This week we are looking at verse 3 of the hymn. Wordsworth focuses on how Jesus healed the “palsied limbs and fainting soul” while “quelling all the devil’s might” thereby “bringing good from ill.”
Manifest in making wholePalsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill;
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
This is a pivotal verse. The child “Manifested by the star to the sages from afar” was “Manifest at Jordan’s stream [as] Prophet, Priest, and King supreme.” His ministry was to show and act out God’s love by “making whole.” Too often we (I) do not act in a way that makes whole the ‘fainting soul.’ As Christ’s followers we, too, ought to walk in love as Paul writes in the letter to the Romans (14:13-23). In this week after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, it seems fitting to look at this chapter of the Epistle to the Romans which calls for tolerance.
“Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another…If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification…The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God…for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
Paul is talking about differences of practice within the early church, esp. the eating of certain foods. The same principle applies, I think, to all our actions toward one another. The Epistle could just as easily have said, “If your brother or sister is being injured by what you SAY, how you ACT, your comments of RIDICULE, etc., you are no longer walking in love.”
It can be difficult to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.” Often I find it easier to go along with judgmental talk (gossip) than to stop and consider how hurtful it is, and not just hurtful to the one being talked about. It is also a crime against my own “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Worse than that, it creates a ‘fainting soul.’ Unloving words and actions paralyze my soul as much as they hurt the other person.
Jesus told us to “love one another, as I have loved you.” Writing this blog posting has me asking myself some tough questions. It seems that Paul may just have a few answers.
Why do I find it necessary to judge others about their way of dressing, working, living, talking, etc.?
Paul says we should, “no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another.” (Romans 14:13) That’s not easy and maybe I have to look at the reason why I am being judgmental or gossiping or otherwise acting in an unloving way to someone. Is it to be one of the in-crowd? Am I jealous or threatened or hurt or frightened by the one I judge? Have I picked up the attitude from those around me or from the news or culture in general?
What can I do to take a stand against the attitudes of negativity and judgment that seem to permeate our culture?
“Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions…for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment…?” urges Paul. (Romans 14:1-3) It is hard to remember that the person I disagree with or find irritating is just as much a Child of God as I am. However, trying to see the face of Christ in those we find difficult might just change our attitude.
Would it really make a difference if I didn’t participate in making snide remarks about someone?
Because each of us is a Child of God, we have our own gifts and paths to walk. Paul notes, “Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.” (Romans 14:5-6) If we expand that verse a little further, “Those who (fill in the blank) in a way I don’t agree with, do it to honor God…and give thanks to God” we really could be more understanding and it would make a difference in our interactions.
Gossip or other forms of subtle (or not so subtle) disrespect tear the fabric of community. This is the opposite of our Lord who was “Manifest in making whole,” not in tearing down. Paul has stern words for those of us who bring contention into the community. “Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then, each of us will be accountable to God.” (Romans 14:10-12) It is easy to judge, not so easy to be tolerant of someone who is getting on your nerves. This verse reminds me that it's God who ultimately will have the last word about my actions and everyone elses. The way I act and interact is the only thing I have control over.
Am I willing to be the ‘odd’ one in the group because I don’t participate? Standing up to be a positive influence amid negativity of workplace, politics, family, etc. takes courage. It isn’t easy, either. Our reward is in Paul’s reminder, “”For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.” (Romans 14:17-18) We serve Christ when we act to quell all the devil’s might…ever bringing good from ill” not when we are contentious and judgmental.
My ongoing plan is to remember “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Romans 14:7-9) I hope you will join me in working toward more than tolerance of those you differ with. We can make a difference by seeking to ‘walk in love’ with everyone, even, and maybe esp., those we disagree with.
Next week, we’ll look at verse 4, one not found in the Episcopal hymnal, but used in the Lutheran tradition. It is wonderful to discover that there are more stanzas to an old familiar hymn. Being open to new things is a form of love and tolerance, too.
