Strictness was never part of Jesus' leadership style. He taught what was right but left people to themselves about their lives and decisions. Even with his disciples. Jesus knew Judas was stealing money from their ministry fund, for instance, but nothing's said about the Lord confronting him about it. Neither did he pluck him out of being treasurer.
Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. [John 12.6]
The same with Peter's denial. Jesus prophesied and emphasized Peter's retraction but didn't stop him from doing so. Jesus didn't confront or counsel him about it, didn't oppose or forbid him. He left Peter to decide about the matter. Jesus did pray for him, but that was all. He also prophesied about Simon's consequent turning back from failure.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22]
Holiness and Being Strict
Church people often connect holiness and godliness with strictness. But in the Gospel, only the Pharisees were strict. Jesus wasn't. Emphatic, yes, but never rigid, austere or harsh with standards or rules. He stressed Kingdom truths and standards and demonstrated them in his life for emphasis but never imposed them on people, not even on his disciples. He commended those who adapted but cautioned those who didn't. He didn't "warn" them to scare but to inform about real consequences.
We would've done it differently. I probably would. We're too strict about the sin and failure of others. We love to keep our "standards" and impose them on others, scare (or shame) those who'd dare defy us. But often, we trash the same "standards" when the issue concerns us or our loved ones or favorites. When James and John were aching about positions (or their moms were), Jesus didn't outright rebuke their greed for power. He merely explained:
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. [Matthew 20.22]
Then he simply told them that real positions in the Kingdom were decided solely by the Father. It's not that Jesus found church politicking okay. I'm sure he didn't. He lambasted Pharisees about their greed for importance and positions. Neither did he find theft or denial light matters. Far from truth. In fact, his policy about sinning brethren is first personal confrontation, then confrontation with witnesses present, and finally church disclosure. He emphasized that:
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. [Matthew 18]
Willing Obedience
Did Jesus apply this to Judas and Peter?
I believe (though nowhere verbatim in Scriptures) that Jesus did talk to Judas one-on-one. I'm quite sure Jesus would apply his teaching to himself--to walk the talk. But Judas loved stealing money more than anything else and was also too eager to get his 30 silver pieces quite soon, so Jesus allowed the sellout plan pronto. "Whatever you have to do, do it fast." No more taking other witnesses to confront the offender. Finally, the matter was taken to the church--I mean, we (the church) know all about it today, right?
With Peter, Jesus did stress his looming denial in front of the disciples, and I believe he had also talked about the matter with Peter previously. I can even imagine how Jesus took Peter to the Mount of Transfiguration with James and John (other "witnesses") to possibly talk about this denial, among other things (because Moses and Elijah would later discuss with Jesus about his "departure"). That's how I see it. But the thing here is, do you see how Jesus' leadership was?
He wasn't strict, yet people saw his seriousness about it all. He emphasized his points but not shove them down people's throats. He demonstrated his teachings in real life--his willing obedience to the Father--and invited people to follow suit. But he never strictly forced his teachings or required anything to that effect. This is a powerful leadership and church management Kingdom principle we find in Jesus--something quite the opposite of what we find today in church.
Today you need to abide by church rules, even manuals and "doctrines" that church denominations formulate to keep order and membership intact, because "order" to them means control. God's Word, however, is already complete and effective as it is, but churches feel they need to sift out portions of it they think are harmful to their belief systems. 😒
Jesus demonstrated how order is through the Word and Holy Spirit alone, along with freewill. The Word or Holy Spirit will not restrict you; they will guide you (in fact, obeying God's Word frees you, not restrict), and if you opt to submit, they will strengthen you to obey God.
But there is, however, a point where a believer opts for radical surrender to God and his will so that freewill is taken away. Doulos is when you tell God HE owns you completely and enter into this covenant with him. You relinquish all rights or privileges (but actually, it is in doulos you enjoy all favors and freedom).
6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. [Exodus 21]
This is when God sometimes opts to corner you or give you no choice but to do his will, like how it was useless for Jonah to escape God's will and was forced to end up in Nineveh through a big fish. Doulos covenant can cause big-fish circumstances to swallow you up and give you no choice but end up in God's will. Elijah tried to escape from Jezebel's hand and also quit ministry altogether but an angel "cornered" him gently, as it were, making him go back to where he came from. Jesus told Peter how he would be led to where he didn't want to go [John 21.18]. The psalmist gives us a hint:
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me. [Psalm 139.5]
Not all believers are in this covenant. Most cling to their freewill and stubbornness to do things their way. But some go up higher with God on his mountain and hear his soft whisper. Nothing dramatic or fancy. Just a gentle revelation about an ultimate surrender--being one flesh with him (as Paul hinted in Ephesians 5)--and enter the covenant.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. [Ephesians 5. 31-32]
Ananias and Sapphira
Ananias and Sapphira were free to give any amount to the church, even keep part of the sales of their property for their own. Problem was, they claimed to have given the whole amount of the sales when in fact they didn't. Peter even emphasized that the money was theirs to keep. But they lied to the Holy Spirit. Here's the whole story:
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” [Acts 5]
God isn't strict about giving. He wants us to give what we can and what we have determined to give. He loves a cheerful giver. He doesn't force us. Problem is when people have expectations about our giving or if we desire to be recognized for it. Or if we're in the habit of competing with others out of egotism and make false claims. Then we suffer consequences. But the thing to see here is, there was clear emphasis on giving and freewill.
The passage seems too strict at first glance. The couple died on the spot due to dishonest giving, and some preachers would give us the impression that we have to give the amount they expect from us. But if we look closer, it's nothing like that. In fact, God wants us to decide what or how much to give, so that "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion." [2 Corinthians 9]. No compulsion. Nothing forced.
However, there are unscrupulous church people who'd twist the passage and think they can decide in their hearts not to give anything because anyway, there's freewill. 😕 When you're under grace, you should know what to do with your freewill.
(Grace) teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [Titus 2]
I've seen churches proud of their strictures on tithes and offering. They keep strict records and monitor givers and non-givers, or if giving in church is or isn't enough. Then the pastor preaches accordingly, sometimes capitalizing on the guilt feelings of non-tithers. This is control. It's reliance on man's effort, not the Holy Spirit. Jesus or the apostles never did this. When you control people like that, it's witchcraft. Even with your kids, train them up in the way they should go. It doesn't mean you control and force them to do things.
Training means to "teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time," says Google dictionary. It's primarily teaching, and teaching the way Jesus taught his disciples--through the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, not man's ways or efforts or rigid rules.
Submission and Freewill
Keeping order and compliance are never through man's restrictions, rules or control. It's through emphasis (teaching) and freewill. Let the Holy Spirit do His work, and let people be. Pray that they learn to fully submit to the will of the Lord, and that prayer would strike something in the spirit world through the power of God and trigger radical change in people.
It doesn't mean God will force people to change. Instead, God will reveal to them, open their eyes to see the beauty of Jesus and total submission to him. Then they choose to submit. Revelation, and the decision and act of submission, however, are solely through God's grace and mercy.
Surrendering to Jesus
Jesus is: “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4]
No comments:
Post a Comment