Fixing Bad Theology: Romans 4 and the Cult of “Calling”

     If you have spent any time around Charismatics, or tuned into Christian TV, you have likely encountered some form of encouragement to “stir up your faith and call those things which are not as though they are”. This is a very popular sentiment these days, and this verse (Romans 4:17) is a favorite among “faith” oriented believers. There is one tiny problem, however. The Bible never once tells believers that they have the power to call those things which are not as though they are. In fact, the only person that Scripture ever claims has this ability is God. The second problem is that, it not only attributes to man that which is only attributable to God, it completely ignores the entire context and meaning of the passage being quoted.

          

     If you ask most of the people quoting “call those things which are not as though they are” what the rest of that verse says, you are likely to be answered by a vacant stare and dumbfounded silence. At least that is the response I usually get. I don’t want to just walk into your computer, kick over a sacred cow, and waltz back out again, so let’s take a look at  Romans 4 and see whether the verse gives believers the power to create what they want through their faith and spoken words, or if perhaps the passage says something totally different. A simple look at the rest of verse 17, and verse 16 preceding it, should be sufficient. 

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Romans 4:16-17 NIV).

            The overarching context of Romans 4 is justification by faith, just in case that isn’t clear from the opening statement "the promise comes by faith". The specific promise discussed here is not a Cadillac, financial prosperity, or even divine healing. It is the promise of salvation and a covenant relationship with God. In light of this context there are really only two plausible meanings for our controversial passage. 

            One might argue that the text refers to God calling all those who would be heirs of Abraham, either by descent or by faith. This interpretation would lean heavily on the fact that it is God’s promise to Abraham to make him a father of many nations. At the time of the promise those nations did not exist, yet God called them as though they were, and indeed He brought them into being in faithfulness to His promise to Abraham. In other words, God calling into being things that were not refers to His calling into being all those who would be Abraham’s heirs, nationally or spiritually. This argument has merit and is defensible based upon the text. I would argue however that there is a better interpretation which takes into account, not only the literal details of these two verses, but coincides with the rhetorical argument which Paul has been building up to this point. 

            Paul did not need to convince Jews that they were heirs of Abraham’s covenant, or that God had called their nation into being in faithfulness to that covenant. The Jews had known that for millennia. Paul’s purpose in this portion of Romans is to address the new reality that the gentiles have been grafted into the covenant on account of their faith. See again Paul’s assertion, “not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.” (v. 16). The argument Paul is making is that, in grafting the gentiles into the covenant, God called into the covenant those who were not formerly a part of the covenant. He gave life to the dead (spiritually) and called those who were not as though they were. 

            So while it might be nice to call the new car I want into existence, by speaking it thus with my creative faith, this text at least, does not give me the scriptural standing to be able to claim such power.  This passage testifies to a much greater miracle. That the holy and omnipotent God, who has the power to call those things which are not as though they are, chose to extend His grace and call us into His covenant and justify us through faith. Or as Paul reiterates later, quoting Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” (Romans 9:25). Unless you are a member of the triune Godhead bringing lost people into covenant relationship with you, you do not get to call those things which are not as though they are based upon your faith in reading Romans 4. 

            This is an important distinction for a couple of reasons. First, it is important because it is the Word of God, and we should always attempt to read and interpret it faithfully. Second, it is important because some people are having their faith wrecked when they are told, by preachers, that if they have faith they can do this and then it doesn’t work. Instead of realizing the preacher they trusted had simply mislead them, they think something must be wrong with them, or else they figure that faith just doesn’t work and they walk away from the whole Christian thing altogether. Finally, it is important because this false teaching skirts the edge of blasphemy, and as it is preached on some occasions, dives completely in. Though we are made in God’s image, we are not God. We need to be careful when we start to claim for ourselves those things which rightfully belong to God alone. There are at least two things which scripture tells us God is incredibly jealous over. His covenant people, and His glory. If you don’t believe me, ask Herod. “And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:23). That’s even in the New Testament, folks. Let’s not steal glory from God and attempt to claim for ourselves what belongs to Him alone. We are called to be like Him in His character and holiness, not in his power and majesty. He may move powerfully and miraculously through us, according to His sovereign will, but let us never abandon the humility of knowing we are merely vessels through which God may move if He so chooses.

Come as you are?

Recently I've read several articles and posts about how the Church is failing to be like Jesus and show Christ's love, based on the premise that Jesus had a policy of letting people "come as they are" and not making them feel guilt or conviction, but just loving them. I certainly believe the Church must be like Jesus and that we must love everyone regardless of their "issues". The problem is that the Jesus being described in these arguments doesn't look much like the Jesus of the Bible.

The message Jesus preached was never "come as you are". In fact, every time someone attempted to become followers of Jesus by coming as they were, Jesus sent them away and grieved over their loss. The message Jesus preached was "repent and enter the kingdom of God". Repentance quite literally means to change. So if the first step to entering the Kingdom, as preached by Jesus, is to change then how can the gospel message be "come as you are"? If you say you want to be a Christian but are not willing to give up your sin, and submit to His Lordship in all areas, then you cannot be His follower. This is why Jesus said that one should count the cost first. Becoming a Christian means giving up the rights to be Lord of your own life. You must die daily to yourself and live unto Him. It is a narrow and difficult path, which is why Jesus said that few people find it, while wide is the path to destruction and many traverse its ways.

Now before the rest of you can sharpen your pitch forks and stock up on stones, we need to be aware of an opposite extreme that is just as common and just as wrong. Repentance means change, but it refers primarily to a change of heart, direction, and allegiance. Repentance renders invalid all claims of “come as you are” used to justify ongoing sin and to make the sinner more comfortable in their wrong doing. It does not however mean that you can expect the newly converted brother to be fully sanctified in a twinkling of an eye. That’s probably not how it worked for you, so you should stop expecting it of others. The new convert needs our love, grace, compassion, and patience as they grow and mature and fail and get back up again. Repentance is first and foremost an action of the heart and the mind, which then works its way out into the life.God is holy, but He is also gracious compassionate and long-suffering. His tender mercies are new every morning. There is a difference between the person who wants to follow God and struggles with sin they can't seem to overcome, and the person who lives in rebellion against God refusing to give up their sin.

The “Come as you are” preachers also love to make much of the fact that Jesus ate with sinners. The Jesus of the Bible did indeed eat with sinners and He genuinely loved and cared for them. He did not ostracize them or treat them with scorn and contempt. But He also never lied to them about what it took to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, or about the severity of their sin. He loved everyone and treated them lovingly, but He did not allow all of them into covenant relationship with Him. He preached the gospel to everyone and He loved them regardless of whether or not they accepted, but He never lowered His standards or gave false hope regarding eternal salvation. He spent time among the sick for it is the sick who need a physician, to paraphrase His own words. His presence among them did not indicate their wellness but their sickness. As a good physician Jesus did not lie to them about the state of desperation they were in, nor the remedy which they needed if they were to be well. He walked among them and loved them, and His love compelled Him to seek to save them, even if they found the treatment to seem bitter and hard to take. If they would not take the cure He offered them, he did not force them. He let them go and lamented their loss, but continued to offer his undiluted message of Healing to all who were willing to partake of it.

I agree that the Church must become more like Jesus, just not in the way I see it being suggested by the post-modern false-tolerance agenda. We need to quit viewing people as a project or stepping stone for our evangelistic programs. Why should people believe that we care for their souls when we show no care for them as persons? Love should never be dependent on an outcome, but should be genuine. If they never give their life to God or join your Church, will you still love them? If not then you never did, you were just faking it enough to try and get them to an altar? Love should be pure and undefiled in motivation.

We also need to quit judging unbelievers for not living up to our standards. It should not be so surprising that Sinners sin. Scripture says that we are to judge those within the Church, not those outside it, God will judge those outside. Contrary to what we see in action, it is possible to love people, and yes even act lovingly towards people, who are in deep bondage to sin while never compromising God’s principles or giving the false impression that their sin is okay. The Bible teaches about two different types of judgment, one we are forbidden to do, the other we are commanded to do. We are commanded to judge deeds and the fruit one bears in their life, and to confront sin and call people to repentance. We are forbidden to look down upon others scornfully and to heap condemnation upon them. Quit being angry at people for being what they are. Pity them, have compassion on them, love them, be a witness in the way you live your life around them, and help them to see the beauty of our Lord and the life of grace and peace He gives to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. As Jesus said it, be a city on a hill and don’t hide your light under a bucket. If we Christians would spend less time witnessing and more time being a witness, the world and the church would both be better off.

At the same time, if we truly love people, we must never cultivate a false sense of security. If Jesus never lowered the bar to make it easier to enter Heaven, then how can we seek to veto His judgment? We can't allow our fear and timidity to keep us from being bearers of the truth to those we love. You don't need to (and shouldn't) aggressively bully people with your message, but you must be clear about your beliefs and never compromise them for temporary convenience or companionship. Love always seeks what is best for those we love. It is not an act of love to allow people to perish and enter eternity unprepared just to spare them the temporary discomfort of conviction. If you see a child about to run into a busy street, unaware of the danger he is in, the loving response is to snatch him from the jaws of death, not to allow him to step in front of a semi in order to avoid hurting his feelings. Speak the truth, but speak it in love. Bear in mind the difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction confronts guilt and provides a remedy through repentance and forgiveness. Condemnation confronts guilt and provides no escape, but adds abuse, damnation, and hopelessness to the guilt.

The truth is that Jesus never preached a message of “come as you are” but he did live and preach a message of “I love you, even where you are, so much that I am willing to give my life for you. To set you free from the power of sin and death that you may come into covenant with my Father and with me. I offer adoption into the family of God and the covenant of salvation, not because you are worthy of it, but because I love you. Turn away from your sin and the path of destruction you are on, take up your cross, die to yourself, come and follow me. In return I will give you righteousness, peace, and joy beyond your comprehension.”