Saturday 31 October 2009

Background

One of the threads of dispute that ran through the 1st centuryChurch (and which has re-surfaced many times since) receives whatmay have been its first airing right here.

Paul retells the tale of the Jewish prophet Elijah who, in themoment of his deepest despondency, was reminded that all is notlost; there were still 10,000 people in Israel who had remainedfaithful to God. This idea of the faithful remnant - who have stuckto their faith despite all the pressures to turn away from it - isstrongly represented in the Old Testament, and referred to in theNew. Paul takes up this theme and applies it to his long-sustainedargument about the Law and grace. These faithful few, he argues,were faithful not simply by their own determination and resolve;they were chosen by God. Therefore, their position can owe nothingto their 'works', otherwise God's grace would not be grace in thefull sense of undeserved blessing.

In the following paragraph, verses 7-12, we watch Paul walking thetightrope of his argument about the destiny of the Jews and theirpart in God's plan. He comes perilously close to declaring that theJews have been rejected (note the use of the word 'hardened' inverse 7, and the statement in verse 8 that God caused this tohappen).

Later, Paul constructs an argument that this setback to theeventual salvation of the Jews is only temporary, so that theGentiles (non-Jews) can also come to enjoy the blessings of God'sgrace (verse 25). In verse 28 Paul sets out the conundrum he hasjust solved: viewed from one angle the Jews are "enemies of thegospel", but even this does not cut them off from the love of God.Somehow God is able to hold these two in tension.

We may need to keep that thought in mind as we, in some of our mostjudgemental moods, consign others to an ignominious fate for theirperceived or actual wrongdoing, or their hostility to everything wehold dear. God's promised love is indeed universal. Our systematicwish to pigeonhole everything and everybody cannot force God's handby declaring this one or that one 'beyond the pale'.

The little story of Jonah speaks to this tension (see Jonah 1:2-3). Hedidn't want to go to preach to the great (and notoriously wicked)city of Nineveh. When God's persistence prevailed and Jonahdelivered the message as directed, the Ninevites repented, almosteagerly. Jonah was so cross with God, because God forgave them (Jonah 4:2-3)! TheBible reminds us again and again that God loves us not because wehave a proven track-record of loving God, but simply and solelybecause God chooses to love us.

To Ponder

Who are today's 'remnant'? What marks them out asenduring faithfully?

In what ways do we try to push God into a cornerto ensure that God behaves as we think God should behave?