Romans 2:17-29
Where two or more gather, some shall be best. That is not what the bible teaches, that is what the world believes. Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. However whenever a congregation of Christians gather, there is always enough of the world in their midst, that seeking of position and rank takes place. It is not Christ like, but it is reality. It was happening in the church at Rome. The name “Jew” comes from Judah, meaning “praise.” The Jews at Rome wanted others to consider them praiseworthy. They wanted others to consider them the best Christians.

Some of the Jewish Christians were claiming to be superior because they had studied the law. They were claiming the right to teach and preach. They thought they were better than the gentile Christians. They considered the gentile Christians to be uneducated children. The same attitude of superiority sometimes appears today among people who grew up in the church. They seem to think because their parents raised them in the church they are automatically wiser and godlier than Christians who come from a worldly background.

Some of the Jews were very proud of their circumcision. Circumcision was a physical sign of a spiritual relationship. It was possible to carry the physical sign of circumcision and still not have a spiritual relationship with God. The church moved beyond the physical sign of circumcision, other outward signs have replaced it today as reasons to feel superior. Some find superiority in their church affiliation, others point to their method of baptism and still others are quite proud of their spiritual gift. Some, seeking to show themselves as superior Christians, point to their ability to give large sums of money, others point to their great faith.

All attempts to appear superior are in vain. The goal of a Christian was not then, and is not now, to seek the praise of others. A Christian’s goal is to live a life worthy of God’s praise.