"...Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:11b-12)
I like to listen to talk radio. I realize this is a sign that I'm getting older (kinda like the fact that the clothes in Walmart are starting to look trendy to me... just another sign). But I enjoy listening to the myriad of voices asserting opinion after opinion. In an economy that seems to lack a whole lot of money, one thing we've never lacked in another opinion! Turning on the TV, I watch paid advertisements which seek to convince me that all my health issues are due to a deficiency in trace minerals or herbal supplements.
And the fact is, opinions are everywhere on every subject. From the economy to war, from green to gas, from health to religion, people hunger to hear the "newest" thoughts of the day, and in return, there is no short supply of those seeking an audience to listen to their diatribes.
It is true also in matters of faith. There are so many voices out there; from Joel Osteen to Bob Jones, from John Piper to Jeremiah Wright, from Rick Warren to Gene Robinson. Who do we trust? Who is speaking truth? Who is speaking to our flesh and who to our hearts?
Christ takes the time to make sure the disciples realize there is great difference in teachers and we must be wise in choosing those whom we allow to lead us. Do you realize the authority that we give our pastors week in and week out? We willingly sit under a "teacher-preacher" every time we are in attendance at our local churches. How do we know they are right? How do we know they are giving us God's word or their own? Jesus was warning the disciples about the Pharisees, not just philosophers of pagan religions or intellect! He was warning against the understood religious leaders of their day.
So how do we know when to listen and when to move on? The answer is actually quite simple. Don't go on feelings; they are often deceived. Go on God's Word, the Bible. At some point in history we stopped placing the responsibility of personal spiritual growth on ourselves and transferred it to the preacher. This enormous error has left most biblically illiterate and unable even to discern whether their pastor is being faithful to the Scriptures or not. Without experiential knowledge in the Scriptures, how can we possibly know the difference?
The leaven of prosperity, liberation, license and legalism have all crept in and are reeking havoc in the Church. The only way these errors are properly exercised from the Church is for the Church to know God's Word. May we be like the noble Bereans of Acts 17, and examine the Scriptures (not our intellect or emotions) daily to see whether these things are so.
Leaven is a powerful thing, once in, I would venture to say it's almost impossible to get out. The less we allow in, the less we must battle!
4 comments:
bj donahue - you are so correct! Please be aware of a wolf in sheep's clothing!! Some preachers enjoy being in control and the sad thing is new Christians who do not know the Bible will believe every word a preacher tells them. We should ALWAYS check the back ground of a preacher very closely and see what and where they came from! Beware of a preacher wanting to come in and change everything....Some preachers can be very manipulative into getting what they want, getting close to the weak and the ones they can influence easily!!! BEWARE - God gave this to you for a reason!!
BJ-Thanks for putting your thoughts/insights on here. I really appreciate your perspective as I try to learn more. I do have a couple of questions relative to Matthew 16. Simple ones I think.
In verse 19, what is meant when Jesus states "Whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in heaven and whatever your loose on earth will be loosed in heaven"?
In verse 20, why did He command the disciples to not tell anyone that He is Jesus the Christ?
Thanks BJ. If you'd prefer me to ask questions with a different avenue, just let me know.
Brad,
I think the amazing thing about the severity of Church discipline is exactly what v.19 says. When we gather as the Church and administer discipline, we are in effect, acting on Christ's behalf. If we rebuke on earth, Christ is vicariously rebuking through us in heaven. If we forgive and reconcile on earth, Christ forgives and reconciles through us in heaven. What an awesome responsiblility we have to administer discipline and to do it in complete humility and prayer.
The second question is admittedly a little odd; that Christ wouldn't want His disciples to tell? You would think the opposite. Yet this isn't the only time that Christ warns and commands people not to tell people who He is. So here is a thought. Christ was appointed to die at a specific time. Christ's ministry on earth needed to be completed as the Father saw fit. Therefore, if people were too loud in their attention which they drew to Jesus (He already had enough) maybe that would have made the religious leaders act before the moment God ordained? Also, Christ was the Messiah, but He was a suffering Savior, not a military leader. Many confused His first coming (our sacrifice) with His second (the Triumphant King) and were seeking to use His power, pizzazz and leadership to free them from the Romans. This wasn't why Christ came. After His death and resurrection, Christ revealed this clearly to His disciples and then sent them out to preach His gospel and His Messiahship. People would have to come to Christ on His terms, not for their own reasons.
Thanks BJ. That's what I was thinking about question number 2 in that Jesus knew what would happen and therefore wasn't in God's ultimate plan. Thanks and it's nice to be able to discuss in this forum. Hope you don't mind but I'm gonna send questions/thoughts regularly. At least I'm going to attempt it.
Post a Comment