Back to Sermon Index Women in the early church...Preachers, Apostles, Teachers and...Mothers... Mother's Day Sermon May 11, 2008 Romans 16:1-13 I must confess that I usually don't pay much attention to the close of Paul's letters. They seem unimportant, a list of folks he is sending greetings to and from, along with various last minute instructions for this person and that...but I felt that it was mostly irrelevant to me and my life. The text of the letter cuts to the meat and you can see how they are inspired by God for the building up of the Church, but where is the inspiration in the final greetings? The last chapter of Romans gives us a good example. When we first look at the list of names, they are just names for us, like reading an ancient phone book. But if we look closer, we notice a couple of things. First, Paul commends his fellow worker to the Christians in Rome. Paul often did this when introducing the person who would deliver the actual letter he was writing. But the person is not just a courier, but someone who worked closely with the Apostle Paul. He had established a system of itinerate pastors and overseers who worked at his side; traveling with him from place to place preaching and teaching and discipling the new believers and establishing the local church and its leadership. These special workers were also the Apostle's representatives. Paul could not be everywhere, as talented as he was. So he had to have those whom he could trust to go and be his representatives in the local churches. They would give instructions, deliver new letters from Paul, answer questions, select and train leaders and would bring back a report to the Apostle Paul on how things were going and any issues of faith or practice that had come up in the fledgling churches. As the churches had significant questions or faces some great challenge, these Apostolic representatives would deliver the word to settle things in the churches. Their job was one full of responsibility and authority and great personal danger...traveling alone or in pairs across wilderness, ocean and mountain to share the word of hope and truth. They often stayed in a town for a year or two, as the Pastor and teacher and organizer for the church. There are many of them we readily recognize; Timothy and Titus, Mark and Luke (both who wrote Gospels), Silas and Barnabas. Others are less well known but who were played just as important a roll in the birth, development and very survival of the Christian church at its beginning. Here in the last chapter of Romans we hear several names that should cause our ears to pick up. Here we have 6 or 7 names that are women. Two bear special recognition this morning: Junias and Phoebe. "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me." (Romans 16:1). Phoebe is introduced in the same way that Paul uses in other letters to introduce the person who would deliver the letter and would stay on as the Apostle's representative. Phoebe is entrusted with not just a letter, but is entrusted with Romans — a letter inspired by the Holy Spirit as Scripture and Paul's deepest, most thoughtful theological letter that outlines salvation by grace through faith. This letter is the center piece, the great work of the Apostle who wrote most of the New Testament...entrusted to Phoebe, a woman. And Junias. In Verse 7 Paul writes "Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was." Junias is listed among the apostles, as is Andronicus. It is clear that they are not one of the original 12...neither is Paul if you remember. Who is she? We don't really know. But she is one of the Apostles, one of those who had seen the resurrected Jesus and who had a special call to take the word to the world as a missionary preacher. She is not just a Sunday School Teacher, but listed as an Apostle. Both of these women are had a significant ministry in Christ and a key role to play in the development and strengthening of the early church. Now some of you are wondering about this, because you had heard that Paul was a woman hater and that the early church was a patriarchal system that did not allow women to be in positions of leadership, much less leadership like that described here. The fact that Paul mentions them...and others, there are 6 or 7 women in this final greeting in Romans, he list them so casually — implying that many of them were known and loved by the church in Rome and that no one would get their hankies in a twist over their inclusion here. It was a natural and normal thing. While it may seem contradictory to what Paul says in certain places, we must remember two things. First the context of each letter. Some of what Paul says in certain letters really address a problem In that particular church at that particular moment and what he says is not instructive for the whole church. And Second, while Paul taught that there was equality in Christ...not just for women, but for everyone. On two occasions he says that in Christ there is now NO man or woman, no slave or free, no Jew or Greek...all are one in Christ Jesus. Here is address our roles as men & women, our position in society and work, and our cultural or racial identity...all are one in Christ Jesus. But Paul's primary purpose is to preach the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to as many people as he can...and when it becomes an issues, he sides with society's norm rather than attempting to allow the Gospel to start a cultural revolution. He knew that if the church rocks the boat too much...if their message is considered radical and it changes too much of society, then it will be persecuted and the fledgling church might not survive. Paul would rather convert the world, and then let the natural changes in social structure flow out of a changed heart and mind. But Paul's heart is clear, we are all one in Christ Jesus. And it was the common practice in the Christian church to put this into practice...where it does not cause a radical reaction by the society and powers at hand. So in Rome, women in ministry is the common practice of the church. Paul did not defend Phoebe in ministry as a woman or Junias as an apostle, he introduces one and greets the other. As I might introduce our Bishop, Bishop Beverly Shamana. Paul also sends greets to Rufus and his mother, and then says something touching...In verse 13: "give greetings to Rufus, chosen in the lord, and his Mother, who has been a mother to me too." Now, there is much speculation as to who Rufus is. When the Gospel of Mark (remember, Mark is one of Paul's itinerate preachers) tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion, we are told that as Jesus carried the cross through the City at one point he collapsed and the Roman soldiers grabbed a person from the crowd to carry the cross for Jesus...we are told that this person was named Simon of Cyrene, and that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The reason the Gospel mentions there names is that they would have been people that the audience/readers knew. Most believe here again is Rufus, who's father was chosen to carry the Cross for Jesus and they felt themselves chosen by Christ for service. Rufus' mother became like a second mother to Paul. We do not know how. We know that Paul had a serious illness and perhaps he stayed with her and she nursed him as a mother would. Or perhaps he lived in her home while ministering in the region...whatever the way ,she had become a second mother to Paul. This phenomenon is not unknown to us today. When I began my ministry in Modesto, the church arranged for me to live with a wonderful Christian couple who had room on their farm for a young preacher. Over the years, she became to me like a second mother. When we married, they became like a mother and father to Susan too. This has happened several times in our ministry...not that we have lived with folks but that we establish a bond with someone who is like a second mother or father to us. And it is not just us...at a meeting this week a church member shared about a women whom she called her second daughter...she went on to needlessly explain that she had sort of adopted her as another daughter and visa/versa. I say needlessly explain because this is common in the church...we are called to love one another. And it is one of the joys of being the church that we establish family bonds with other members. Our children have several second parents in the church family and we are glad for it. We know that there might be times when our children would not want to talk to us about something...as deeply wise and spiritual as we obviously are!!!...I know, I know, hard to imagine, but true....not true, of course. But it is true that we are glad they have others they might go to for a word of advice or support...and we appreciate the church being the church...a family that cares for each other and that dares to develop relationships that are deep and caring like a mother or father or sister or brother. What Paul is saying in this brief greeting is that the church is being the church and it has not changed in 2,000 years. If we are blessed, we too will find those who are like a mother to us as well. It is the way the church should be. It is a good word for us on Mother's day, to remember our Mothers and to celebrate the love we feel and know...even from those who are not our biological parents...but might become a parent in faith. We remember and celebrate the love and care of mothers who support us regardless and who help us keep our feet on the ground and hearts in the sky. The church has been and will always be a place where we can find this kind of love... A family of faith and love. 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