Paul's Greatest Epistle

August 20, 2013,

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to share an interesting archeological find from 2009:  a 1,600 year old joke book, dating back to the Roman empire.  That’s right.  Archeologists found a compendium of Roman humor, filled with funny stories and one liners.  [1]

It was quite a find, and a clear contrast to the image many of us have of stoic, stodgy Roman citizens standing around philosophizing and looking at the stars.  This joke book suggests that they actually had a fairly pronounced sense of humor, as evidenced by this little gem that follows the classic “three guys did something” formula:

A barber, a bald man, and an absent-minded professor go on a journey.  They have to camp overnight, so they divide the night into shifts so they can take turns watching over their baggage.  The barber takes the first shift, and gets bored watching the other two sleep.  So, he amuses himself by shaving the head of the professor.  When the barber wakes up the professor to start his shift, the professor feels his head and says to himself, “How stupid is that barber?  He’s woken up the bald headed man instead of me.”

(*cue the rim shot*)

Can’t you picture this joke being told by a bunch of knee-slapping, toga-wearing Romans? 

PAUL’S GREATEST EPISTLE

What is no laughing matter, however, is the epistle that Paul wrote to the church in Rome.  The book of Romans stands apart from the rest as the most important letter Paul ever wrote.  It is the most complete, methodical construction of Christian doctrine the early church would ever receive, and its impact has endured throughout time.  Consider the way that Romans has influenced some of Christian history’s most significant leaders:

John Chrysostom.  This fourth century early church father had someone read the entire book of Romans to him two times every week.

Augustine.  One day while sitting in a garden, he heard a group of children playing next door.  He then heard them say, “Pick up and read.  Pick up and read.”  He looked over and saw an open Bible on the table, the pages already turned to the book of Romans.  He was saved as he was reading it, and later reflected on the experience:  “In an instant the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.”

Martin Luther.  After a long period of struggling to find inner peace and the assurance of his own salvation, he read Romans 1:17:  “The just shall live by faith.”  At that moment, he experienced a peace with God and a confidence that his sins were forgiven.  He would later go on to spark a reformation of the Christian church that would lead to the Protestant denominations of today.

John Wesley.  It was Martin Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans that caused the young John Wesley to experience a heart “strangely warmed” in his pivotal Aldersgate experience in London.  Hearing Luther’s reflections on Paul’s words dispelled his doubts and gave him the assurance of God’s free gift of grace.  Wesley would later write about that moment:  “My heart was strangely warmed.  I felt that I did not trust Christ and Christ alone for my salvation and I, even I, was born again and forgiven of my sins.” 

Magrey deVega.  Whoops.  I’m not suggesting that I belong on the same list as these other spiritual giants.  But Romans was also quite formative in my own life, as a senior in my private Christian high school.  After spending the entire year studying the book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, we had only one question on our final exam:  Explain Romans.  Needless to say, the book became pretty formative in my own understanding of the Christian faith at an early age.

It was impossible for me to fully “explain Romans” writing in an exam booklet for forty-two minutes, just as it will be a challenge for me to do it justice preaching for twenty minutes this Sunday.  But no journey through the life and ministry of Paul would be complete without exploring this book that has been so important to the development of Christianity. 

You will definitely want to take some time this week reading through the book prior to worship on Sunday.  You’ll gain an appreciation for the comprehensive case that Paul builds for the human need for grace, the salvation given through Jesus Christ as the second Adam, and the faithful life expected of those who are redeemed.  As is the case for each of these Sundays, you’ll want to follow along in our daily scripture readings, which is as follows over the next several days:

Monday:  Romans 1-2

Tuesday:  Romans 3-4

Wednesday:  Romans 5-6

Thursday:  Romans 7-8

Friday:  Romans 9-10

Saturday:  Romans 11-12

Monday:  Romans 13-14

Tuesday:  Romans 15-16

Join us this Sunday for a sermon titled “Romans:  Sin and Grace.”  Let’s experience together the brilliance of Paul’s writing and the extravagance of God’s grace.  For indeed, I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.  (Romans 8:28)

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

531 W. Main St.

Cherokee, IA  51012

Ph:  712-225-3955

Email:  mdevega@sp-umc.org

[1]  http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/mar/13/roman-joke-book-beard

To view past editions of the Mid-Week Message, visit http://mdevega.blogspot.com.
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