to
share with the poor because of their shared living expenses. They are more
compassionate toward the poor because the poor live next door.

 Sincere, sacrificial love (the highest mark of a true Christian) is measured not by
our love of those who are like us, or by our love of those who love in return.
Sincere, sacrificial love is measured by how much we are willing to give to those
who despise us. How much love do we have for enemies? How much
forgiveness can we find for those who hurt us? How much sacrifice will we make
for those who will never give us anything but a hard time?

 Nelson Mandela was in prison in South Africa for twenty-seven years due to the
unjust policies of Apartheid. He was treated with brutality and allowed to send
only one letter per year. But even after twenty-seven years, he did not come out
prison with vengeance. He came out seeking justice for all, and that is why there’s
more shalom in South Africa today. Bishop Desmond Tutu wrote the song, which
we have in Sing the Faith “Goodness is stronger than evil. Life is stronger than
death.”

 Every single one of us has a personal story of hurt. There is someone in your life
who is hard to love. Are you praying for that person? Are you asking God to
help you forgive that person? I got an email from a member of this congregation
this week, saying, “I’m making peace with my deceased mother. I cannot carry
the bitterness any further. I have to make it right, so I can greet her in peace when
I leave this earth.” Praise the Lord for the grace to move on in Christlikeness.
Christ said from the cross, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they
are doing.”

 The Rev. Mark Labberton, pastor of First Presbyterian in Berkeley, CA, recently
told the story of a fiesty 85 year old church member who sets an example for all of
us about what it means to love our enemies. Doris was hijacked by a herion
addict while in her church parking lot. But instead of panicking, she began to
engage her captor in courageous love. She told him that he was loved by Jesus
Christ and that when he got caught for his crime, she would be in court insisting
that he get the help he needed for his addiction. Labberton goes on to say that the
movement in the Old Testament is from an exodus mentality to an exile mentality.
Exodus is trying to defeat or escape enemies on the way to God’s promised land.
Exile is understanding that God put your enemies there to lead you to deeper place
of faithfulness, which is your true promised land.

 I wonder if the United States can be transformed from an Exodus mentality to an
Exile mentality – not demonizing those who are against us, but learning to rise
above their hatred to love them (They know not what they are doing) But we can
both them (and ourselves) to a higher ethic of care and understanding. I believe
Christians are called to that higher standard. To be like Christ, to be marked as a
true Christian is to have sincere, sacrificial love – even for those who would do us
harm, even for those who would take our life, blow up our buildings, imprison us
unjustly, or deeply wound us in personal, family relationships.

 Go into your devotional cocoon and be washed clean by the waters of your
baptism, be challenged by the word of God, be healed and nourished by the bread
of life, and fly as a butterfly into the world, transformed and free to love and
forgive all people. So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.
Be God’s shalom for all the world.