I magnify my ministry to the gentiles, in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them.
– Romans 11:13-14
So, it is in fact Paul’s great love for his own people Israel that possesses him to betray them. This is the faithful betrayal. The only way Paul can honor his beloved kindred is to turn on them, to champion the gospel that bypasses Israel and reaches the whole world. For Paul to proclaim the gospel to the nations is also to proclaim to Israel that they are not so special after all. They have assumed their specialness for far too long. And God’s promises were never destined for one ethnocentric people, but always destined for those who, regardless of their time, place, and background, would be encountered by Jesus and surrender to him; surrender to his transforming presence and love. Paul does not do this out of spite or animosity. He does this out of love. This is, as Paul sees it, his role to play in Israel’s salvation.
It turns out this is what faithfulness looks like between brothers and sisters in Christ. So, wouldn’t Paul “betray” the Church in the same way today? Church, is it possible that we have assumed our specialness for too long? Have we fallen prey to the lie that just because our nametag, so to speak, says “church” or “Christian” or “baptized,” we’re automatically validated by God? Do the titles church/Christian/baptized allow us to turn a blind eye to the places in our hearts that we keep God out of? Is it time for us to be jealous of all the other places where God is spending his time on Sunday mornings? Do you and I love the Church enough to lovingly, faithfully turn against it, and thus save some of it?
God has no assigned seating at his table. Paul wants Israel to know that they are not owed a seat at God’s table. In the same way, church, we are not owed a seat at God’s table. That’s why Paul speaks directly to the gentiles (11:13) in his audience to inform them that the same spiritual peril that has befallen Israel awaits them if their newfound status as God’s elect people begins to produce a boastful arrogance. “You stand on account of faith, so do not become arrogant, but be afraid.” (11:20)
All the promises God has made to us, all the good news we have received, everything that God declares to be true of us (see Romans 5-8) – hubris will undo all of it. Church, we cannot afford to think that we are so special that God owes us an automatic seat at his table. We cannot afford to think that, because we were baptized and because we show up to church, we are free to assume our specialness is unconditional, lest we, like the Israel that Paul loves and grieves so much, find ourselves on the outside looking in, wondering why someone else, someone we don’t approve of, is enjoying communion with God while we are not.
Grace is Paul’s word for God’s spontaneous, free and un-summoned generosity toward us. Mercy is Paul’s word for God’s eagerness to include those who weren’t included before. It is that grace and mercy that bring us to his table, not any title or accomplishment on our part. And faith – which is Paul’s word for surrendering to grace and mercy, saying yes to God’s yes to us – is one and the same as suddenly finding ourselves at that table. Let us faithfully receive the invitation into God’s presence and family. Let us never assume our specialness, but be continually overwhelmed by the generosity that continually brings us to his table.
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