Long Distance Relationship

A “long distance relationship” has become a fairly common pop-culture reference these days.  In fact I even saw a preview for a movie about a long distance relationship the other day.  Usually the social commentary on long distance relationships is that they rarely work.  There are several reasons why they usually don’t pan out, but on TV and in movies those relationships usually fail because one of the individuals in the relationship is tempted by someone else who doesn’t live halfway across the country. 


I’ve never personally attempted a long distance relationship, but after a few weeks of dating my wife Laura, she went up to her summer job at Lake Geneva Camp for 4 weeks and I was left in Minneapolis. Those weeks were brutal for a couple who was just falling in love and just wanted to be together all the time.  We spent hours on the phone every night; Laura came home twice in those 4 weeks, and I went out there to see here twice.  I can’t imagine trying to make that work for a long period of time.  Paul realized that spiritual mentorship from a distance was a challenge as well…especially since they didn’t have phones or internet back then.

Romans 1:7-13

 ⁷To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
      Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 ⁸First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. ⁹God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

 ¹¹I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹²that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. ¹³I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Before we get into my thoughts, it is important to note what was going on in the Roman Church.  Most scholars date the book of Romans around 55 A.D.  That means that the church of Jesus Christ was only about 20 years old, and the movement of Christianity didn’t start in Rome.  It started in Jerusalem.  Therefore, the vast majority of Christian leadership at that time resided in Jerusalem.  In addition to that, the Roman church had gone through some major changes.  The original Roman church was most likely started by Jews who came to know Christ during the day of Pentecost, thus the church was primarily Jewish.  Under the reign of Emperor Claudius, Jews were banished from the city of Rome for a short time in 49 A.D.  The church continued to grow and flourish and when the Jews came back several years later, the Roman church was now primarily composed of Gentiles.  That meant that in a movement that was less than 25 years old, this church had much younger than average leadership.  They were doing well, but Paul realized the need for a mature Christian with God’s heart to step in and guide the Roman church through this process. 


One of the hardest things for me to do as a youth pastor is to watch students who graduate my youth ministry go away to college.  I know the temptations that they will face when their system of accountability is no longer in place.  When one of them chooses to walk away from their faith, it really hurts.  I feel like I have failed to give them the tools that they need to stand strong against temptation and I spend a lot of time in prayer for those students.  On the flip side, it’s so exciting to see students that I’ve invested in choose to honor God with their lives.  I’m so proud to be a part of their spiritual development.


Paul said he wanted to be in Rome in person to impart spiritual gifts into them and help make their faith strong.  I thank God for the spiritual leaders in my life that invested in me and helped my faith become strong.  There are 4 individuals that come to mind that really helped me through Jr. High and High School.  Phil Burton taught me what it really meant to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.  Ryan Stelly taught me how to pray and what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Andy Britz mentored me and showed me how to minister.  Dan Keinanen showed me what it meant to love the Word and how a high schooler could make an impact for Christ.  These 4 men along with others were vitally important in my development as a teenager and they are a big part of the reason why I’m a pastor today. 


If you don’t have someone who is a spiritual mentor in your life, you need to find somebody.  Paul said in verse 13 that he wanted to visit, in order that the Roman church would experience a harvest.  That is what mature leadership brings to our lives.  If you want to see your relationship with Jesus Christ flourish, find a mature Christian to impart Spiritual gifts into your life.  Then you will grow strong in your faith. 


If you want to add a comment, share something about the mentors that you have had over the years and write them an email or a facebook message thanking them for the investment they made.