Romans 1:1–17

Family Bible Study
Chair of Theatre, Samford University; Southwestern Seminary graduate

WHY ME?
Romans 1:1–17
When I started as theatre director at Birmingham’s Samford University, I directed a play that required a tour-de-force performance from an actress. The talent pool was rich, and I knew I would have plenty of talented actresses to choose from for the part. After auditions, to everyone’s surprise, I cast a first-semester freshman in the lead role.

Shortly after the cast list was posted, the young lady appeared in my office with a quizzical look on her face and asked, “why me?’

What she meant was why not the more seasoned juniors and seniors. I answered, “Because you were the right person for the part. You have all that I need, and anything you lack we will supply.” I simply asked that this young lady trust me, for trust is the basis of a good theatre ensemble.

Our response to God’s call to “go tell the world” is a lot like that of the young actress. We are not lazy but we are just not sure what it is we can bring to the effort. It always seems there is someone better suited to the job.

We are never sure we have the skill set, confidence or experience to do what God wants us to do. Therefore we wait in hope that someone else, someone better suited to the task, will do the job.

In Romans 1, the apostle Paul speaks to this subject. He suggests that the gospel is a universal issue, bigger than any one of us. All of us are called, as Paul charges the Romans, “to be Saints.” Being a saint means serving the Kingdom wherever and whenever we are called upon to do so.

The Samford actress was afraid the success or failure of the play rested on her young shoulders. It didn’t. The mission was the responsibility of us all. Yes she had a part, a big part, but everyone did.

When your family of faith calls on you to teach a Sunday School class, be a part of the missions effort. Visit the sick or withdrawn.

You are being cast in a role — an important role and one you are suited for — if only because God is sufficient to supply your needs for the job. You have a call, just as Paul did, to share the love of the gospel.

As part of a theatre company, I am blessed to be part of a creative family, and to that family, I owe an obligation to do my most for the production’s best. I consider it a debt for being able to do what I love for a living.

When the first play I ever directed at Samford ended its successful run, I changed from my coat and tie into overalls and headed down to the stage to take down the set. The technical director asked me what I was doing. He was unaccustomed to directors getting down in the dirt. But I felt I owed it to the company. We in the family of Christ are likewise debtors. We have all the blessings of the family, but our debt is to the Lord and those who have not yet become a part of his family.

Often because we understand that people, just like theatre audiences, will sit in judgment of our work, we are ashamed. It is the nature of things that we should think first about what others might say about us. That’s too bad.
In the theatre, the best actors are those who are the least concerned about public reaction. The best actors just trust their efforts.  In the family of faith, we can’t afford to be self-conscious either. We must do all we can in the name of Christ and trust that our prayerful efforts will be sufficient to tell the story and help others to see Christ through us.

Paul says when the gospel is unashamedly delivered, “the righteousness of God is revealed.” That is our role — we are cast to reveal, in a variety of ways, the righteousness of God.

The answer to the question “Why me?” is “It’s not just you.” You and I are each a part of the bold, unashamed proclamation of the gospel. We have an obligation to change lives with a message of hope, forgiveness and redemption. We have no need to be ashamed; we are in a family, Christ’s family, and that is an ensemble we must surely trust.