Story told by Nicky Gumble of Alpha fame.
I remember, years ago, a football match that had been arranged involving twenty-two small boys (including one of my sons, aged eight at the time). A friend of mine called Andy (who had been training the boys all year) was going to referee. Unfortunately, by 2.30 pm he had not turned up. The boys could wait no longer.
I was press-ganged into being the substitute referee. There were a number of difficulties with this: I had no whistle, there were no markings for the boundaries of the pitch, I didn’t know any of the boys’ names, they did not have colours to distinguish which side they were on, and I did not know the rules nearly as well as some of the boys.
The game soon descended into complete chaos. Some shouted that the ball was in. Others said that it was out. I wasn’t at all sure, so I let things run. Then the fouls started. Some cried, ‘Foul.’ Others said, ‘No foul.’ I didn’t know who was right. So I let them play on. Then people began to get hurt. By the time Andy arrived, there were three boys lying ‘injured’ on the ground and all the rest were shouting, mainly at me! But the moment Andy arrived, he blew his whistle, arranged the teams, told them where the boundaries were and had them under complete control. The boys then enjoyed a great game of football.
Were the boys more free without the rules, or were they in fact less free? Without any effective authority they could do exactly what they wanted. The result was that people were confused and hurt. They much preferred it when the game was played according to the rules. Within these boundaries, they were free to enjoy the game. The rules of football are not designed to take away the fun of the game. They are designed to enable the game to be enjoyed to the full.
God’s ‘rules’ are his boundaries for life, given out of his love for us. Keeping God’s ‘rules’ is the way to life in all its fullness. His boundaries are not designed to restrict our freedom but rather to give us freedom. Like the rules of football, they do not stop the enjoyment of the game. Rather they enable the game of life to be enjoyed to the full.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Listen, listen, listen and then listen.
On SBS TV there was a documentary about War Correspondents and Photo Journalists sharing the effect their tours of duty had on them psychologically. One of the photographers shared about the deterioration he suffered as time went on. What began as a thrilling and even macho enterprise soon had a progressively debilitating effect on him until he reached the stage of total detachment from the horrors around him, and culminating in a breakdown where he was totally detached from everyone and everything even when he returned home. He spoke of the ground under his feet moving uncontrollably until he finally collapsed in a flood of tears at Heathrow airport.
The memories of seeing children killed, of coincidences of stopping at a place where one of his colleagues was killed, or of other situations where he blamed himself for these deaths, even though there was no truth to his feelings of guilt.
The nightmares of those suffering PTSD were recounted in such a personal way as to make you more aware of the endless cycle in which these reporters found themselves.
The extreme reactions of those from horrific situations acted in me as a mirror into (much lesser) events in my own life and my reaction to them. The feeling of wanting to cut myself off from others, of feeling responsible for things over which I had no control, even of a form of anger against those who did not understand what I had experienced, started to make sense.
Perhaps this is why I seem to feel close to those who have been through deep situations in life. These reporters said that they felt locked in a place that they could not get out of. That feeling of "entrapment" is more common than is often realised. In my normal course of life I meet many people who feel trapped within a situation that they can not control.
There is a solution for many, but first we need to allow people to share these feelings without them feeing that you are going to judge them or try to "fix" them.
There is always a solution to be found in Jesus but we need to listen with one ear concentrating on the person and the other attuned to the Holy Spirit. Prayer is far more effective than advice.
The memories of seeing children killed, of coincidences of stopping at a place where one of his colleagues was killed, or of other situations where he blamed himself for these deaths, even though there was no truth to his feelings of guilt.
The nightmares of those suffering PTSD were recounted in such a personal way as to make you more aware of the endless cycle in which these reporters found themselves.
The extreme reactions of those from horrific situations acted in me as a mirror into (much lesser) events in my own life and my reaction to them. The feeling of wanting to cut myself off from others, of feeling responsible for things over which I had no control, even of a form of anger against those who did not understand what I had experienced, started to make sense.
Perhaps this is why I seem to feel close to those who have been through deep situations in life. These reporters said that they felt locked in a place that they could not get out of. That feeling of "entrapment" is more common than is often realised. In my normal course of life I meet many people who feel trapped within a situation that they can not control.
There is a solution for many, but first we need to allow people to share these feelings without them feeing that you are going to judge them or try to "fix" them.
There is always a solution to be found in Jesus but we need to listen with one ear concentrating on the person and the other attuned to the Holy Spirit. Prayer is far more effective than advice.
Behold the Glory
The presentation of Jesus in the Temple recorded in Luke 2 is more than just a ritual that all Jewish parents did with their children in earliest stages of life. It was a dramatic indication of the glory that was present even in the infant Jesus. Simeon and Anna were physically seated in what was the most magnificent building of its time. The Temple in Jerusalem was replete with every luxury, gold, marble, the finest textiles and carvings of its time, etc. however they recognised that the glory of Jesus was much greater.
It takes spiritual eyes to look past physical grandeur to see the magnificence that there is in Jesus. He shows the very nature of God, who has all glory, and who sits in he highest heaven in magnificence that words can't fully describe.
John tries to describe this glory in the first few chapters of the book of Revelation. Even then he can only describe this glory in picture impressions. The reality is far greater and, of course, the One who sits on the Throne is even greater again.
What a magnificent thing for these two elderly prophets to see the infant Jesus and see this glory.
We can capture the same wonder as we meditate on this and enter into true worship of the One who alone deserves all our worship and praise.
It takes spiritual eyes to look past physical grandeur to see the magnificence that there is in Jesus. He shows the very nature of God, who has all glory, and who sits in he highest heaven in magnificence that words can't fully describe.
John tries to describe this glory in the first few chapters of the book of Revelation. Even then he can only describe this glory in picture impressions. The reality is far greater and, of course, the One who sits on the Throne is even greater again.
What a magnificent thing for these two elderly prophets to see the infant Jesus and see this glory.
We can capture the same wonder as we meditate on this and enter into true worship of the One who alone deserves all our worship and praise.
Thoughts from Luke 14
Thoughts from Luke 14.
Jesus was brought up in Nazareth but he lived in Capernaum. The reactions of the people in the Synagogues in these two towns is vey instructive. In Nazareth Jesus stated clearly that the reading from Isaiah was now fulfilled in him. The people cannot have heard the implications of this since they spoke well of him.
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
Jesus saw through their words and pressed the point so much that they drove him out of the Synagogue.
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus had to be almost objectionable to get this reaction, which was the true state of their hearts. He did not allow what we often get from people: "nice word pastor". He pushed past this and made people face up to their real attitudes.
However in Capernaum the situation was different.
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
This positive reaction was further enhanced after he drove the demon out of the man in the Synagogue.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
What would happen if we were to take this example to ourselves? If we were as bold as Jesus surely the same results would happen, news about Him would spread.
Are we willing to expose ourselves to this degree of vulnerability by being so direct with people as we share the good news of Jesus without compromise.
I hope we are, because this is the only was people are going to be challenged to turn their lives around and follow Jesus. Nice sounding words will never achieve this result. Only the truth spoken with boldness with a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit will achieve the purposes of God.
Jesus was brought up in Nazareth but he lived in Capernaum. The reactions of the people in the Synagogues in these two towns is vey instructive. In Nazareth Jesus stated clearly that the reading from Isaiah was now fulfilled in him. The people cannot have heard the implications of this since they spoke well of him.
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
Jesus saw through their words and pressed the point so much that they drove him out of the Synagogue.
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus had to be almost objectionable to get this reaction, which was the true state of their hearts. He did not allow what we often get from people: "nice word pastor". He pushed past this and made people face up to their real attitudes.
However in Capernaum the situation was different.
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
This positive reaction was further enhanced after he drove the demon out of the man in the Synagogue.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
What would happen if we were to take this example to ourselves? If we were as bold as Jesus surely the same results would happen, news about Him would spread.
Are we willing to expose ourselves to this degree of vulnerability by being so direct with people as we share the good news of Jesus without compromise.
I hope we are, because this is the only was people are going to be challenged to turn their lives around and follow Jesus. Nice sounding words will never achieve this result. Only the truth spoken with boldness with a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit will achieve the purposes of God.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Eat the Tithe - a Discussion Paper
I can almost hear the groans from some of you at the thought of yet another blog on tithing, but I have a different slant that I would like you to consider and dialogue with me.
First let me summarise what I have understood up to now.
Many have said that tithing is an Old Testament concept that Jesus eliminated. This does not stand up to even cursory examination. Jesus is quite clear that we are to continue tithing but to recognise that there are greater things we are to worry about.
Matthew 23:23 NIV
[23] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices---mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law---justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Jesus condemns the legalistic adherence to the minutiae of the law (tithing of even the herbs and spices) but ignoring the crucial matters of the law (justice, mercy, faithfulness). So Jesus certainly draws attention back to the important issues, BUT, they were not to ignore the tithe.
Tithing is mentioned in the time of the Patriarchs, if not earlier. Abraham offered the tithe to the mysterious figure of Melchizedek. I take from this and other passages that tithing comes from creation rather than from the Law of Moses. In other words it belongs to the Kingdom of God.
I will not detail the many references to tithing, or first fruits, in the Old Testament, but will go straight to the oft quoted verse from Malachi.
Malachi 3:6-12 NIV
[6] “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. [7] Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, 'How are we to return?' [8] “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' “In tithes and offerings. [9] You are under a curse---your whole nation---because you are robbing me. [10] Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. [11] I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty. [12] “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
Many, including me, have written much on this, usually concentrating on the ‘storehouse’. I have usually interpreted this to mean that we are to pay our tithes into the place where we get our spiritual nurture. This I interpreted, at that time, to mean the local church. However I now believe that Jesus is the store house. Jesus made it very clear that 100% of what we have and earn is from Him and belongs to Him. This is seen in the sermon on the mount and elsewhere.
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
[19] “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? [28] “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you---you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
The tithe was originally, so I have taught, equivalent to the rent we pay to God for the environment within which we live: the sun, air, soil, etc. As such it is to be PAID and not seen as an offering, which is what we are to give above the 10%. However now we see that the tithe is 100%. Everything we have belongs to God. The only question we have to ask is “how much can I keep, and what do I spend it on?”
There is much more to say about these basic matters but the new emphasis I have seen recently is found in Deuteronomy 14:22-29
[22] Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. [23] Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. [24] But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), [25] then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. [26] Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. [27] And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. [28] At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, [29] so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
What hits me here is the matter of how the Israelites were told to deal with the tithe. They were to use it for themselves while remembering the Lord. They were to eat the tithe, or its financial equivalent, in the presence of the Lord and so remember Him through the ages.
They were to use the tithe themselves for two years, but the third year was for the support of the Temple and the Levites.
This came as a real revelation to me. The tithe is to be used by us for 2/3 of the time. The other 1/3 is for the support of those who are living by faith for the propagation of the Gospel. This last point is still being thought through by me. In other words, do the Levites represent the clergy (I think not), or faith based ‘missionaries’, or who?
For the moment I am wrestling with the first 2/3 of our base 10% ‘giving.’ We are to EAT it ourselves in a situation that enables the Lord to be remembered. Can this mean that we celebrate the Lord in some way with other believers over a banquet, or something else.
Watch this space!!!!
Friday, April 10, 2015
We must speak boldly
2 Corinthians 10:1 NIV
[1] By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you---I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
The difference between Paul's boldness between his letters and his face to face communication was so significant that it elicited comment from the Corinthian believers. Paul did not fully accept this difference but nevertheless it was the way his communication was received.
This speaks to me for I see in me a similar discrepancy. In my case it may well be justified from my earlier days as a parish minister. As I reflect on those days I can see that there is some justification as, like most parish ministers, I was concerned about not losing members. This is one of the main traps of parish ministry in its present form where your remuneration is to a large degree tied to the membership.
From my current perspective I can see how finance can cause you to soften the words you use. This may not be intentional as I was not aware of it in my case. However it is an inevitable result of stipendiary ministry. If you speak your mind as Jesus did, your position is at risk. I have seen too many cases of this in my 30+ years of ministry. Therein lies a major problem.
Now that I no longer have this restraint I can see things on a totally new light. People ask me if I would have spoken this way while the support of my family was dependent on this income, I have to answer "I do not know." I hope I would have, but who can judge what might happen with greater insight. It is just that now I can see what I couldn’t see before.
Paul's reply was twofold. Firstly he said that he would deal with the issue when he next saw them. He would do this by seeing how they were living. Secondly, he reminded them that boldness might not be the correct word to use. They seemed to want some form of physical, even violent, response from him, whereas he reminded them that our weapons are totally different from those of the world.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV
[4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. [5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
They had the wrong worldview. They were judging by appearances.
2 Corinthians 10:7-11 NIV
[7] You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. [8] So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. [9] I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. [10] For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” [11] Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
He affirms that they will find his boldness in their presence will match his boldness in his letters, even if they hadn’t seen this before.
That is the stage I have reached in my life. In the past I may have been more gentle in person than in writing, but now that time is short (I am 71 after all), there is no more time for mincing words, regardless of who might be offended by them, as long as those words reflect the Lord Jesus found in Scripture, rather than Christianity as it has come to be expressed.
Having experienced the power of the gospel and the boldness with which it is expressed in unreached people groups in India especially, I cannot retreat into the comfortable church going that passes for Christianity in much of the Western world, and the Eastern world that has imbibed Western Christianity.
I trust that in the Lord’s power I will be able to remain strong in this as it will not be appreciated in some quarters. But that is not the point. Jesus spoke forcefully in the face of established religion. I pray I can do similarly.
[1] By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you---I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
The difference between Paul's boldness between his letters and his face to face communication was so significant that it elicited comment from the Corinthian believers. Paul did not fully accept this difference but nevertheless it was the way his communication was received.
This speaks to me for I see in me a similar discrepancy. In my case it may well be justified from my earlier days as a parish minister. As I reflect on those days I can see that there is some justification as, like most parish ministers, I was concerned about not losing members. This is one of the main traps of parish ministry in its present form where your remuneration is to a large degree tied to the membership.
From my current perspective I can see how finance can cause you to soften the words you use. This may not be intentional as I was not aware of it in my case. However it is an inevitable result of stipendiary ministry. If you speak your mind as Jesus did, your position is at risk. I have seen too many cases of this in my 30+ years of ministry. Therein lies a major problem.
Now that I no longer have this restraint I can see things on a totally new light. People ask me if I would have spoken this way while the support of my family was dependent on this income, I have to answer "I do not know." I hope I would have, but who can judge what might happen with greater insight. It is just that now I can see what I couldn’t see before.
Paul's reply was twofold. Firstly he said that he would deal with the issue when he next saw them. He would do this by seeing how they were living. Secondly, he reminded them that boldness might not be the correct word to use. They seemed to want some form of physical, even violent, response from him, whereas he reminded them that our weapons are totally different from those of the world.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV
[4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. [5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
They had the wrong worldview. They were judging by appearances.
2 Corinthians 10:7-11 NIV
[7] You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. [8] So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. [9] I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. [10] For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” [11] Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
He affirms that they will find his boldness in their presence will match his boldness in his letters, even if they hadn’t seen this before.
That is the stage I have reached in my life. In the past I may have been more gentle in person than in writing, but now that time is short (I am 71 after all), there is no more time for mincing words, regardless of who might be offended by them, as long as those words reflect the Lord Jesus found in Scripture, rather than Christianity as it has come to be expressed.
Having experienced the power of the gospel and the boldness with which it is expressed in unreached people groups in India especially, I cannot retreat into the comfortable church going that passes for Christianity in much of the Western world, and the Eastern world that has imbibed Western Christianity.
I trust that in the Lord’s power I will be able to remain strong in this as it will not be appreciated in some quarters. But that is not the point. Jesus spoke forcefully in the face of established religion. I pray I can do similarly.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Straight Talk or Safe Talk
Straight Talk or Safe Talk?
Luke 11:37-39 NIV
[37] When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. [38] But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. [39] Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Jesus is such a straight talker. There is no beating around the bush, whatever needs to be said is said with no possibility of being misunderstood. This Pharisee had been listening to Jesus along with the crowd which had gathered. There must have been some interest in what Jesus had been saying, and so this prominent man invited Jesus to come and eat with him. Presumably he wanted to hear more from Jesus and to ask questions.
However things went wrong right from the beginning. It was customary to wash your hands before eating, not just for cleanliness, but as a ritual. After all they ate with their (right) hand just as you do in many countries today.
It would not seem to be an unusual comment for the man to make. After all when I eat with the Santal tribal people in India I do just the same. The host brings round a jug of water and a basin and he, or more usually she, pours the water over your right hand, catching it in the basin. It is a matter of hygiene, but there is also a ritual element in it.
So why do we find this interchange with Jesus. At face value Jesus is being rude. However there is a deeper issue at stake here. Jesus had been speaking earlier about the need for true inner cleanliness rather than ritual cleanliness, and He clearly wanted to continue this debate. Why do I say this?
This was not going to be a private conversation. Also present were “teachers of the law.” These are the guardians of the ‘purity’ of the Word of God, largely the Pentateuch. It was clearly a setup.
Luke 11:45-46,52-54 NIV
[45] One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” [
Here is where Jesus’ straight talking comes to the fore. There follows a series of ‘woes’ against all these religious leaders.
46] Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. [52] “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” [53] When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, [54] waiting to catch him in something he might say.
In our society you might expect this to be the time for a graceful exit, or for an apologia regarding these teachings. I can almost here the guest of honour re-explaining the issues so that the words are softened, with comments like “you know that we are really on the same side, and I was just ensuring that people maintained a pure lifestyle”, or some other softer comment. But not Jesus!
Jesus knows what is at stake here and doesn't mince his words. Woe to you. Woe to you. Woe to you. And so on.
There is no compromise here. We would try to maintain our relationship with these leaders. Jesus speaks the truth uncompromisingly, fully knowing the results that would inevitably follow. And follow they did.
Once Jesus had left they started plotting His death.
John 8:12 NIV
[12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Mark 8:34-38 NIV
[34] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [38] If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.”
Where does that leave us? We compromise so easily. Often we use an excuse such as maintaining a relationship. But is that really the case? Could it be that we are not propared to suffer the cost of speaking up for Jesus in a forthright way? Everyone has to answer this for themself, but I hope I will be found faithful when I am put to the test. What about you?
[37] When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. [38] But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. [39] Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Jesus is such a straight talker. There is no beating around the bush, whatever needs to be said is said with no possibility of being misunderstood. This Pharisee had been listening to Jesus along with the crowd which had gathered. There must have been some interest in what Jesus had been saying, and so this prominent man invited Jesus to come and eat with him. Presumably he wanted to hear more from Jesus and to ask questions.
However things went wrong right from the beginning. It was customary to wash your hands before eating, not just for cleanliness, but as a ritual. After all they ate with their (right) hand just as you do in many countries today.
It would not seem to be an unusual comment for the man to make. After all when I eat with the Santal tribal people in India I do just the same. The host brings round a jug of water and a basin and he, or more usually she, pours the water over your right hand, catching it in the basin. It is a matter of hygiene, but there is also a ritual element in it.
So why do we find this interchange with Jesus. At face value Jesus is being rude. However there is a deeper issue at stake here. Jesus had been speaking earlier about the need for true inner cleanliness rather than ritual cleanliness, and He clearly wanted to continue this debate. Why do I say this?
This was not going to be a private conversation. Also present were “teachers of the law.” These are the guardians of the ‘purity’ of the Word of God, largely the Pentateuch. It was clearly a setup.
Luke 11:45-46,52-54 NIV
[45] One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” [
Here is where Jesus’ straight talking comes to the fore. There follows a series of ‘woes’ against all these religious leaders.
46] Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. [52] “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” [53] When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, [54] waiting to catch him in something he might say.
In our society you might expect this to be the time for a graceful exit, or for an apologia regarding these teachings. I can almost here the guest of honour re-explaining the issues so that the words are softened, with comments like “you know that we are really on the same side, and I was just ensuring that people maintained a pure lifestyle”, or some other softer comment. But not Jesus!
Jesus knows what is at stake here and doesn't mince his words. Woe to you. Woe to you. Woe to you. And so on.
There is no compromise here. We would try to maintain our relationship with these leaders. Jesus speaks the truth uncompromisingly, fully knowing the results that would inevitably follow. And follow they did.
Once Jesus had left they started plotting His death.
John 8:12 NIV
[12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Mark 8:34-38 NIV
[34] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [38] If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.”
Where does that leave us? We compromise so easily. Often we use an excuse such as maintaining a relationship. But is that really the case? Could it be that we are not propared to suffer the cost of speaking up for Jesus in a forthright way? Everyone has to answer this for themself, but I hope I will be found faithful when I am put to the test. What about you?
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