Romans 16 is an unusual chapter in the bible in that it is mostly a long list of names. Most of verses 1- 15, and then again from verse 21-23, there is a constant cataloging of people often followed by descriptions of them. Here is an example:
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also. Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.”
And that is just 10 of the 34 names and descriptions found in that chapter. You can probably guess why this is not the kind of passage that is often preached on.
But one thing I love about this passage is that it reminds us of early Christian relationships and how they involved real people like us. The apostle Paul didn’t just minister to a mass of nameless people. He knew Ampliatus, Urbanus, and Epaenetus by name!
When you look at the descriptions, you see that Paul was in relationship with all sorts of people. Both men and women. Some of them had been Christians longer than him, and some shorter than him. Some of them did the Lord’s work with him. Even in just this list of ten names we see that he calls Phoebe, Prisca, Aquilla, Mary, and Urbanus all “workers.” Some of these must have been people that Paul did ministry alongside of at some point.
Why do I bring this up? I think that there are people who sometimes think of church attendance as a kind of good deed, and that by sitting there they are basically earning some kind of “heaven points.” Then, the person might feel guilty if they don’t “go to” church.
One thing that I think is important to remember, is that the main responsibility that we have to our fellow believers in Christ is not the we “go to church.” I believe God wants so much more than that.
We should be like Paul in this passage, where we are in relationship with others in the church. And we should be committed to God’s mission in such a way that we are working alongside of them in ministry. Of course that is going to require showing up at a particular place at a particular time. But showing up at a particular place at a particular time isn’t always about attendance. In these cases, it would be about relationship and mission. This list of names in Romans 16 shows that Paul didn’t just show up somewhere, sit in a row of chairs, get some “heaven points”, and then leave. He actually got into the lives of these people and served Jesus with them.
That is what I believe church is about. It’s not so much a place you go; it’s real people with real names. People you love and who love you. People who are on the same team with you as you venture to serve Jesus with your life. Romans 16 is great evidence that that was happening back in the first century.
I pray that you will live your church life in such a way that the result would be that you could one day write a letter to (and about) 34 of your dear Christian friends, reminiscing about the times you served Jesus together.
