Living Spiritually and Practically

When in Rome, (DON’T) do as the Romans do!

As we departed from an Italian airport, snow-capped mountains and a pristine view bid us good bye.  My mind went back over 2000 years ago when the Roman Empire ruled, not only in Rome, but Italy, and much of the known world at the time.  I’m sure there was not the same view as there is and was today.

Rome was trying to gain control of the whole known world.  And, they were successfully accomplishing this.  They were cruel in their approach, as force and domination were their Modus Operandi,  (standard operating procedure).

While trying to gain control of the world, one of their greatest emperors, Caesar Augustus, was trying to assure that there were no threats to his rule.  Between 4BC and AD1, Jesus Christ was born into this world.  When Caesar heard of this birth, he sent men to find him, hoping to snuff out his life.  God intervened through angels, wise men, and shepherds, to make sure Jesus was kept alive.

For the next twelve years, Jesus was reared by his carpenter father, Joseph, and birth mother Mary.  Nothing else is known of him, until at the age of twelve, his family went up to Jerusalem for their annual Passover worship.   When all of the families were departing, his parents didn’t notice he wasn’t with them.  After a short time, they noted that Jesus was nowhere to be found.  They returned to Jerusalem to find him, their twelve-year-old son, teaching teachers, Scribes and Pharisees, scriptural truths and principles.  Mary and Joseph were astounded that their son was doing this, as were the religious leaders.

Jesus next is noted when he began his earthly ministry at the age of thirty.  He took Israel, and Rome, by storm.  He taught truths that were not heard before.   He said to love all mankind, even your enemies.  He said to give to those who gave nothing in advance or return.  As it says in Scripture, he turned the world upside down (in living styles and practices).

Unfortunately, instead of the religious leaders and Roman government welcoming this, they began to seek ways to drown out his teaching as well as snuff out his life.  Even one that should have supported him, Judas, one of his disciples, and those who should have been blessed by him, wanting his teaching stopped, and the only way to do this was to kill him.  The religious leaders paid Judas to betray him, allowing them to believe they could contain and control this religious teacher.

After Jesus was betrayed, he was taken to Pontius Pilate, and was eventually ridiculed and tortured, prior to being sent to his death on the cross.  By crucifying Jesus, like other criminals, the religious leaders and Roman rulers thought they had stopped him for sure, and they did, for three days.

His death was not the end, but really just the beginning!  Sundays became the first day of the week since that is the day Jesus broke out of the tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers and blocked by a huge stone.  Our Easter celebration is due to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead after three days, allowing us the opportunity to personally accept Him as Lord and Savior.

The Colosseum was a great staging location for sport:  chariot races, horse races, and men showing their athletic and war accomplishments were just a few of these types of sports.  Unfortunately, in ancient Rome, death had become a form of entertainment.  They would consider these sacrifices to their gods. Especially was the Colosseum used for gladiatorial contestants.  What once started out as competition became bloody and unkind.  People didn’t have anything productive to do.  They took negative joy from hurting those who were unable to defend themselves.

Because of Jesus’ teaching, as history continued, the Romans began persecuting the Christians in the Colosseum in Rome.  Christians were made to be martyrs for their belief and faith in Jesus Christ.  They were either tortured by gladiators or torn apart and eaten by lions and other animals. This did not deter them from remaining faithful to what God had promised them, eternal life in Jesus Christ.

The word Christian came about as a derogatory term.  The word literally means “little Christs” and was initially meant to demean people who lived like Him.  When they appeared to live like Jesus, they were degraded in this way.  As time went on, the Christians took this as an empowering term, and welcomed it, for to be recognized as one who lived like Christ was an honor.

So, what should we do differently than the Romans? Rather than try to snuff out Christian truths, consider them God’s truths and live according to them, not in contrast to them.   When we walked upon the Coliseum, it was easily noted why it is considered one of the wonders of the Ancient, and Known World.  It took six to eight years to erect this building, which was intended to help with the glorification of Rome.  The construction began in early AD70 and was completed a little before AD80.  A building that was to assist in the beautification and glorification of the empire known throughout the world ended up being corrupted.  Initially, it was used to host chariot races and there was even a means to flood the lower portion of the structure which allowed for boat battles.   The joy of seeing sport was evident.  However, instead of continuing along these lines, they became corrupted by wanting to see Christians killed and harmed.

What did these followers of Christ do?  They suffered the persecution as a means and ways to bring glory to their god.  God says, in his Word, “Blessed are you when you suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake.”  How do we do that?  When folks are unkind, be kind.  When folks don’t give to you, give to them.  When folks tear down when they speak, you build up.  What could have continued to be a wonderful means of sport became a gruesome means.  Our mouths are created in such a way that through words we can do wonders to help encourage and strengthen folks.  Or, we can be cruel and hurtful.  As Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Just as we consider the Colosseum, and what could have been a beautiful edifice used for years of recreation and competition, we now think of it as one of death and destruction.  So, don’t do as the Romans, and use something that was initially meant for good and destroy, but use what was meant for good, and keep returning good.  Our tongues and words can bring healing and joy, or can bring hurt and disappointment.  Don’t do as the Romans…keep doing good!

On a mission trip I once undertook, I had the distinct privilege of touring the “gateway to India” in Mumbai.  The city was originally named Bombay while Great Britain was in control of the country and city.  After India was able to secure their independence, the folks in Bombay wanted to identify their “new” city under their Indian rule, and coined the name Mumbai.  They didn’t want to continue to be associated with the “old” way of life but wanted to be identified with their “new.”  Therefore, they “put off” their old title and “put on” their new.

As runners, and/or those who exercise, we know what it’s like to exert, and get a perfectly clean set of clothes dirty.  When we are done with the exertion, we don’t remove the dirty clothes, clean up, and then put them back on. Rather, we remove the dirty, and put on clean.  In essence, we are removing the “old” and putting on the “new.”  When I was a high schooler, my mom used to tell me that I got in shape getting my athletic clothes dirty while she got in shape getting them clean!

Colossians 3 shares the importance of putting off the “old” and putting on the “new” as well.  Prior to man trusting in and living like Jesus, it is quite normal for him to be angry, bitter, hold grudges, gossip about others, and retaliate unkindness to those who are unkind to them  Too often, we reciprocate to others what is occurring to us.  It’s quite easy to be nice to those who are nice to us, and kind to those who are kind, etc.  Conditional love is just that, a condition rather than intentionality.   Unfortunately, circumstances are not always in our favor, and when we are hurt, we too often are tempted to hurt in return.  If someone raises their voice in anger, we are tempted to do the same.  When someone bad-mouths us, we tend to want to do the same in return.  What God, and our world, needs is for us to do is to show Christlikeness no matter what.  So, instead of living like the “old” person, having conditional love and returning wrong for wrong, we need to “put on” compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness.

Running or cycling early in the morning or later at night requires a light.  The light is definitely the most notable when it is the darkest.  Thus, it Is when we “put on” godly characteristics and “put off” the old.  You and I know how and when we act unkindly, and deep down inside, we don’t like it.  But, our flesh is often weak and we respond according to those around us.

God tells us to be like Christ, and the best way to do that is to follow His example and commands.  One great motivation for exercise is setting a goal, and the great satisfaction of meeting that goal makes all the work worth it..  Rather than only setting distance and time goals, let’s set goals for our lifestyle as well.  Be known as one who “puts off” anger and unkind behavior, and one that “puts on” compassion, kindness,  humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness.  Run hard and live right!