Paul’s letter to the Jesus-followers in Rome (Romans) is often as feared for study as is John’s Revelation. Scholars have written volumes probing into Paul’s supposed deep theology presented in that brief document.
I thought, why not apply the practice of Beginner’s Mind to the study of that letter?
Beginner’s mind—just experience the sound, sight, thought as new. Without labeling. No knowing, explaining, judging. You are always new. Always beginners not knowing what will happen in the next moment.
First century practice of sending these letters reflected the lack of reading ability on the part of many recipients. A courier would bring a document to the little ekklesia (gathering). The appointed reader would read the document aloud to the gathering. The entire document. Not just clips.
I sat and read the letter straight through. No breaks. Just as if I had been sitting in that ekklesia. Beginner’s mind—no preconceived thoughts, no theology, no arguing.
Then I read a bit of background.
This totally changed my understanding—and how I teach it.
What came clearly to me was this was an essay on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation involves the journey of living with-God in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The meat of the letter begins with awareness of where we are—people not living a fruitful life in the spirit. Paul must address the differences of Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). He does this through discussion of the law. Can we move to the next stage by following the law? Well, maybe, but it’s exceedingly difficult.
So he discusses faith. Abraham, the first Jew, was reckoned right with God through faith and not law (which hadn’t come, yet).
Paul leads us from faith to grace (you cannot have a letter about Jesus without discussing him).
Paul did not end the letter with the discussion of “being saved by grace through faith” as many do today. He answers the “then what” question. He adds chapters 11-15 which describe our lives as lived with grace.
I think that is the point. Faith is essential. Living life in the spirit is the necessary next step. After all, James, the brother of Jesus, told us that faith without doing something with it is dead.
Oh, and studying the final chapter is also instructive as he describes the ekklesia as a community of women (listed first), men, slaves, free people. Everyone welcome. How is your ekklesia (church) doing in that regard?
Faith Venture 