Are you a zealot?
Dear Friends,
I guess most of us feel at least a little uncomfortable with the thought of describing ourselves as zealots. I can’t say it’s a way I’ve ever described myself! Isn’t that kind of language fertile territory for breeding religious extremists and fundamentalists? Surely, zealots are dangerous people?
The only thing is, there’s an uncomfortable instruction in Romans 12:11, and it says: “Never be lacking in zeal.” What, never? Do we never get a break from being zealous? Apparently not. Of course, Paul is talking about being zealous for God, not for a human cause. But even so, we find ourselves wondering whether we really can be zealous all the time. Don’t we need a rest? Or can’t we be zealous for the Lord in some parts of our lives, and go a little easier in the others? How can Paul expect us to do that?
The answer comes in just a few words at the start of the chapter: “in view of God’s mercy” – that is, God’s mercy to those who deserve to be the objects of his wrath. I suppose Paul might reply, “In view of God’s mercy to you, how could you ever be lacking in zeal for him? How could you ever be anything other than zealous?” I don’t suppose ‘zealot’ will ever catch on as a description we will use. But it’s hard to escape Paul’s instruction, or the logic that lies behind it. And, as we keep God’s mercy in view, surely we can expect our zeal for him to grow?
Chris Hobbs,
Vicar.