Mark 12:38 Jesus said, “Watch out . . .’”
As others have observed, the problem with religion is not that people don’t believe but that people will believe anything! Happily, much more good than bad has come to us through religion. Through the Gospel people have come to transforming faith and whole societies have moved to a more just administration of law. Charitable institutions have brought relief to multitudes of the needy. Christianity has lifted culture and government in many good ways.
At the same time we know that In the name of religion unspeakable atrocities, fraud of the innocent, prejudicial strictures, and lots of pious foolishness have been practiced. Enemies of religion eagerly point to these problems, but honest observers of history will acknowledge that religion has brought good as well as bad.
Because religion can be bad as well as good, Jesus warned us to “watch out.” So, how do we watch out? The classic Protestant answer is to follow the teachings of the Bible for in the Scripture we have the word of God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Of course, as recorded in Mark 12 Jesus demonstrated through his encounter with the Bible teachers of the first century this need to “watch out” does not go away with the simple call to Bible authority. Some people—unintentionally or mischievously—misinterpret the Bible and cause harm. So Jesus said “watch out” for the teachers. (verse 38)
In this passage from Mark 12 we find some ways that the followers of Jesus can watch out for bad Bible interpretation. One warning centers on behavior. A good Bible teacher will support the teaching with good behavior. (v. 40)
Another warning arises out of the teacher’s attitude. Lack of humility in a teacher will set off internal alarm bells for the thoughtful. (v. 39) Lack of generosity provides a warning, too. (v. 41-44)
Also, Jesus warned against intellectual flatness and lack of imagination. In humility an authentic teacher of the Bible will yield to paradox and mystery. We cannot explain everything. (v. 35-37) The only one with all the answers is God himself, and the authentic teacher will point us to our Lord. Those teachers who insist on having the answer to everything need watching and are best avoided.
*******
Grandchildren. For Halloween Sweetie Pie was a ghost; with her missing front teeth she was scary. (Until she gave me a big hug) Mr. Happy wore camouflage and looked like a warrior (well, as much as a four year old can). Singer (my current nickname for the youngest) had the scariest costume to me. He dressed as a surgeon—even down to the booties doctors wear in the operating room. “Give me treats or I’ll take your organs!” (His uncle Jason who is a surgeon sent that costume to Singer.) Well, it would be scary, but babies are sweet no matter how they are dressed. What fun to be a grandparent.
Travel. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice . . . .” Judy and I traveled with friends to Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest by river boat this past week. Seeing these parts of Germany, Austria and Hungary was enlightening and pleasant. I will be working through all the thoughts and impressions this travel created for me over the next year. How grateful I am to have the resources to have made this journey. I want to be a good steward of it. Hopefully, some of my prejudices will die with reflections on this travel experience. It was fun, but it was more than just fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment