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Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Romans 12:20: If you enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.
As Pastor Appel has pointed out this morning, food and feasting are weapons of God’s kingdom. Jesus undermines Pharisaical boundary markers by eating and drinking with prostitutes and sinners. He battles the evils of the Jews and forms a new table fellowship from the rejects of Jewish society.
Building on Jesus’ meal practices and teaching, Paul also recognizes that food is a weapon. He quotes from Proverbs to teach us how we are to respond to enemies.
It’s a counter-intuitive response.
It makes best sense to respond to enemies with full force. When we’re hit, we hit back harder, or at least we protect ourselves. Paul says the opposite. Not only does he tell us to return good for evil, but he tells us we need to put ourselves in the same vulnerable position that Jesus was in: He calls us to show hospitality to wolves and lions.
It’s counter-intuitive, but Paul assures us that it works. It heaps burning coals on our enemy’s head, turning the enemy into a living altar, burning with the fire of the Spirit like the apostles on Pentecost.
At this table, Jesus invites us, His former enemies, to be His companions, to share His bread. And He commands us who are His people, Go and do likewise.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 7:22 am
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