The Holy Grill: The case for why a barbecue can be a Sacred Event.
One of the most unusual verses in the New Testament to me is Rom. 16. After fifteen chapters of some of the most rich and lofty language about God, Salvation, and the nature of man, the apostle Paul begins to greet people. Here are some of the greetings in the English standard version of the Bible:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life,
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
It goes on for many more verses and mentions 28 people in this closing chapter of Romans! Take some time to read the entire list of greetings when you can. Paul knows intimate details about specific people in the church. These verses reveal another side of Paul. We see his humanity through other lenses. The great theologian embodies his theology and loves people well.
Now, if you remember that Romans and other books of the New Testament are letters, these greeting are not unusual at all. What is captivating here is to see that all the rich theological truth Paul included in Romans is grounded in real life, real community. It’s not a bunch of wise words to be admired. God gives us, through the inspired words of Paul, truth that transforms us personally as we are called to live in community. It tells us that:
Relationships are holy.
The Trinitarian nature of God is the foundational truth of this statement. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in loving fellowship from eternity to eternity, has invited us into relationship with Him and one another. It shouldn’t surprise us that the One and Only Triune God would call us into close relationship with each other, building bonds of fellowship beyond church attendance and Bible study.
Paul worked with people in business (tent making), Paul traveled with people, suffered for the church, and changed plans to stay in cities for years to develop heart to heart relationships with the people he taught the Word. Other people in the church did the same.
In I Thessalonians 2:8 Paul says:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
This verse, more than perhaps any other, gets to the heart of the matter. The church is not a depository of Truth only, but must be a place where relationships grow and thrive.
Relationships are messy, of course. Just because we claim we know some of the mysteries of God through the Spirit and His Word doesn’t mean there won’t be disagreements, disappointments, and other relational differences. But through all of this, we are to grow as people of God. As His church, we must love each other with our lives, and look for opportunities to love others outside our community too.
When there is conflict, we try to lovingly work it out. When there are celebrations, we sincerely rejoice in another’s success or milestone. When there is pain, we enter into that pain and carry each others burdens. These earthly relationships are an imperfect reflection, in flesh, of the fellowship of the Godhead.
We will be having our annual picnic next Saturday, July 27th from 11am – 3pm. As usual we will be meeting at Patterson Park in Grosse Point. This is a seemingly mundane and very optional event in the life of our church. However, I really would love for you to be there, especially if you consider yourself a regular attendee or member at Mariners Church…and even if you don’t!
It’s over a hotdog or hamburger, in unrushed and casual events such as this, that we become a ‘family’. It is by making time to BE with one another that we grow together. These are the moments that can show “we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” (I Thess 2:8 – NIV)
Please sign up outside of Charlotte’s office, reply to me on this email, or just show up!An event like this seems mundane and ordinary compared to the Holy Eucharist service, but in fact these are the events that can give deeper meaning as we celebrate Eucharist as the Body of Christ. There’s a reason Jesus instituted this celebration IN community. One cannot be His Body alone. We need each other. Relationships are Holy! I hope to see you there!
Blessings and peace,
Rev. Todd and Dr. Christiane