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Accept One Another

             Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)

Paul’s asking a lot here. He does not say “Accept one another.” There are two subordinate clauses that bring depth and difficulty to the instruction. The first is that we are to accept one another just as Christ accepted you. So, when did Christ accept you? After you got yourself together, or before? And how long will that acceptance last? What are the conditions upon which His acceptance of your is given?

There is a loophole here, if we can call it that. It’s found in the Greek we translate as one another. There are two Greek terms that would be translated one another. The one used here is “of the same kind.” We’re to accept those who are of the same kind. What kind is that? Christians? Yep. But could it also mean those of the same race, family, gender, educational level, economic class, cultural background or political philosophy? As people/fellow-image-bearers? As His creation?

Now, yes, the primary concern here is one-another-as-Christian. But, did Christ accept us after we became Christians? No. So while accepting other Christians is number one on the list, it’s not alone. Nor may we accept one another based on behavior, since Christ accepted us before our behavior became perfect. If Jesus is willing to wait for us to become perfect, and we accept one another as He did, we must accept even those who are messed up.

The second clause to consider is that our acceptance of one another isn’t primarily so that others see what wonderful, accepting people we are. Our accepting others is to glorify God. One of the keys to that may be that we accept one another even when accepting them is beyond our ability. I think of two parallel stories. Elie Wiesel was called upon to forgive a dying Nazi who was desperate. He refused. Corrie Ten Boom came face-to-face with one of the guards from her prison camp. He had become a Christian. She accepted him, not because she wanted to, but because God asked it of her and gave her the strength.

This isn’t a suggestion that anyone should put themselves in harm’s way. Part of accepting another is accepting them as they are. Part of that can be accepting that the person in question is dangerous to us and safety and caution are required.  We can accept American Bison as magnificent beasts and keep our distance. The alternatives, which we too often choose, are to try to change the person into what we will find acceptable or rejecting the person. But that’s not what Paul taught.

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