The work of the spirit

The second work of holy spirit sounds a lot like the first. But while the first focuses on the group, the second highlights the role of the members. How do you form relationships that give all of you support and joy? And how do you make sure that your group is part of a universal body and not one that ignores or competes with other groups?

Today more than ever, we see that individuals, social classes, and nations can no longer fight over the scarce resources of the earth, destroying and looting what others have, or spilling that of which we have more than we need. How do we prevent that the ‘spirit’ of this world and age drives our actions with thoughts like, ‘if I don’t do it, somebody else will,’ ‘I cannot change the world,’ and ‘why should I if they don’t?’ How do we practice healthy co-operation and practical solidarity within humanity as a whole to make certain that we and the generations following us can all share some measure of fairness, peace, and joy on this planet?

The great experiment called 'church'

Of course, the apostles were not yet confronted with the question how to preserve sentient life on this earth. But they did think deeply about how individual members from various backgrounds could form a single body; how as dedicated followers of Jesus they could have true communion with each other. In particular, Paul’s letter to the Romans is devoted to the question how Jews and Gentiles in Rome could together form a strong community. That was a challenge as Jewish leaders in the diaspora tried to keep their people ‘clean’ from Gentile pollution by discouraging eating together (unless kosher), intermarriage, and insisting on circumcision and sabbath observance. Many Jewish followers of Jesus insisted on the same. They thought that Gentiles in general had poor sense of righteousness, were arrogant, and were sexually perverted in the number and variety of sexual partners they entertained. Homosexuality between (married) men and boys being a case in point.

Greeks and Romans, on the other hand, looked down on Jews who – in gentile eyes - held to inexplicable laws about food and sexuality, cut into the beautiful penises of little boys, procreated like rabbits (albeit within in marriage). They thought that their Jewish slaves only insisted on the sabbath because they were lazy. Jews were called out as haters of men and atheists because of their refusal to take part in the festivals and worship of the gods in their host cities. They even refused the perfectly good meat over which the butcher or the priest had called out the name of any other god.

If you read Romans 16, you get the impression that there were many small groups of Jesus followers in Rome, some very Jewish, some very Gentile, some more evenly mixed. They may have had different practices and different opinions of each other. How would they be able to have true ‘communion’ among themselves and with the whole?

Be practical

Take your time to read the passages from chapters 12, 13 and 14. They belong to the best of what Paul has written, translating the teachings of Jesus for this specific situation. I will give some pointers below, but I expect you will find more as you take time to meditate on each individual paragraph.

• Dedicate your life. The word sacred, or sacrificed, did not mean that something was ‘holy’ in terms of past behaviour, but rather that it was set apart for God. Something is dedicated for use in accordance with God’s will. Not that Paul wants us killed! Rather, if we follow Jesus, we are symbolically crucified and resurrected into a new life (6:6). The rules and claims of the old life no longer apply (7:6). What counts is the purpose that you choose to live for, a purpose and a passion that is part of a something larger.
• Look for a fitting role in group of dedicated people. Be realistic, people are social beings and achieve more if they work as a team taking full advantage of each other’s strong points. You don’t do better if you try to do everything yourself, or if a group has only leaders and no one in another role. But you may trust that any group has enough diversity to help you all find a fitting role for now, and perhaps another under different circumstances.
• Contribute your spiritual gifts enthusiastically. You have received several talents, you enjoy using them; so don’t be afraid but offer them with enthusiasm. As long as you keep the first two points in mind: are you dedicated to a good purpose, and is it fitting to make this particular contribution now? If not, there are ways to find out how and when it is helpful. Meanwhile there is always the next point.
• Give love in practical ways. Your ‘special’ gift is not all you can do. Random acts of kindness and general helpfulness out of a loving heart make a difference. 
• Stand with the other in his or her emotions but confront enmity with friendliness and calm. Yours is not the only point of view or emotion at stake. Take care to really sympathize with the other before you speak or act. Even if that other seems below your social status. And if the other is negative, don’t let yourself be overcome by it. Remain kind and, inasmuch as is reasonably possible, try to keep the peace. 
• Serve your neighbour out of love, not because of guilt, shame or rules. Love fulfils the law and does more, as the other will feel that you see and understand her or him. But let no one force you to do anything because you should. That is exhausting. Rather go the source of love (Jesus would say: ‘love the Father with all you’ve got’), and the love for that other person, his child and your brother or sister, will come sooner or later. 
• Respect each other’s religious rules, even though you are not bound by them. After his concerned and even angry letter to the Galatians, Paul now takes a more respectful position to his opponents, who wish to maintain kosher rules among the Jewish followers of Jesus. He has learned to respect them and shares that with the Romans: everyone is responsible for his own conscience. It does not mean you should do nothing when you see that certain rules are used to divide people. But do so from the assumption that the other too is trying to do what is well, and you have a better chance at reaching a workable compromise.
• Don’t judge. Like the commandment to love, this may be one the most important teachings of Jesus (Luke 6:37-38):

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Let go (or: forgive), and you will be let go of.
Give, and you will be given to."

"Your kingdom come"

Fundamentally, then, the teachings of Jesus do not lead to enlightened individuals that detach themselves from society, from their emotions or from the physical world. Rather, Paul writes, the kingdom, or community, of God is about fairness, peace and joy in the holy spirit (Romans 14:17). It is experienced joyfully here on earth, with people who are or become your friends and family. That does not have to be in a formal church. Jesus travelled around with his friends. Paul started out in the marketplace, the workshop, the synagogue and the home. Why not in a mosque, an office or a university? As long as we do not lose sight of the ‘universal’ assembly, for only ‘with all the saints’ (Ephesians 3:18) we can gauge how wide and long, how high and the deep, God’s love really is.

The purpose of the ‘body’ of people inspired by Jesus is to re-learn to love and have faith in each other. By finding the Father as a loving parent from eternity to eternity. By celebrating and re-enacting the self-giving love of Jesus, by sharing holy spirit, and by experiencing how much can be achieved and enjoyed when people with such diverse gifts learn to work together to the benefit of all, even those that don’t have a relationship with us. For they too are children of our Father.

*      *

In the Roman catacombs of saints Marcellinus and Peter (later 3rd to 6th century), the memory and prospect of eating together is what connects the ones buried in the tombs and their living descendants. Their communion is based on Peace and Love, who appear here as servants with the Greek names of Irènè and Agapè: “Irènè, da calda. Agapè, misce mi.” Translated: “Irènè, give [us] the warm [water]. Agapè, mix [it for] me [with wine].”

A message for Jews and Gentiles

In his letter to the Romans, Paul first states his mission to Jews and Gentiles. I would think he is writing to a community led by Jewish followers of Jesus, as he first describes the Gentiles from a Jewish perspective (1:18-32), blaming them for their immorality, sexuality and bad behaviour. But as he is listing all sorts of sins, including gossiping, arrogance, and being heartless, he says in chapter 2: “But if you (the Jews) are doing some of the very same things, how can you judge others? Don’t you see that if you would judge yourself in the same way, you too would stand condemned?”

In the chapters that follow Paul explains that in God’s wisdom all people, Jews and Gentiles, can see how “righteousness” (that is: living life in a good relation to your partner, society and God) does not follow from the Jewish Law nor from living for one self. Both ways of living, Paul says, start with the flesh, the body, - whether you give it the lead or try to restrain it. But the question is whether you trust the spirit over the flesh, like Jesus did. And here Paul feels liberated by Jesus: Jesus freely gave his body on the cross, and so now he lives as the resurrected one, free of the claims of or upon that body. Following Jesus, is having faith in that spirit (8:2): “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

After showing how even in the Law and the Prophets it was foreseen that the God of Israel would establish a new covenant that would include the Gentiles (not literally, but spiritually as he states in 2 Corinthians 3:6). Paul addresses the Gentile members directly in chapter 11: “Do not look down on Israel, because of this. For even though many in Israel did not have faith in Jesus as their Messiah, there are still beloved by God. And his purpose is to shower his mercies over all, Jews and Gentiles.” In chapters 12-14, Paul gives practical guidelines how such a spiritual communion can become a reality. And he concludes (15:7-9):

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

Suggestions for dialogue

A moderator can explain the dialogue steps and invite people to contribute:

• Check in with yourself. Share with each other how you are in this moment. Then take a moment again to seek stillness, humility and openness. 
• First round: Share something from the text or image(s) that stood out to you and that you would like to explore with the group, briefly indicating the thoughts and feelings that it evoked within you. Listen to the others do the same: what resonates with you? Responses in this round should be limited to questions for clarification.
• Second round: Name one or two things that resonated with you from the things that others just shared. 
• Third round: Having heard the group, the moderator names the main topics for exploration. The moderator may also propose a common thread that emerged in several topics. The exploration normally starts with asking the person(s) who brought up the topic to expand on it.
• Leave room for silence and contemplation. 
• Check out by sharing what you take home from this dialogue.

These suggestions are an adaptation of the Estuary protocol. Look for more at https://www.estuaryhub.com