If I know one thing about my Dad that I can
state without fear of contradiction, it’s this: His favorite book in the entire
Bible is Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Dad loves preaching from it, and Dad loves
teaching it. In fact, he just completed teaching Romans in the Wednesday night
Bible study here at Collinsville Community Church. Well, almost. Dad didn’t get to the very last chapter, Romans 16. Time ran out before he could finish it.
And I know another thing about my Dad—His favorite
chapter in Romans is this chapter. Now,
I love him very much, but I’ll be the first to admit that my Dad’s appreciation
for this chapter is, well, kind of strange. After all, it’s just a list of
names. And they’re not ordinary names. They’re weird names. Most of them are names that are not used today. Have
any of you ever met anybody named Tryphaena
or anybody named Tryphosa? When
they read the names of the Class of 2019 of Collinsville High School tomorrow
night, I can guarantee you that those
names won’t be on that list.
You know, something interesting just occurred
to me. Yes, this list of names in Romans 16 is just a list of names. But so is
that list of names that will appear in the program at tomorrow night’s graduation
ceremony. However, those names tomorrow night mean something to you, and they
mean something to me, because we know
many of the people whose names are on that list. The name, Juliana Spencer,
will be on that list. My name, Patrick Schwartz, will be on that list. If people
read that program many years from now, it will just be a list of names. Maybe
some of our names will even seem strange to them. But to us, it’s not just a list of names. It’s not just a long, boring list of strange
names. It’s more—much more!—than a list.
If we think about it a little more, we start
to realize that any time a list of names is involved, it’s usually an
important, or at least special, occasion. When they read a list of names at
school, the persons on that list are usually being honored with recognition for
some reason. When they read a list of names in church, the persons on that list
are sometimes the family members of someone who has passed away. When they read
a list of names at a cemetery on Memorial Day, it’s usually to recognize women
and men who have served our country and lost their lives while doing so. Maybe
lists of names are more important than we think! Maybe Paul’s list of names is more important than we think.
One thing I have learned from my Dad’s preaching
and teaching is this: If we are going to understand the Bible, we have to read
it in context. So the context for Romans 16 is found in the final verses of
chapter 15: “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the
love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for
me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that
my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may
come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.”
In chapter 16, Paul is expressing his
appreciation to important people who have been a blessing to him in his life
and ministry. To us, reading it almost 2,000 years since it was first written, it
first seems like it’s just a boring list of strange names. However, to Paul, it’s
much, much more than that. Even though he is sending greetings to all of these different
people, what he’s really and truly doing is saying
good-bye. Paul tells them he’s
coming to Rome. However, before he goes to Rome, he has to go to Jerusalem
first. Paul’s going to a dangerous place where he may lose his very life. And
so, at the end of chapter 15, he pleads: “Pray with me, that I won’t be killed
in Jerusalem. Pray that I’ll get to come and be with you. Please—pray!”
Thankfully, when Julie and I graduate from
Collinsville High School tomorrow night, we aren’t going anywhere that is
dangerous. I’m staying right here in Collinsville, and going to Tulsa Community
College. Julie will be close to home as well, attending Rogers State University
in Claremore. But, like Paul, we are preparing to enter into a new phase of
this exciting journey called life. And I’m confident I speak for Julie as well
when I tell you that we—like Paul—appreciate everything you are to us, and
everything you have done for us. The list of members and friends of
Collinsville Community Church is more to us than just a list of names. Your names
are important to us, because each and every one of you are important to us.
And, like Paul, we want to be sure that you know that.
Thank you for all of your encouragement. Thank
you for all of your kindness. Thank you for all of your prayers. Thank you for
all of your support. And thank you for all of your thoughtfulness. Although I came
to Collinsville at the end of fourth grade, it now is home to me. So, no matter
where life takes me from here, I am—and will always be—a Collinsville Cardinal,
and Collinsville Community Church will always be my church. Thank you very
much.
