Albert Einstein famously once said to make every explanation as simple as possible, but not simpler. Goes along with combining the Discipline of Simplicity with the Discipline of Study. People just love to make simple things complex. I see it where I work all the time. I’m on a committee that sets referee development policies for soccer referees in Ohio. Same thing. There are people who just want to make everything rule-bound and complex.
I was listening to a small group leader last weekend introduce Paul’s letter to the Romans and said it was Paul at his convoluted best. Hard to figure out what he’s saying. Wait a minute! Is this the same letter that, in its simplicity, deeply influenced Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Barth and others? It completely changed the face of Christianity–at least twice.
Humans seem to love rules. It divides people into those who follow the rules and those who don’t. That way comparisons as to whom is good or not can be made.
The last part of the first chapter is exquisite preaching. As you can tell from what follows, it sets the stage. Paul didn’t mean for us to parse through the list of wrong doing, pounce on one (say homosexuality), and then say “There it is. I was right. Paul hates those people I hate. I’m good; they are bad.”
No, Paul wanted us to read through that list and say to ourselves, “Oh my God. I have behaviors and attitudes and feelings that build up a wall between God and me. I am full of sin. What can I do to become right with God?”
We know from the context of the entire letter, that is what he expected and wanted. We know because he answers that last question. Hint: nothing. It’s God’s grace 😉 Or, as he goes on to say, leave the judging to God.
Faith Venture 
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