In the end it will be the government of Rome which puts Jesus to death, but it was his arguments with religious leaders which brings him to the attention of those political leaders.
In Matthew 15 Jesus points out that what the religious leaders are teaching as doctrine is their own thoughts. Drawing from the practice of giving credit for honoring one's parents by making gifts to God's Temple, Jesus shows how they have substituted their gain for God's instructions.
I read this and I think, "How could they do such a thing?"
Then I realize that what seemed to Jesus to be an outrageous decision had probably come into being as a result of some smaller, more subtle choices. Knowing that the Pharisees and the scribes were attempting to serve God, I cannot believe that they intentionally started a practice which is so blind to God's directives.
With all that going on, I turn my eye to the practices which we take for granted; which we teach in our congregation. And I wonder....
I worry.
I become concerned as to how Jesus would respond to the teachings of my church.
Nothing is as important in the life of a servant of Christ than to constantly be evaluating and re-evaluating our teachings and our actions. Nothing in the traditions of our ancestors is to become as essential as the teachings of our Messiah. To be part of a Reformation Church is to continually reform and re-consider what we have taught and what we teach.
This does not mean we become timid in our witness. But as we share what it is that God has given us, we remember those words of Martin Luther. They are often spoken as a declaration. They are more appropriately said as a prayer and a request: "Here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God."
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