Reflections from the Heart

Where do Christians get the idea that they are the moral champions for the world? Did Jesus ever teach us to go out into the world and make everyone live by a certain code of ethics? Is this how He called us to build the kingdom of heaven? In parable after parable, Jesus illustrates the wrong behavior of the religious leaders of the times. The Pharisees were full of themselves. They had dedicated their lives to reading scripture and monitoring the code of conduct of other people. They were prideful, arrogant, and condescending. And they were wrong.

If Jesus were to walk among us today, where would He find the Pharisees of our modern world? Would He find them in the bars, taverns, and nightclubs of America? Or is it more likely that they are still to be found in our churches and synagogues? Would He be pleased with the rhetoric of our religious leaders? Or would He, once again, hold them up as examples of a religion that has become too full of itself?

What "hot topic" issues would He support and how would He support them? Would He demonstrate and picket in Washington D.C. in support of the Ten Commandments or against abortion? Would Jesus be involved in political agendas, discussing nation-state status, or debating military options? Or do you think He would be more likely to be found in the streets and slums of our cities, handing out coats and words of encouragement? Where would we find Jesus and what would He be doing?

The answer to those questions can be found by reading each and every parable as they are related to us in the Gospels. We can assume that human behavior has not changed that dramatically since the time of Jesus. We still remain overly preoccupied with our own self-interests. Human traits such as pride, ambition, arrogance, and insensitivity still rule the day. Leaders still become self-absorbed with their pet projects and important issues. Barriers caused by human failure and religious dogma still keep thousands, if not millions, of people from knowing God.

So, as disciples of Christ, what are we to do? Are we to create some kind of moral code of ethics and jam it down the throat of the world because we know what is right and good? Are we to continue erecting buildings that glorify our self-righteousness and effectively keep millions from worshipping God? Are we to go on TV and espouse moral dogma and tell others that if they don't agree with our way of thinking then they must not be true Christians? Look around at our world today and that is what you will see Christians doing; advocating and legislating morality.

Should we, instead, choose to follow the parables of Christ as He intended them to be followed, we may find our pathways of ministry taking a slightly different turn. The question still remains: Where would we find Jesus in our modern world? The answer to this question is very important because with it we will discover where we should also be. As Christians, we are to walk as Jesus would walk. As His followers we are called to do what He would do. Would He be in the streets healing and teaching or would He be in the ivory towers espousing dogma and self-righteousness? What kind of Christian will you be?

Closing Prayer:

Gracious Lord: How have we gone this long without really learning the lessons of Jesus? We consider ourselves modern and intellectual and yet, the plain truth of discipleship is overlooked. Your grace has lifted us into the promise of a glory too great to imagine and yet, we remain filled with pride and self-worth. Worse yet, we condemn others. We look out into the world and loudly preach of issues that lift ourselves into a cloud of self-righteousness. We fight for the right to display ancient stone tablets but allow poverty to run rampant in the world. We demand that the world must act according to a specific code of ethics and if it doesn't then it is damned. We tell others that since they disagree with us on some issue then they must not be Christians. We seem to feel that we have a lock on how the world should operate. We are proud of our beliefs and we are glad we are not like the sinners around us. God forgive us for we are still the Pharisees you tried so desperately to keep us from becoming. We are sinners but our pride and arrogance keeps us from recognizing how deeply we hurt you. Lord, forgive us and then open our eyes and hearts to your truth. Lead us into the paths of righteousness not self-righteousness. Show us how to bring your love into the world through healing, loving, and teaching. Remind us that this is the pathway to discipleship you are calling us to follow. Help us to discover where Christ would be in our lives and strengthen us to go there. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Inspired by Luke 18:9-14 and by the current trend of Christians in American politics to label and demean everyone who disagrees on any principle, idea, or platform. In all things, may God's will be done.