Romans 12 Paul’s burning coals on heads: not of Jesus

[Note: I apply Genesis-1-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, in the-secular-Jesus-messages (SJM), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) SJM’s “my peace”, suggests that:  Human male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, SJM-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1-NIV’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. Some human-beings throughout history may practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI, for example, Jesus. From the past, RHI-individuals guide us and non-RHI-persons warn of error. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the SJM I advocate. In other words, I attribute to SJM the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to civil/legal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response -- “I don’t know, yet value SJM”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-secular-Jesus.

Perhaps SJM always was the-good human being (verb). That potential was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. That is, the laws of forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept mysterious-God appreciation and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI.

I accept that Genesis 1:26-28 NIV urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living.]

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [St. Paul might remove my doubt that this passage addresses Genesis-1’s comprehensive-safety& security. If not, the obvious question is:  How does a person discover God’s will while defying Genesis 1?]

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought [Human-being ought to accept that they are in the image of God (Genesis 1) and behave accordingly.], but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith [appreciation] God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ [Unfortunately, Paul did not cite Jesus even one time.] we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love [appreciation] must be sincere. Hate [reform] what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love [appreciation]. Honor one another above yourselves. [Does “above” create competitiveness? How will the honored-other treat you above themselves? What’s wrong with equals?] ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal [except when you behavior is un-civic or arrogant], but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people [inhabitants] who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [Inform someone when you think they are planning or committing harm and observe their response.] ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. [Snob those in high position and those who are not “the Lord’s people”?] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone [including the evil one?]. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [Inform someone when you think they prevent peace.] ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath [Be cautious against earning wrath.] , for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord [Paul does not represent Jesus.]. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” [Prov. 25:21,22 and the Lord will reward you.] [Mom taught, “Kill your enemy with kindness to convict them of their guilt.” I don’t think this attitude represents the-secular-Jesus. Jesus said to inform an offender, observe their response, and forgive seventy times seven.]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [The Zoroastrian political policy “Goodness is apparent through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds” does not work. Humankind requires statutory-justice. The Sumerian eye for an eye is not justice. Jesus improved Moses’ law. The 1787 U.S. Constitution is further improvement, and it conforms to Genesis 1:26-28, NIV.]