I Gotta Say This

I am currently writing about the parables, but deep inside, I am still sick at heart over the modern American church.  I have written extensively about it; I thought a change of direction was needed, so I turned to looking into the parables. 

Then, this morning, it hit me. I have been so down-hearted because of so many Christian leaders have fallen and giving the world all the more reasons to be scornful of Christianity.  If we say our faith is the only way, then that way is littered with people who appear to be not much different than anyone else:  They abuse others, they watch pornography, they commit adultery, they act as if they are the only ones who understand God, and everyone needs to listen to them alone. 

They have built big churches, big followings, big budgets and then surprise, surprise:  They have addictions that ultimately destroy everything they have worked for, and the people who have followed them are utterly taken aback at how utterly human their leaders are.

The world continues to laugh and mock us, for we have ample and seemingly unlimited quantities of  hypocrisy. 

But here's my epiphany, as it were:  Go back to Jesus' time and the exact same thing was happening.  Jesus turned on the religious leaders of His day and gave them no quarter:  They were hypocrites and were making the lives of His fellow Jews miserable with all of their rules, regulations and dismissive behavior towards the unwashed masses. Jesus' criticism of them was direct, powerful and non-compromising: 

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. So obey everything they teach you, but don’t do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. 5 Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.

But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters.  Don’t call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven.  None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader.  Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others.  If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

Then Jesus turned to the Pharisees in the crowd, and listed the ways in which they were debasing Judaism:  

You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You’re nothing but show-offs. You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You won’t go in yourselves, and you keep others from going in.

You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You’re nothing but show-offs. You travel over land and sea to win one follower. And when you have done so, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.

You are in for trouble! You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind. You teach that it doesn’t matter if a person swears by the temple. But you say that it does matter if someone swears by the gold in the temple.  You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

You also teach that it doesn’t matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say that it does matter if someone swears by the gift on the altar.  Are you blind? Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?  Anyone who swears by the altar also swears by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple also swears by God, who lives there. To swear by heaven is the same as swearing by God’s throne and by the one who sits on that throne.

You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either. You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel.

You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean.

You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You’re nothing but show-offs. You’re like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. That’s what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good. (Matthew 23:1-28)

Now, these actions of the Pharisees were done amongst their own people, but also in front of the Romans--the stand-ins for modern secular Americans. 

The Pharisees' actions weren't just in the Temple or in the local synagogue; they went into public places (to be seen and admired) and the Jewish people were not the only ones who saw them--the Romans did and I am sure they mocked them.  The Pharisees' holier-than-thou attitude, their contempt, scornful gazes and their fancy clothes were in stark contrast to all of the unwashed masses that the Romans were watching for any signs of rebellion.  

The Romans, like many Americans today, were perplexed by the utter disconnect between what these leaders said and how they behaved.  (If they were that hypocritical in public, I can't imagine what these men did in private. People who are seduced by power are liable to be seduced by anything they think they deserve.)

Yes, there were God-fearing Romans, and that is why they were attracted to Jesus--we only need to think of the Roman centurion and his faith that brought deep praise from Jesus.

But the Romans had contempt for the religious leaders of Jesus' day.

In fact, at Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion, you see this animosity play out, as Jesus is shuttled back and forth between the leaders of both camps.

So, as I fall away from church, in a manner of speaking, I am falling more into Jesus.  People, even good people, will be disappointing, hypocritical, sinful, greedy, arrogant, sincere, insightful, blind and well, just plain human.  Like me.  

But Jesus is never that.  Ever.  

Jesus was God's love operating on earth in human flesh. People were drawn to Him because He was utterly authentic, available and looked upon them as children, not to be punished, but to be lovingly called back into the sheepfold of His Father, the Good Shepherd:

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:11)

Then Jesus went a step further and called Himself the Good Shepherd:  

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11). 

He would not only gather us, He would die for us. 

God is love.  His love never fails.