Romans 12:3-21

“Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good.” – Romans 12:9 CEB

In the world of the church, we often talk about orthodoxy versus orthopraxy – right belief versus right practice. And while these two go hand in hand, as a Church (big C – worldwide Church), we tend to overemphasize right belief, forgetting that how we practice our belief is what truly matters. Paul shares this sentiment in this twelfth chapter of Romans. After eleven chapters of theology and right belief, he lands the plane in real life.

Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought. Remember, you’re part of a body, not just an individual. Use your gifts. Love without pretending. Bless people who drive you crazy. Overcome evil with good. It’s not abstract spirituality—it’s daily, embodied faith. The kind that shows up in group texts, at committee meetings, and in the checkout line.

What strikes me is how grounded this passage is in humility. Not self-hatred. Not false modesty. Just clarity. You are not the whole body. You are not the Savior. You are not the standard by which everyone else is measured. That realization is strangely freeing. When we stop performing and comparing, we can actually serve. We can rejoice with people instead of competing with them. We can mourn with people instead of fixing them. We can disagree without dehumanizing. That’s grown-up love.

And then Paul goes for the jugular: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That sounds noble ... until someone wrongs you. Our reflex is to win, retaliate, or at least nurse the grudge. Paul suggests something far more subversive—active goodness. Feed your enemy. Refuse revenge. Leave room for God. This is not weakness; it’s disciplined strength. It’s choosing to live from a different center. In a world fueled by outrage, a community committed to stubborn, creative goodness might just be the most powerful witness of all. - Allison