Did Jesus Go To Church?
There is an amazing conversation happening at my favorite Christian publication, Next-Wave, that has had me thoroughly intrigued and enlightened. It is clear that the author of this much-discussed article has touched a nerve within the Big Church and anyone who loves Jesus and cares about his Bride would be wise to look into it. In one of the more than 60 comments to the original article, one writer asks "What church did Jesus attend?" His question is actually (I think) rhetorical. He seems to make the point that Jesus did not go to church when he walked the earth as a man.
I disagree.
It is clear that Jesus was often (we might even be able to say 'always') in the temple or the synagogue. Now, that's not the exact same thing as the institutional church that we know, but it is the closest thing to an equivalent. The Jewish house of worship was the religious structure and gathering place for people of faith and Jesus was there, participating. I am as fed up as the next guy with what passes for church in most of the US. I've written already about our need to hear what the Spirit is saying - what do we do now? But I do not believe that abstinence is the answer. Church can only be fixed from within. I think that is why Jesus was actually there, because he was all about changing it.
"The church" of Jesus' day was lifeless, man-made traditions, religious debates that made no redemptive impact on the culture, powerless philosophy with no social justice movement whatsoever. That actually sounds like a pretty accurate description of many of the churches I have attended in the last 2 years (and there have been plenty - more than 30). Jesus was involved in it so he could be a catalyst - The Catalyst. I don't know how many people know this, but we named our first son after Jesus' involvement in church. In Matthew's account of the cleansing of the temple, it comes just after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people cheer him as he comes and they shout, "Hosanna! Hosanna! To the Son of David," which in Hebrew would read, "Hosanna! Hosanna! Ben David." The people begin cheering this specific phrase because it is something they have been taught to look for and to celebrate. They have been told, from the Torah, that when the Son of David comes, he will be riding a colt and entering the east gate of the Temple. They were right - Jesus was (is) the Messiah, but they didn't really get what that meant. Their response seems to be more about group-think and the energy of a big crowd in which everyone knows how the whole system is supposed to work. This is a lot of what church people reenact every Sunday morning around the US. We all know the dance - we cheer at the right times, and we tell Jesus that it is all for him.
But it's not all for him. That kind of celebration is like the party at the feet of the golden calf. The people lauded it as "the God who brought us out of Egypt," but calling it that didn't make it so. It wasn't God, it was their homemade representation of God. The people weren't praising the entrance of the Messiah - they were praising what they wanted the Messiah to be. Here is what gets interesting to me: The cleansing of the temple. Jesus dismounts the colt and then makes a whip. He turns over the tables of the money changers, whipping things into shape - literally! Matthew 21:15 states that as he does this, some children come through cheering, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Wow! So the kids recognized the Messiah when he started purging the church.
I think this passage is prophetic, concerning "the church" our day. It can only change from the inside. It is going to take someone, with the Father's authority, to come in and whip things into shape. This is how the younger generation recognizes Jesus. They will see the Messiah when he gets church cleaned up. I think the questions we need to be asking the Spirit are, "How do we make the whip?" and "Who do we need to use it on?"
Scott Bane
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That is something I'll have to think on for awhile. I also believe that giving up on 'the church', as we've come to know it, would not be what Jesus would do. That's not what He did! But as you said, He cleaned things up. The whole idea of 'church' has come to mean something new to me lately.
I meet with God all the time. In my car, in my shower, in the pool...He's with me always. I praise Him in all those places, and that's MY time with Him. When I go to the church building to gather with others who are part of His body, it's just that...US, as a group of individuals, coming together in unity to worship God. I need to think more about the people around me than I do myself, my own needs. That stuff was taken care of, and is still being taken care of, in my one-on-one time with Him. I know God meets us there on an individual basis, and I'm not discounting that, I just think there is more to this 'coming together in unity' at 'church' than we're getting.
Wow. You've gone diving again. This is a deep one. I think Jesus was in found in the temple among "His people" to show them the difference between the Living Word and the "Letter of the Law". Most folks get the letter down, but not the grace. Heck, I think a lot of us use the letter more on OURSELVES than the grace - that's why we use it on others so much.
I believe the Lord is attempting to AWAKEN the church so that we can be effective in the culture today. I don't think He want's to annul the church, He wants it to become what it was always meant to be. You're right - the change has to begin on the INSIDE. Inside the Church, and inside our hearts. I think we need to get the whips (whatever they may be) out and use them on ourselves first. Then once we have a better grasp on exactly WHAT the Lord wants done, we'll be prepared to help the rest of the Body.
Pastor Scott and Dan,
Question? What do you think the 'whips' are? I agree with Dan that what needs to change is within us first (although I get the feeling that we're seen as 'rocking the boat' when we do). I just want to get to the place where God wants ME to be, even if what the church is telling me is different.
Lisa - that's a great question. I'm not sure I have the answer to that one yet. I do know that EVERYTHING the Lord does will begin in our hearts. If we look back to Pastor Scott's example of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple, it's really not a "subtle hint"; it was pretty direct and to the point. Not only that, but it wasn't just directed "at the church in front of the church" (as in behind closed doors), it was right out in the midst of "the world" also for everyone to see.
One scripture comes to mind when I think along these lines: "Have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?" I think there are going to be leaders in the church that when confronted (and it may have to be STRONGLY confronted) with the truth, will not want to hear it for fear of losing "their empires". There are Kingdom Builders in the Body today, and there are "Empire Builders".
I think the proof in the pudding will be that after these leaders are warned and refuse to comply, the people (parishoners) will begin to "flee from their empires". The Lord will see to it. It's only the knowledge of Truth that will allow us to walk free.
Hey everybody, I think we REALLY need to get some discussion going on this topic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the comments. For me, the bigger question is "who are the money-changers?" There are influences that Jesus does not want in his Church and I sense that the time of putting up with their presence is running out. Think about how often Jesus saw those same guys sitting in that same spot and didn't do anything about it. But suddenly, on this day, he was not going to tolerate them anymore. If we are going to start this on the personal level, I think the question to be asking is, "Jesus, what are the influences that you do not want to put up with in my life any longer?" As soon as we're willing to pray like that, we won't have to worry about what the whip is - you'll know it when it starts lashing you.
That sounds painful! Say the influences are certain friends (even within the church), or your job. What do you do then? I know God shows us what to do if we just ask, and many times, the change occurs in us and we don't actually make a 'physical' change. Those things just no longer have control over us. I have even been hearing His answet to this question lately, without me asking it in that particular way. I know there are things that I allow to influence me, and some times I'm just too stinkin' tired to fight my way through to what I should do. So, in some areas I'm feeling that 'whip', and while it's hurting my laziness and pride, those are the things that need to die anyway.
It's kind of funny how we're talking about "money changers". I've been doing some soul searching over the topic of giving in the last few days. I thought about how you can't turn on some Christian TV stations without hearing about money. I think if you took that word (money) out of some of these preacher's vocabulary,they wouldn't have any messages left to preach on.
I know this will be a very controversial comment, but do you equate the 'money changers' with those who 'sell' the truth? I'm talking about when you have to pay $10 for a teaching, on whatever, when the cost to make the CD was $1.00. I understand that ministries need money to go on, but what I don't like is that you aren't even given the opportunity to give. It's like they don't trust people to give (and I know that there are those who don't), and hike up the cost to cover that. Just something I've always wondered. I mean, Jesus didn't charge admission and take up 'love offerings' when He taught the multitudes (unless I missed that part.) It's like they don't trust the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of His true servants to give to the Kingdom. Maybe that's a little harsh, but it's a thought that's crossed my mind.
Dan and Pastor Scott, I would love to hear what you think (even if you 'yell' at me.)
Lisa, to me the "money changers" are the people in leadership in the Body of Christ that are using the Word of God (conerning money and giving) to their advantage. Like I mentioned earlier, there are folks on Christian TV (and I could name names) that everytime you see them, all they can talk about is money. "It's Easter Time, so give God (they really mean 'me') your BEST gift, and He will bless you!!" They'll say "God gave HIS BEST, so YOU GIVE YOURS".. no pressure there....
The last time I checked, you can't BUY blessing from God. There is not even an OPPORTUNITY for a pure motive to give when you issue an "opportunity" like that. They will say to "worship the Lord" with your giving. Send your best!! I remember one pastor (and Deb and I STILL laugh about this) saying "Give until it hurts!" Hurts who? Hurts me!!!!!
When these folks do this, as one man stated that I was in converstation with "they are committing spiritual rape". They're using the Word and turning the Body of Christ into "merchandise". To me, that's the highest form of treason within the Body. What's more (in my opinion) it's getting easier and easier to identify these folks. The scripture (Mat 24:24) says that in the end the false Christs and FALSE PROPHETS shall show great signs and wonders insomuch if it WERE POSSIBLE they shall deceive the very elect. How is someone going to be perceived as a false Christ or falst Prophet? They come OUT OF THE CHURCH!!!!! Jesus called them on the carpet because of what they were doing to the true Church, and He will call them on the carpet today.
I think it IS time the Lord Himself will begin to put an end to this. I Tim6:10 - The love of money is the root of all evil. It worked on Judas and it's working on folks today. When the believers within the Body begin to become the target... watch out. Just as the money changers did, they turned something Holy into something that was intended for selfish gain.(That really helps us understand Matthew 7:23). God help them. The whip is going to hurt, and it's going to come from the Lord through the TRUE BELIEVERS within the Body.
On another note, I don't think (in my opinion) that it's wrong to charge for a tape or cd. If someone wants to do that, it's fine. If someone wants to trust God, it's fine too. Different people (even ministers) are on different levels of faith. I remember what one man said afer he preached a message. Someone asked him "How long did you prepare for that message?" He said "35 years"... think about that one for some perspective!!!
Dan,
I don't actually watch Christian tv or tv preachers, so I can't say I've seen that myself. I think I've always had the idea that they (for the most part) aren't the real deal. Although, I'm sure there are some good ones out there.
I just got done running with Trish, and that's about all I can come up with right now. Let me think on it.
Hey, thanks for the comments and discussion here! This is certainly a worthy topic to get into.
I am afraid we will miss a key point if we jump all over the word "money" here. Yes, Jesus did drive out the moneychangers but the important verse to look at is Matthew 21:14. It says that immediately after he drove these jokers out of the temple, the sick and the lame came to him for healing. THAT is the purpose of driving the people out of the "church." It did not have so much to do with money as it was that the church was no longer a place of healing and acceptance. It was about something else - something God never wanted it to be.
That is what we all ought to be looking at within our own lives and within our churches. Is this a place of healing and acceptance? Do the people who really need to be here get the attention they need? I do not know of a single church that can honestly say "yes" to that question, but my primary concern at the moment is myself. Am I a person of acceptance and healing? Or do I have so much crap that Jesus never intended to fill my life in the way that the people who really need to be close to me can't get in?