LENT
(Season of Lent: February 6–March 22, 2008)
LECTIONARY COMMENTARY
Sunday, February 10, 2008
John E. Guns, Guest Lectionary Commentator
Pastor, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
Lection –
Romans 12:1-2 (New Revised Standard Version)
(v. 1) I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship. (v. 2) Do not be conformed to this world but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is
the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.
I. Description of the Liturgical Moment
As our culture and the church become more secular and driven by the seductive
spirit of distorted materialism, the need for a healthy observance of Lent
increases. Lent, which began in the fourth century, has endured several stages
of development. In its origination, Lent served as a forty-day period of study
and concentrated prayer in preparation for baptism, which would be held during
the Easter season. Throughout the course of time, Lent has evolved to serve as
a season of self-denial and intense consecration.
While the former are worthy pursuits, the notion of redemptive service tied to
self-denial has not been sufficiently presented from the modern pulpit nor
embraced in Christian culture. I believe it is important that Lent becomes a
season, particularly in the African American church, of sacrifice and
self-denial tied to the purpose of redemptive societal engagement.
II. Biblical Interpretation for Preaching and Worship: Romans 12:1-2
Part One: The Contemporary Contexts of the Interpreter
One of the weightier challenges for the African American preacher is to
convince the average worshipper to embrace a life of meaningful sacrifice
coupled with authentic redemptive service to others. This mandate for sacrifice
has become challenging because much of the preaching today focuses on the
individual and the pursuit for more. Modesty and simplicity have been replaced
with extravagance. For many, the word sacrifice is an unwelcome intruder,
demanding more than we have a desire to give. Yet throughout our history,
sacrifice has been a staple of our struggles against oppression and the
dehumanizing treatment of our oppressors. The Lenten season within the
African American church context should not only be a time of self-denial but
also a season of sacrifice where one is inspired to embrace the spirit of
modesty and service. In my own context, self-denial, modesty, and service to
others are themes that I have preached and I have endeavored to model each.
I believe strongly that to turn around a generation that so readily embraces
unhealthy materialism, the church must preach and model an unmistakable image
of Christ as a savior who denied himself and sacrificed for us, lived modestly,
and served others. This is the profound lesson embedded in Romans 12:1-3.
Part Two: Biblical Commentary
Paul in Romans 12:1-3 provides a great challenge to those who have confessed
Jesus Christ as Lord. He calls upon those who have embraced the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, experienced justification (5:1-11) and now live under the
authority of the Holy Spirit (8:1-17) to offer themselves as sacrifices unto
God.
This idea of offering or sacrifice is grounded in the system of offerings found
in the Pentateuch. There were three main types or groups of sacrifices in
ancient Israel’s worship: those that made atonement; those that were for
celebration (peace offerings, as well as other variations, such as Passover);
and those that were for dedication (meal offerings, as well offering the first
fruit, first born, paying vows, and making other types of dedicatory rituals).
Essentially, there was the forgiveness and acceptance by God through atoning
sacrifices, the celebration of being at peace with God in the fellowship or
peace offering, and the dedication to worship and serve God through the
dedication or meal offering. Paul is clearly aware of these sacrificial
customs discussed in the Pentateuch. In fact, throughout Romans (fifty-seven
times in total) he quotes from the Pentateuch and other Old Testament books as
he provides a linkage between the old and the new for his readers.
Paul declares that as a result of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ those who
confess him are now called to submit themselves as instruments of God’s will
through consecration. This consecration involves the intentional yielding of
oneself to the desires of Jesus Christ. This offering or intentional yielding
of one’s self now takes on the character of the offerings/sacrifices in the
Old Testament. Because of Jesus Christ, the offering of one now is “holy” and
“acceptable” as was the requirement of the lamb used in the Old Testament
sacrifice system.
What is important to note is that through the offering of one’s self to God,
authentic and God acceptable worship can occur. In this instance the word
worship, which is derived from the Greek word latreia, means the performance
of sacred services as required by the Levitical law. The nature of this
consecration then forms and shapes itself around the performance of acts that
speak of the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. This mercy, expressed through
the justifying work of Jesus Christ, now motivates the believer to yield
himself or herself in a substantive way to the will of God. The consecration
of the believer now satisfies the requirement of the law found in the Old
Testament, not as an extension of a legal system of religion, but rather in
and through the life changing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice
persuades those who call him Lord to live a life of ultimate commitment.
This ultimate commitment pleases God and is expressed through a life of
service, which then becomes a marvelous statement of worship.
As persons who lead others in worship, it is important that worship is
holistically defined. Paul allows us to see worship as service. I suggest
that if we follow the model of our Christ, this can aid greatly in inspiring
congregations to embrace worship as acts of service for others done in the
name of Christ. Worship is now enfleshed and it moves beyond the sanctuary
into the streets. Worship is now the kindness I extend to those in need.
Worship is now the time I invest in assisting those who are attempting to rise
above the obvious barriers of our educational system. Worship is now the
resources I give to causes that improve and enhance the quality of life for
fellow travelers. Worship is now my life of service and sacrifice because I
have a holistic understanding of worship.
What is the key to one’s willingness to make such a sacrifice? What aids
greatly in one’s ability to embrace sacrifice and service as a lifestyle? The
key is found in Romans 12:2. In v. 2, it is shown that the worshipper who
serves and sacrifices must have a transformed mind. The idea of transformation
is twofold. First, it is grounded in a full embrace of the process of inner
change, and second it rejects the world system, which contradicts the will of
God. This means that doing the will of God is inexplicably linked to one’s
willingness to endure the process of change, which results in the offering or
sacrifice of oneself.
The Lenten Season is powerful because is provides the individual an opportunity
to begin transformation with the support of a communal setting, the church.
During this period and beyond, the idea of sacrifice and service are important
concepts that we can make plans to pursue. During this season of repentance,
self-denial, and prayer, we should strive to find meaningful ways to live out
our faith. The Lenten Season allows us to seek out ways to redemptively
involve ourselves in our community and the world through the local church.
Thus, in a world that can be ruggedly individualistic, we now find communal
participation through the Lenten Season.
The transformation of our minds from a self-directed orientation to one that
seeks service and sacrifice will lead us to engage in acts of compassion and
mercy. The rejection of a societal pathos of selfishness and over indulgence
will lead to a new understanding of worship. In the end, the authentic spirit
of sacrifice birthed from a transformed mind leads to a fresh and exciting
life of service, which is true worship.
Challenge
This text calls us to yield ourselves completely to God through Jesus Christ,
living a life of meaningful service. As Jesus Christ offered himself so are
we to do the same. As he became our redeemer, so are we to become redemptive
tools in the hands of a merciful God.
Descriptive Details
The descriptive details in this passage include:
Sounds: Our cries as we endure the process of being transformed by Christ;
words of appreciation from those whom we serve; and
Sights: Cleaner communities; the smiling faces of children; the
appreciative faces of those who are lonely as they receive visits of comfort.