Pastor's Corner

Lately, I have been watching a documentary on Ancient Rome. Is there any nation or culture more iconic in the West than the Romans? An entire hemisphere of our planet is fascinated by these long-gone people. Even the term we use to fondly (and fictionally) remember the past is to "romanticize" it. The Romans invented or popularized many of the elements we use every day in the 21st century, like mile posts, public restrooms, and even our calendar. We tend to see them as larger than life, which begs the question: where did they go?

In the ancient world, there was an order. Powerful kingdoms ruled until a more powerful kingdom conquered them. At any time in the west, there was a "big kid" that ran the show until a bigger kid came, took his ball, and made everyone play his game. So, what big kid replaced Rome? Was it a military machine? An economic powerhouse? Aliens? No, it wasn't any of these things. To see what power rose to replace the Romans as the mightiest kingdom, we need to look to the prophet Daniel.

In Daniel 2, the prophet tells us the ancient pattern will continue until God Himself brings a new kind of kingdom to the world: one not made by human hands. This Kingdom will rise from the Romans and spread over the whole earth, bringing the old way of things to an end. It shall continue forever. This, my friends, is the Church!

The Roman Empire lasted in various forms for about 1,500 years. It promoted a certain way to live: an approach to being human that still echoes today. The Church has existed in various forms for 2,000 years and is the largest organization in the world. Christ's way of life is continuing to grow and replace the old way. Who would have guessed that the old system built on strength of arms, force and violence would be superseded by a new system built on forgiveness, peace, and mercy?

Even when the Romans had every reason to believe they would win the ideology struggle, here we are today, naming our dogs Caesar and Nero, and naming our children Peter and Paul. There is something undeniably powerful about love and hope. This is the new kingdom: not one of political sides or military force, but one of reconciliation and goodwill. The Apostle Paul points out the lasting truth of this New System: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." Let us all seek greater faith, hope, and love for one another. If we did, not even the Romans could stop us.

Rev. Evan Elwell

Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene