I finished reading through Romans again last week, and paused at this paragraph:
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
It’s in the midst of Paul’s signing off. He’s greeting a bunch of specific people, and then he’s inspired to include this one last piece of instruction. Something about that made it interesting to me, and as I read it over and over a couple things stuck out:
Avoid Divisive People
He tells the Roman Christians to avoid people who cause division and offense. Not to patiently coddle them, or try to coax them into the truth. Not even to bear with them until they feel more cooperative. Just avoid them.
He doesn’t go so far as to say they should be excluded, or written off, as he does in other circumstances, but just to steer clear.
We don’t generally do that in a lot of local churches today. Sometimes we do the opposite. Sometimes that human attraction to controversy and drama take over, and we lean in to the division and offense instead of away from it.
Interesting.
Peace and Crushing
Scripture doesn’t appear to have an issue with the “God of peace” “crushing” His enemy. Peace and crushing.
Here, it could be said that the enemy is not a person, and that’s true. But in Revelation, the Prince of Peace does some crushing of His own, and those are people.
Maybe our society thinks of “peace” differently than God does.