That is a very interesting question... interesting enough to start a movement or create a commercial success in the shape of a bracelet! But it’s good guiding question. It takes us to study and explore and wrestle with the many possibilities as we face challenges in our lives. Very often it challenges us to be counter cultural and counter intuitive... to be generous in the face of greed, to be forgiven in the face of vengeance, to be loving in the fave of indifference. But sometimes it also demands from us action... to make a stand in the face of injustice, to speak on behalf of the voiceless, to create space for those rejected, to defend those who are oppressed. In some occasion to follow Jesus means to control our strength and power, in other occasions it means to use our strength and power to show that God cares.
One of such occasions takes place in Matthew 21:
12-14 Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.
The first thing that Jesus does after entering Jerusalem is to walk straight into the temple, and clean it. And I mean clean it! The temple was supposed to be run by the priests descending from Levi according to the law of Moses. But the temple was in the hands of the Sadducees, that held that position by paying a bribe to the ruling Romans in order to control the centre of religion of Israel, therefore controlling Israel. In order to maintain control over the temple they had to make money out of the temple... making money out of religion, out of people’s faith, out of people’s fear and insecurity... I wish we could say that we left that in the past. I wish I could say that we left that behind, that we learnt from our mistakes and that we don’t have to deal with that shame any more. But I would be lying.
I would be lying because I have seen the same abhorrent behaviour since I became a Christian at the age of 12. I had the honour of working on a interdenominational mission agency for 22 years and I had the possibility of working with all kinds of churches from all kinds of traditions. Most of them were great, sincerely serving Jesus, loving the people, representing the Kingdom of God and pursuing a life that honoured God in every way. They may sing different songs and worship in different ways and preach in different styles... but they all love God. But now and then I would find some expressions of people proclaiming themselves as Christians but doing everything but representing the character of God and the example of Jesus. And it was hard to control my indignation or to remain quiet. I got in trouble sometimes for standing for my principles and saying “Sorry, that’s wrong, and I’m not doing that.” There is a fine line between understand other culture, other tradition and other expression of the church, and remaining quiet in the face of evil. But sometimes that line was clear and it demanded courage to do what was wrong.
So let me be clear: the thieves at the temple are still around. They are there, using religion as an excuse to fight for power, money and influence. They are there, using the name of Jesus but fighting for control. They are there, exploiting people’s faith and fear and love to be in control. And God’s attitude is still the same: if you want to experience God’s wrath, use his name to exploit and abuse and oppress people- you will find the passionate love of God sooner or later. If you want to tick God off, stand on the way of someone searching for his love and become an obstacle, a stumbling stone.
They are easy to recognize. If they want your money as a proof of your faith, if they demand your loyalty as a proof of salvation, if they exploit your fear in order to be in control of your actions... wake up. If they use faith as a cover up for ignorance, if they use the name of God as a cover up for their mistakes, or their prophecies are exposed as lies and they respond with pride instead of repentance, if they consider themselves above reproach and accountability because of their positions, if they use their leadership to serve themselves instead of others... wake up.
The true servants of God are not looking for mansions on earth, they are not demanding first class tickets or private jets, they are not demanding a fee to preach or lead worship, and they are not rebuking viruses on live tv while putting the life of the congregation at risk by challenging government regulations and common sense in order to continue to take up more offerings and show off their faith. True servants of the humble Messiah that entered Jerusalem riding a donkey that wasn’t even his, as a humble King, know that whatever position, role, place, authority or power that has been given to you come as a responsibility to serve others, not yourself. And if you hear that riding a donkey was the equivalent to riding an expensive car, please know that is a manipulative, ignorant and corrupt interpretation used to justify lavish lifestyles, far from what the Bible is truly saying.
I understand that the church is run through the contribution of the congregation. I know that offerings and tithes are necessary in order to run our ministries. But when they became the central part of the service and a way to measure success or faithfulness, then we lost our centre on Christ. We should contribute out of gratitude and a deep sense of partnership, as a response of what has been done for us and not to get our way. One of the signs that Jesus used to share with John the Baptist’s disciples that he was the messiah was that “ the gospel is being preached to the poor”. That he was breaking the social barriers that were keeping the most needy in a place of social separation and spiritual condemnation. He came to set the captives free and once day that meant to send the jailers running from their place in the face of a powerful Christ that had had enough.
I pray that we wake up from the temptation of building our little empires and understand that this Kingdom belongs to God. That we learn to truly depend on God alone and that we don’t guide our decisions and priorities based on financial prosperity and material gain. That we live honest and transparent lives so people won’t find anything that will shame us. Lives lived in holy reverence to God and in awareness of his holiness so we don’t misrepresent his heart, and we don’t become entitled to our blessings. As my favourite hymns reminds me, “Riches I scorn and the world’s empty praise, You my inheritance now and always!” I could never repay his love, what he did for me on the cross, the life that he has gifted me and the redemption that I could never afford. And by his grace, it is a gift, not a treasure to be purchased through my effort, my offerings or my sacrifices. He is everything I need!
May it be so in my life, in our lives. May we clean our hearts from any temptation to build up ourselves, but let our prayer be that Christ will grow more and more and that I will becomes less and less, so his greatness will be all the more evident.
If you have been hurt or exploited or manipulated or abused in your experience with the church, please forgive us. As a minister, I am very sorry that such was your experience. I hope you can separate in your heart that the mistakes of men from the true heart of God and I pray that you find a place where your voice is honoured, your opinion is respected and your journey is respected. There are plenty of great churches around our community, give them a chance!
May God bless you with his love that cost him everything so you can receive salvation as a free gift, may his grace covered your life and his forgiveness wash over you as a warm embrace. Peace be with you!