Respect Race
“Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek...So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
Acts 16:3, 5 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/act.16.3,5.nkjv
Righteousness exalts a nation composed of people's sense of respect for acceptable relationships and dignity at home and the society. This sense of respect had earlier introduced accommodation of different standards for the Jews and the Greek (or the gentile world) on the issue of circumcision. But when Timothy must enjoyed one of the privileges or acceptance, apparently as Jew or First-Class minister of the gospel, Paul had to bend more a little in favour of the respect race. Except in certain instances when God's commandments are disrespected, insensitivity to people's sense of respect, cultural diversity, and people's opinion about acceptable social lifestyles can hardly lead to righteousness before God. Whereas, a sense of respect for the Jewish sensibility here did not in anyway annoy the Greeks; and the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. Most times, the pursuit of righteousness without a sense of respect for others is void of a sincere sense of respect for God and the expansion of His kingdom.
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