Flogging
This morning I had one of those moments when I realized that one can't passively read the Bible, like reading the newspaper. I read Matthew 10:16-23. It started out ok with Jesus speaking, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpants and..."
"'Innocent as doves Jesus. Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah. I know Jesus. I've heard these words lots of times. Tell me something different..." I say.
Jesus continues, "Beware of them for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be...
"'dragged before govenors and kings...I know, I know Jesus. Because of our identification with you people won't like us. They will flog us in the synagogues and be dragged... WAIT! WHAT?! What did you just say Jesus? Flogged where? In the synagogues? What the...?! I mean of all the places for flogging, as if there is a choice place to flog someone, in the synangogue? Flogged in a place of worship, community, tradition, learning, etc?"
Yep, Jesus said flogged in synagogues. Why? Why would the leaders choose to do violence to the people of Jesus' Way inside a place where God's own people gather? What would motivate them to deliver punishment in that space?
It made me ask the question, do we as people of the church today flog people? OK, not like actual flogging with whatever is used to flog people. I am happy to say, I've never had that experience. But, do we ever flog people with our words or our behavior? Do we ignore people who stray from the perceived "way" of the particular church? Do we verbally call them "rebellious troublemakers trying to change the way we do things around here"? I wonder if the verbal flogging begins when people perceive that they are losing power and influence within the congregation itself. Maybe flogging begins when people cling more to the traditions and symbols of the church instead of Christ and faith. After all, people were upset with Jesus because their perception of him was that he was taking away their lifestyle, their traditions, their customs...what they held important. In actuality, Jesus was able to show that people, even God's own people, place more emphasis on the status quo, on keeping things the same, on religious practice, over and above their relationship with Christ. What Christ accomplished with those who followed him then and those who follow now, was putting tradition, symbols, and religion in their rightful place, as means to an end, not an end in themselves.
What got Luther in so much hot water, to the point that he had a bounty on his head by the church of his day? He freed ministry to be that of the people, encouraged people to read the Bible for themselves, encouraged every person to receive both the bread and wine, and said that the church is based only on the Word alone, not the traditions. Oooohhhh. Dangerous. It was dangerous for some leaders of the church in his day because it meant a redistribution of power and authority. Some people just couldn't handle it.
Let's not make our congregations, the new synagogues, places of flogging. Let's let Christ have his way in our lives so that we love people as they are, not as they should be.
Thanks for reading.
"'Innocent as doves Jesus. Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah. I know Jesus. I've heard these words lots of times. Tell me something different..." I say.
Jesus continues, "Beware of them for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be...
"'dragged before govenors and kings...I know, I know Jesus. Because of our identification with you people won't like us. They will flog us in the synagogues and be dragged... WAIT! WHAT?! What did you just say Jesus? Flogged where? In the synagogues? What the...?! I mean of all the places for flogging, as if there is a choice place to flog someone, in the synangogue? Flogged in a place of worship, community, tradition, learning, etc?"
Yep, Jesus said flogged in synagogues. Why? Why would the leaders choose to do violence to the people of Jesus' Way inside a place where God's own people gather? What would motivate them to deliver punishment in that space?
It made me ask the question, do we as people of the church today flog people? OK, not like actual flogging with whatever is used to flog people. I am happy to say, I've never had that experience. But, do we ever flog people with our words or our behavior? Do we ignore people who stray from the perceived "way" of the particular church? Do we verbally call them "rebellious troublemakers trying to change the way we do things around here"? I wonder if the verbal flogging begins when people perceive that they are losing power and influence within the congregation itself. Maybe flogging begins when people cling more to the traditions and symbols of the church instead of Christ and faith. After all, people were upset with Jesus because their perception of him was that he was taking away their lifestyle, their traditions, their customs...what they held important. In actuality, Jesus was able to show that people, even God's own people, place more emphasis on the status quo, on keeping things the same, on religious practice, over and above their relationship with Christ. What Christ accomplished with those who followed him then and those who follow now, was putting tradition, symbols, and religion in their rightful place, as means to an end, not an end in themselves.
What got Luther in so much hot water, to the point that he had a bounty on his head by the church of his day? He freed ministry to be that of the people, encouraged people to read the Bible for themselves, encouraged every person to receive both the bread and wine, and said that the church is based only on the Word alone, not the traditions. Oooohhhh. Dangerous. It was dangerous for some leaders of the church in his day because it meant a redistribution of power and authority. Some people just couldn't handle it.
Let's not make our congregations, the new synagogues, places of flogging. Let's let Christ have his way in our lives so that we love people as they are, not as they should be.
Thanks for reading.
posted by Mike Weaver at 1:23 PM
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