Modern Religious Elite Club
Scripture:
He answered them, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?"
Luke 20:3-4
Observation:
I love Jesus’ response to the religious elite who question his authority. He puts the ball in their court to dignify where his authority comes from. He is basically saying, “Look guys my authority comes from the same place as John’s. You guys decide where you think it came from.” The religious elite are mere first century politicians trying to hold policy and please the people at the same time. But like Jesus says you cannot serve to masters. Let their allegiance be to God or to personal power, but they tried to serve both. They were left speechless, and that is the best way to leave those who oppose God in my opinion.
Application:
Sadly many in the Church today mirror the image of the religious elite of Jesus’ time. They have fallen in love with “long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers”. Their piousness alienates them from what God is doing. It becomes a game of power moves and prominence. God is right in their faces giving them the opportunity to dignify him, giving them the opportunity to acknowledge what he is doing and has done. Instead they hold on to their seat of honor with a death grip trying to destroy anyone who challenges their reign. The sad part is the world looks in on these power struggles and says Christians are all about politics and power. We fail to reflect the love of Christ to the world; instead we hold the masses at bay with an all exclusive country club edition of the gospel. In writings by early Christians they admonished those who would seek power as Christians. It is the idea that God opposes the proud and elevates the humble. As Christians we should always strive to remain humble and never let our haughtiness interfere with how people connect to Christ. The religious elite of Jesus’ time tried to stop people from being a part of what God was doing. We are guilty of the same thing in many Christian circles. I wish Christians, that are not in this to see God’s purposes achieved solely, would do like the religious elite in this passage and just shut up!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to always see what you are doing and not what I want to do. Let me fully be on board with your plans and never my own agenda. Amen…
He answered them, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?"
Luke 20:3-4
Observation:
I love Jesus’ response to the religious elite who question his authority. He puts the ball in their court to dignify where his authority comes from. He is basically saying, “Look guys my authority comes from the same place as John’s. You guys decide where you think it came from.” The religious elite are mere first century politicians trying to hold policy and please the people at the same time. But like Jesus says you cannot serve to masters. Let their allegiance be to God or to personal power, but they tried to serve both. They were left speechless, and that is the best way to leave those who oppose God in my opinion.
Application:
Sadly many in the Church today mirror the image of the religious elite of Jesus’ time. They have fallen in love with “long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers”. Their piousness alienates them from what God is doing. It becomes a game of power moves and prominence. God is right in their faces giving them the opportunity to dignify him, giving them the opportunity to acknowledge what he is doing and has done. Instead they hold on to their seat of honor with a death grip trying to destroy anyone who challenges their reign. The sad part is the world looks in on these power struggles and says Christians are all about politics and power. We fail to reflect the love of Christ to the world; instead we hold the masses at bay with an all exclusive country club edition of the gospel. In writings by early Christians they admonished those who would seek power as Christians. It is the idea that God opposes the proud and elevates the humble. As Christians we should always strive to remain humble and never let our haughtiness interfere with how people connect to Christ. The religious elite of Jesus’ time tried to stop people from being a part of what God was doing. We are guilty of the same thing in many Christian circles. I wish Christians, that are not in this to see God’s purposes achieved solely, would do like the religious elite in this passage and just shut up!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to always see what you are doing and not what I want to do. Let me fully be on board with your plans and never my own agenda. Amen…
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