Rules of Engagement
Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, I had a conversation with a friend I’ve known since college, and we had a few chuckles as we noted the common themes and patterns that have recurred throughout our lives.
In my case, it has been my tendency to land in traditional institutions or organizations undergoing dramatic change or creative “reframing.” In college, it was the all-male Ivy League school in its early years of admitting women; in my first career, it was the stodgy New York bank embracing racial, gender, and cultural diversity; in my second half of life it was the call to ordained ministry in the tradition of the Episcopal Church…just as it entered into a progressive era of ordaining women, blessing same-sex marriages, and committing to racial healing and reparations. And now, here I am, rector of the oldest historic church in Richmond, which is keeping up as fast as it can with the new life and diversity that it has embraced over the past 10 years.
A common thread that has run through all these experiences has been a renegotiation of the “rules of engagement” that have been passed on from generation to generation. Needless to say, this is not easy or comfortable. Rules were put into place for a reason, and sometimes it is difficult to discern when those reasons have changed or no longer give life.
In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, we see him wrestling with this issue as he tries to convince this nascent community that the religious rules passed down to them were no longer the most important aspect of their faith. Walking the way that Jesus walked was, instead. Paul thought that ancient teachings like “an eye for an eye” (Leviticus 24:20) and “revenge” (Judges 16:28) and “curses” (Numbers 22:6) had been misunderstood and were getting in the way.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves .…” (Romans 12:14-19a).
Paul was very clear in this letter (and in his others) about this point: following Jesus is different than simply following our inherited religious laws and traditions with blind adherence. Paul helped the early church find ways to test their religious beliefs and challenged them to dive deeper into the “why” of their faith and the “what” of Jesus’ teachings.
As you reflect on your own experience of tradition and change, I encourage you to consider what common assumptions you would challenge today. Are there any religious teachings from your childhood that are no longer relevant (perhaps even opposed) to what Jesus taught? Are there any rules or laws that seem to prevent you from living into and out of the kind of love Jesus calls us to love with? Are there any misconceptions or confusion that you can share with your fellow travelers as you walk further down the path that Jesus walked?
In Christ,
Amelie+
