For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." – Romans 15:3

Today's Scripture Reading (March 17, 2021): Romans 15

President Dwight D. Eisenhower argued that "the search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions." If we are paying attention, we can always find someone on whom we can place the blame if that is the game that we want to play. And for some, there seems to be no choice. They can't be considered to be wrong, so they feel that they have to blame someone else.

Paul's argument has been the opposite. Those who think they are strong should be the ones who bear the burden. Christians are marked by the way that we treat each other. And at no time is it appropriate to make the road more challenging for those who might be weaker among us. We are not the ones who play the blame game, and we don't shoot our wounded; we are the cheerleaders. At least, that is the way it is supposed to be.

But Paul, and we, know that that is not really true. Somehow, we have believed the lie that Christian perfection has something to do with perfect performance, which often means that the strong have to push off their mistakes onto Eisenhower's "scapegoat," often the weaker people among us. People have been gravely injured inside the church walls, but as long as that pain is confined to the perimeter and the weak, we seem to think that it is appropriate. I empathize with Christian leaders who, in their vulnerable moments, admit that there are places inside the church where they feel threatened by those who should be the strong among us. Something is very wrong.

Paul quotes King David's words as he tries to address this situation inside the church with which he was acquainted.  Centuries earlier, David had penned these words –

For I endure scorn for your sake,
    and shame covers my face.
I am a foreigner to my own family,
    a stranger to my own mother's children;
for zeal for your house consumes me,
    and the insults of those who insult you fall on me (Psalm 69:7-9)

It is that last phrase that Paul uses to strengthen his argument, but the allusion is really to the whole passage. Paul believes that these words accurately describe Jesus's ministry in their midst. He endured the scorn and shame that belonged to us. And the insults of those who insult us fell on him.

But Paul's message is not that that is wonderful, so go and live your life. It is go and be the body of Christ; become Christ to those who are around you. Stop looking for a scapegoat, but rather gather the blame on yourself. Be the strength that those around you need, and lead them to be the strength that the people around them need.

Stop worrying about being right because, ultimately, that is just not important.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Romans 16