Missions Paul

After a long list of lovely greetings the Apostle feels compelled as he comes to the end of his letter to warn about what he sees as dangerous to the Church: false teachers or leaders or maybe simply those who influence negatively and end up causing decline and so destroying what God has built.

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16 v 17-20)

So using the emboldened words only, here are 5 things to watch out for:

1. Division is caused by being in the middle of things. These negative influencers are not the enemy outside the Church but are from within. They are known and so find it easier to deceive.
2. Obstacles are created to change the journey and to cause a person to veer away from the direction they were taking. They demand an obedience and an abandonment from the foundational truths that had first been followed.
3. Gain is the key for those who are false. Ask yourself, ‘what are they getting out of this?’ If you can see they are benefitting, whether that by position, power or material gain then the next question becomes even more important, “Is this really serving the Lord Jesus Christ?” There are glory-seekers in every generation.
4. Deception works because it sounds beautiful and full of truth.
5. Naivety is a dangerous position to be in; watch for those ‘who don’t know any better’ (CEV); the ‘unsuspecting’ (NASB); the ‘innocent’ (NLT).

The Apostle wants the Church to watch out, to be vigilant and not to be taken for a fool. We can stop the Church from declining and being destroyed. Open our eyes.

Tread carefully; you are not there for yourself.

Speak well of it; never write it off for it always has the ability to bounce back.

Contribute towards it; play your part, it is where you will be the best version of you.

Don’t try to control it with your own agenda of what it should be.

Don’t manipulate it so that you can be seen more prominently.

“All the churches of Christ send greetings.” (Romans 16 v 16)

Who is he referring to?

Maybe it’s those representatives of churches who have gathered in Corinth to help him take the offering to Jerusalem. You can read about that in Acts 20. Maybe they sent their greetings.

Whoever these churches were they were ‘of Christ’.

It’s not a bad thing to remind ourselves who the church belongs to.

It’s not the Pastor, the trustees, the denomination or the people. It is Christ!

“I think, they think, we think” is not half as interesting as ‘what does Christ think?”

The Church belongs to Christ.

The Church bears all the hallmarks of God. The Church has His Word, His Provision and we are the Chosen appointed people of God. We are the presence of God, the Holy Spirit is manifested through us, the church.

“Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Romans 16:16)

So wherever you are reading this from in the world you might have a different way to greet one another.

A Tibetan? You might be sticking your tongue out!

An Indian? You might be kneeling and touching the feet of the other.

From South East Asia? You could be touching noses.

A European? Depending on the country you will be doing some air-kisses from one, two or even three times!

The Apostle has a European flavour but it has to be a holy one!

Why?

It seems Paul is wanting them to physically connect. To know the power of touch.

He wanted them to have something tangible happen in their greeting.

“Give each other a big hug” or if you’re a more conservative Christian, “Give each other a hearty hand-shake”.

A cursory look online at the traumatic sad stories of feral children raised with little or zero human contact and you realise the power of touch.

Greet one another not only with words but make sure you all know the feeling of being loved, appreciated and wanted. The power of touch heals, restores and connects us into a wholesomeness of our well-being. Perhaps Paul was on to something which we now know is vital for our lives. So go hug someone today or pucker up so long as it’s holy. If you’re nervous, sanitise your hands for a really good handshake.

“We are with you.” That’s what I wrote a couple of days ago to someone going through a terrible season. It means we will be in communication with you regularly; it means someone has already offered to cook meals; it means visits to pray with them; it means mobilising intercessors to pray; and it means raising finances that are needed to see them through. 

“Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympasand all the Lord’s people who are with them.” (Romans 16 v 15)

Here’s another of the house churches that Paul sends greetings to. 

See past the names to those beautiful words, ‘all the Lord’s people who are with them’. 

How do people get through life without the support of these smaller church gatherings?

Those who have tried to be a disciple without the Church soon realise they are on their own when trouble strikes.

Today maybe you can send a message to someone, ‘we are with you’, with all that this entails for you, it will certainly be a source of encouragement to them to keep going.

It is so easy to opt for a Christian life which attends Church on a Sunday morning. It is also an easier Christian life. What isn’t so easy is being part of a small group of Christians who become like family where they help one another live out the best Christian life they can. That may sound attractive but it does take commitment and vulnerability.

Who is walking with you?

“Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.” (Romans 16 v 14)

The way this is phrased could indicate that this was some kind of house church set under the umbrella of the Church in Rome.

The Apostle hasn’t given any instruction that the Church should be divided up into groups that meet in houses or discipleship groups or missional communities but he simply recognises them.

In places of the world it is vital for the growth of the kingdom for smaller groups to meet together. Any large gathering would attract the attacks from people of other faiths and any church building erected would soon be burnt down. Perhaps this is the case in Rome. Also with Paul keen to establish unity amongst the churches then this would make sense that in effect he is speaking to the many smaller church communities scattered across the city to recognise one another in love.

However the benefits of doing life with a smaller group of people (whatever word you use to describe them) is essential for discipleship, accountability, friendship, support and mission. These 5 names plus the others known as ‘brothers and sisters’ are doing this kind of life together. Paul knows them and he knows their group.

Who is in your group?

Nine out of the twenty-six persons greeted by Paul were women: Priscilla (v3), Mary (b6), probably Junia (b7), Tryphena and Tryphosa, who may have been twin sisters, and Persis (v12), Rufus’ mother (v13), Julia and Nereus’ sister (v15).

Thank God that the Apostle and the Bible don’t have a problem with women having public ministries that they are commended for. May it continue !

If Mark’s gospel was written either in Rome or for the church there, then those receiving this letter will have known our next person that Paul sends greetings to.

For it is only in his gospel that he mentions the man who carried the cross of Jesus, his sons also being named: “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.” Mark 15:21

So who is our person today?

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord” (Romans 16 v 13)

Surely Paul isn’t using the word ‘chosen’ to indicate his salvation. Chosen for what?

Perhaps chosen to be in the story of the cross. His dad carried the cross of Christ. That is quite a claim! I wonder if the sons were there with their father accompanying him on his business trip. Maybe Rufus watched his father carry the cross?  Were the sons as chosen as their father? Chosen to be near and part of the cross. The father, Simon, was the principal character but his sons journeyed in that experience.

Rufus was living in Rome and was part of the church. He was chosen and maybe this is the beautiful reason why he was.

I have always found it a gracious privilege that my son and daughter have followed my path with the cross of Christ. It is the most important thing I have ever done in leading them this way. Others don’t have that blessing as yet but I know this is their prayer that the children are not forgotten in the story of God.

These women joined that of Mary who were commended for all working hard.

“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.” (Romans 16 v 12)

One of my first jobs was in the Valuation office in Leeds as a clerical assistant. I worked ‘flexi’ hours which meant I had a card that I clocked on and pulled the card out when I finished work. There was an allotted time of hours I had to work in a month and I could do the work pretty much at any time so long as the hours were worked. Many of the staff members worked long hours in the first 3 weeks and then in the 4th week of the month they had done all their hours so managed to have a couple of extra days off. Not me! I did the reverse. Knowing that I only needed to work the minimum 6 hours a day, I ended up having to cram in as many hours as possible at the end of every month!

It would be my first Pastorate, in the Lake District, in farming country, where I would be introduced to having to work hard. The farmers in my church all rose early, even when it was still dark and they worked hard and long hours in all types of weather. In the early days I would leave the curtains open in the lounge so that in the morning when the farmers passed by they would see that their Pastor was awake, though I was still having dreams from God horizontally. But gradually I learnt the benefits of hard work. I learnt that to grow a church it takes hard work, to love others is hard work and more importantly I was created for this and work could be fun! f you looked at my work today you wouldn’t believe how much I have changed. I work long hours, I am always up early and I give 100% into all that I do. I have learnt the importance of hard work.

The created order involved work and this had nothing to do with salary. It was God’s good intention that Adam should work. God worked the creation and then rested from that work. Today you will be perhaps a student or an employee or a full time parent or the one who stays to work at keeping the home, maybe you are a volunteer or a retired person helping others and you have 24 hours to do the most amazing thing and that is to work hard for the good of others. Like Adam you can take care of your domain, you can keep it together, you can make it a happy place and a healthy one for others. You can bring life but it will take hard work. You will perhaps work with others who don’t want to be there! They will ask ‘Why am I here? What am I doing this for? Is there any point?’ Don’t let this rub off on to you. Be different. See things as God sees them. Your work matters to Him. You can add value. You can work as God would work. You can work for Him. You may work with someone who is the opposite of work. But don’t become like them. Proverbs 18:9 says, “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” Lazy people ruin but you are different, you are building something for someone. But it also builds into you the purpose for life, you were created to work, to give, to add and how intrinsically satisfying is it when that involves those who need your help?!

So today, work hard, give of your best, add value, but never lose the sense of fun! It is still there in my life. It is still the driving force. I find ways to make sure my work brings the enjoyment to me and to others.

The Apostle recognised hard work. He saw it in these women and they were deserving of honour.

Sometimes we only have to mention a name and those that know remember the painful season they went through.

“Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.” (Romans 16 v 11b)

Narcissus was a secretary to the Emperor Claudius.

He died in AD 54.

How did that happen?

Narcissus informed Claudius that the Emperors 3rd wife had actually got married to her secret lover. He obtained the permission to kill the 2 lovers. He was then promoted.

Claudius soon married his own niece who began a feud with Narcissus resulting in her killing the Emperor by poisoning in AD 54 and soon after her son then arrested Narcissus and forced him to commit suicide. And you think you have a family story?!!

Everyone who read the sentence found in verse 11 knew this story except mine is ultra-brief.

And like the readers of the Apostle’s letter we too know stories filled with grief and pain. Just the mention of a name and the story is relived. Some are really close to the story and it is a season they will never forget. Let’s not forget them. Remember those who have carried the most difficult of stories. The story is often paused within them, it never goes away; they just try and learn to live with it.

Do you know friends who have not arrived at the place where you are at? They haven’t become followers of Jesus … yet!

“Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew” (Romans 16 v11)

That’s all we know, a fellow Jew, just like the Apostle.

Why didn’t Paul give more indication that Herodian was more than a Jew?

In one of the churches in my region the Pastor has a relative who faithfully comes every Sunday. He’s not yet a committed follower of Jesus but he seemingly attends more than some followers! He is prayed for and welcomed in the church. He is not spoken of quietly but as if he was one of them. It’s a testimony to the heart of this welcoming church.

In another church plant recently a man wonderfully committed himself to Christ by being baptised, prior to this he was seeking as he served on the leadership team! Those who have never done a church plant themselves will not understand that planters use and honour whatever God gives them. That may be signed up fully committed, 2 baptisms and a regular tithe cheque members but also those who are not sure yet. I actually think the 12 disciples were filled with all kinds of doubts and malfunctioning behaviours in those early years of being on the team.

The Apostle in greeting Herodian may be letting us into an important principle of honouring those on the journey as much as those who have reached their destination. Give people time. Give the Spirit time as He journeys with them to the place of surrender to Jesus Christ.