Welcome Each Other as Christ Welcomed You
Daily Scripture
Romans 14:13-19, 15:1-7
Romans 14
13 So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. 15 If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. 17 God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval.
19 So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up.
Romans 15
1 We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up. 3 Christ didn’t please himself, but, as it is written, The insults of those who insulted you fell on me [Psalm 69:9]. 4 Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. 6 That way you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ together with one voice.
7 So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
As you worship and serve at Resurrection, you may inevitably think of a big building when you hear or read the word “church.” But Paul’s letters (including this masterful letter to Roman Christians) went to a set of smaller “house churches” (cf. Romans 16:3-5—more like the gatherings we call “small groups”). They didn’t always agree on how best to live their faith. It’s okay to differ on the details, Paul said, but when you differ, the non-negotiable principle is to “build each other up” in love.
- “Welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you.” In what ways does that set a high, serious standard? On the other hand, could you think of Christ’s model as setting a “low” norm for acceptance, one even a woman caught in adultery or a thief on a cross could pass? Which do you find more challenging: the “height” or the “lowness” of Paul’s standard of relating to each other “in the same way that Christ also welcomed you”?
- Scholar N. T. Wright summed up Romans 14:13 this way: “Don’t pass judgment on each other–but do use your judgment in not tripping each other up!” * How do you see the difference between having your tastes or opinions, even strongly held ones, and hurtfully passing judgment on someone who does things differently than you would? How did Paul call on believers, as members of the family of faith, to act toward each other?
Prayer
Dear God, when I behave in ways that fall short of your dreams for my life, you offer me your grace and accepting love. You call me to treat others the same way you’ve treated me. Help me to keep living into that calling. Amen.
GPS Insights
Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe, who serves as a Couples Small Group co-leader and Men's Group Leader, while volunteering in a variety of other capacities at Resurrection, wrote today’s Insights. He and his wife, Doris, first met in a Resurrection Single Adult Sunday School class in 1997 and were married in what is now the Student Center. They are empty nesters with 2 college-aged sons, Matthew and Jacob.
Yogi Berra was a Hall of Fame catcher with the New York Yankees, who won 3 MVP awards, 10 World Series Championships, & was named to the All-Star team 18 times. Earlier this summer, I had a photo-op at his childhood home in the Italian neighborhood (The Hill) in St. Louis, Missouri! Yogi was a U.S. Navy veteran who took part in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France & received the Purple Heart. He only had an 8th grade education–he had to quit school to work & support his family. Oh, & during one off-season, he portrayed a brain surgeon on the soap opera television show, “General Hospital.” But I want to focus on his faith & how he lived it out during his baseball career.
Aside: Yogi was famous for his quirky statements that came to be called “Yogi-isms.” When his wife, Carmen, said she had taken the kids to see “Dr. Zhivago,” Yogi exclaimed, “What the heck is wrong with them now?”
Always Welcoming
Yogi, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every day, even during road trips. He was never loud about his faith but always invited anyone who wanted to join him to come along. As he said, “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”
Be Humble
Yogi always joked about his looks, his lack of height & stocky appearance. (He was 5’7 & weighed 185 lbs.) Ted Williams said, “Yogi looks like he was put together by a committee.” Yogi knew he wasn’t handsome saying, “I got lucky marrying Carmen.”
Pursue Unity
When an opposing player drew a cross in the dirt at home plate during an intense game, Yogi wiped it away saying, “Why don’t we let God just watch the game.” He strove to let his faith bring others closer to God & not let it become a wedge.
Forgive
Yogi was a big believer in hope & redemption, especially with some of his wayward teammates. His adage, “It ain’t over, till it’s over,” wasn’t just about sports; it also emphasized that God is patient & won’t give up on His children & neither should we. As he noted, “If the world was perfect, it wouldn’t be.”
Be a Positive Influence
Joe Garagiola, the famous baseball catcher/broadcaster, grew up across the street from Yogi in St. Louis & they were life-long friends. One off-season they were traveling together & Joe said, “You’re lost, Yogi.” Yogi replied, “Yeah, I know. But we’re making good time, ain’t we?”
Build Others Up
Yogi noted that, “you can observe a lot just by watching.” Yogi was notorious for constantly chatting up batters at the plate, talking about everything from Italian restaurants, fishing, hotels, to how hot it was. He once said, “You know, it’s not the heat, it’s the humility.” At his funeral his wife shared that Yogi would always stop whatever he was doing to pray if he heard of anyone in need of encouragement or consolation.
Don’t be Contentious
Even though he was one of baseball’s greatest competitors, Yogi taught his kids that “somebody’s gotta win & somebody’s gotta lose. Don’t fight about it. Just try to get better.” We can be firm in our beliefs, but we needn’t have a “winner-take-all” mentality every time we get into a discussion. Jackie Robinson famously stole home on Yogi Berra in Game 1 of the 1955 World Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers & the New York Yankees. They had a friendly debate about it for years thereafter. Some 40 years later, Yogi met Jackie’s widow, Rachel Robinson at an event. He went up to her & whispered, “He was out, you know.” She smiled & whispered back, “He was safe.” Yogi shrugged & replied, “All right, we’ll just agree to disagree.”
In an age when strident opinions seem to overwhelm quiet convictions, Yogi’s life & faith walk remind us that perhaps we should approach our own spiritual journey with fewer pronouncements & more prayer, with fewer grudges & more grace, with less squabbling & more serenity.
PS: As a list of deceased Yankee ballplayers was displayed on the big screen at an Old-Timers Game, Yogi turned to his friend/teammate Whitey Ford & said, “Whitey, I hope I never see my name up there.” Yogi Berra passed away in 2015 at the age of 90.
Editor: About the Yogi-isms, it should be noted that Berra offered this disclaimer: “I never said most of the things I said.”
Here is a photo of me near Yogi Berra’s home:
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N. T., Paul for Everyone: Romans, Part Two: Chapters 9-16 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 105). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
