From me to you Part 3: who am I to judge?
CONTEXT: The current context for this passage we’re going to read today is that there are people out there who are making these verses all about one thing: homosexuality. These are the main verses used to prove that homosexuality is an abomination. There is little if any consideration of the context Paul was writing into, the possible mistranslation of certain words and the greater message behind this excerpt from Paul’s letter that applies to every single one of us, not just those few so often singled out for particular judgement and condemnation.
The context into which Paul is writing is one of idolatry. The Roman culture was polytheistic – the more gods, the better. When it came to worship, it was ‘anything goes’. The one true God who created the universe was neglected and replaced by man-made gods in the shape of human beings and animals and birds.
It was this rejection of God that led to moral depravity. Sex was used and abused in ways that were never intended – not within the boundaries of a loving, faithful, respectful relationship, but with prostitutes, many of whom were slaves forced into that role. Sexual intercourse in pagan temples was common in the worship of idols. Prostitution had a role in some of the Roman religious observances, particularly in Spring to celebrate virility. There were temple prostitutes. According to Wikipedia, ‘”Pimped-out boys” (pueri lenonii) were celebrated on April 25, the same day as the Robigalia, an archaic agricultural festival aimed at protecting the grain crops.’
That’s the context. Now let’s read the passage.
EXCERPT: Romans 1:18-2:16
FROM ME TO YOU:
Look around you. Lift your eyes to the sky. Do you feel that stirring within you, that awe and wonder at this incredible universe in which we live?
Look around and see God. In the creation of the world, God reveals his eternal power and divine nature. You may struggle to call this divine creative energy ‘God’. I get that. It doesn’t matter to me what you call it, just that you recognise it for what it is.
So many people don’t get it. They look the other way, reject the notion of anything outside of themselves. They turn to worship man-made things and believe that retail therapy and popularity and fun can bring happiness and satisfaction. We can easily fall into that way of thinking too. It’s pretty seductive. We start to depend on things to calm us and make us happy.
It all becomes a slippery slope. We lose track of what is right and natural and healthy and good for us, of what is life-giving and leads us towards the light. We give into excesses. We become slaves to what our bodies crave to make them feel good.
And then, to make ourselves feel better about the state of our lives, we look at others and judge them. We feel we’re not as bad as them.
What becomes of our compassion, our faithfulness, our love, our mercy?
Who am I to judge? Who are you to judge?
None of us have got this life of faith nailed. We’re all only human, after all. And those that think they’re more spiritual and enlightened and sorted than others prove that they’re not, just by thinking that way.
The good news is that God’s kindness is available to all of us.
When we turn to Him and acknowledge Him for who He is, we find Him waiting there with arms open wide to welcome us into His best way for our lives.
Yours,
Hx
