Genuine Sanity: Attending to the Needs of Others (Romans 12)
[further thoughts from the July 9, 2008 Dead Theologian Society discussion on Francis Schaeffer’s True Spirituality] by Ron Lowe

Attending to the needs of others openly acknowledges their personhood. We are to treat others as persons, not objects or principles or enemies or representatives of faulty worldviews. This will stand out in relief to our culture of de-personalization, and God uses it to open doors for evangelism and discipleship. Without compromising God’s law, we should also avoid compromising the truth that all persons – even the unredeemed – are created in His image.

Pornographers, homosexuals, and abortionists are persons – God’s image-bearers – however marred and distorted. The essence of what they do (that we rightly find repulsive) is what we would do apart from God’s grace in Christ.: de-personalize, de-humanize, treating others as objects. If we treat them as persons, maybe they will begin to see God’s perspective on the human condition: as bearers of God’s image, yet wretched, in need of redemptive grace.

Only by grace, only by Christ, only by the cross and all it represents do we move from world-conformity to mind renewal and transformation (Romans 12). Only then, walking moment by moment in the fullness of God’s abundant redemption can we live out the remainder of Romans 12 (ESV):

[3]    For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 

[4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 

[5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

[6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 

[7] if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 

[8] the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

 [9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 

[10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  [11] Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

[12] Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

[13] Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 

[15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

[16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 

[17] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 

[18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

[19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 

[20] To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 

[21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Christ provides an integrating, counter-intuitive “sanity” when He restores God’s design for us as persons. Only then will we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. By trusting the Lord’s diagnosis and prescription for our fallen humanity, new vistas open for us to seek to understand rather than to be understood (St. Francis of Assisi).

Using this as a litmus test, the Holy Spirit is showing me how little I have really internalized the gospel, and therefore, how poorly I represent Him at work and with my family, friends, and acquaintances..

Acknowledging and submitting to God’s infinite and unique power, His sovereign justice, and His eternal promise allows us to faithfully represent Christ to ourselves and to the world. Only then can we breathe deeply and be free and help others to do and be so.

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