Preparing revolutionaries-proper role of the church?

Interesting question isn't it?  What prompted the question is that the local Congregational Church has that on their sign.  It raised a couple of questions for me.  First what are they revolting against?  Second, is it proper for the church to be doing that? 

Here is the Scripture selection for today.

Matthew 16:5-12(NKJV)

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 

Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 

Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 

How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Congregational Church in Kalamazoo is quite a Liberal congregation.  So it is my belief that their sign is calling for Revolutionaries against what they consider to be unjust government policies. 

On the other hand, maybe they are actually following Jesus' example and they are calling for revolution against the "Pharisees and Sadducees" of the church today.  But since they are part of the "Pharisees and Sadducees" of today's Christianity, in other words the official power structure of the church, I would find it odd that they would be fomenting a revolution against themselves.   Because of that I think the first choice is more likely.

So on to the second question.  Is it proper?  There are some who would say they are following in the steps of Jesus by doing so.  I would beg to differ.  Jesus' revolution was against the power structure of the church.  Jesus on more than one occasion, when asked about dealing with governments said very specifically that we are to obey our leaders because God put them over us.  Give unto Caesar and all of that. 

So it seems to me that raising revolutionaries against the government might not fall within the boundaries that Jesus had in mind.  But I could be wrong.  Only time will tell.  At judgment day even though we are saved we still have to answer for our works or lack of works.  It is at that time we will find out if they were right or wrong. 

Jesus' ministry style

As I have pointed out before, Jesus' ministry style was often confrontational with those who weren't sincerely seeking.  I believe that one of the biggest problems in Christianity today is a watering down of the message.  Jesus didn't do that. 

Take particular notice of what Jesus doesn't do when His disciples point out that He offended that Pharisees.

Matthew 15:1-9(NKJV)

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 

“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 

For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’  

But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—

then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

    ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,      And honor Me with their lips,     But their heart is far from Me.

    And in vain they worship Me,      Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” 

Matthew 15:10-15(NKJV)

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 

Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

Here is what Jesus didn't do.  He didn't go "oh me oh my, I've offended them.  I better go apologize".  Nope, He didn't do that. 

Now some might say "yeah but that is Jesus.  He can tell when someone is insincere or not.  We don't have the ability to decide that.  That would be judgmental and we aren't supposed to judge remember?". 

I would disagree.  As I have pointed out in other blog posts, Jesus also told us to make judgements in other parts of Scripture and He instructed us on what to base those judgments on. 

Besides, quite often those asking the insincere questions have already made known that they have rejected Christ and they are trying to influence others to reject Christ also.  In this case you aren't making a judgment.  They have told you straight up that they have chosen to be enemies of God.  So should we soften the message to try and win them over as so many in the Christian world would do today or should we respond to those people following the example that Jesus set?

I don't know about you but I think we should follow the example Jesus set!

Does God act against His own?

I've often heard people day that God never acts against His own.  He may let Satan at us as He did with Job but God doesn't do it Himself.  Do you think that is true?

Jeremiah the prophet is considered the author of Lamentations.  So this is him writing.

Lamentations 1:14(NKJV)

    “The yoke of my transgressions was bound;      They were woven together by His hands,     And thrust upon my neck.     He made my strength fail;     The Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

Who do you think Jeremiah is referring to when he says "He made my strength fail"? 

Hmm…  :)

"Cursed is the man…..whose heart departs for the Lord"

Once again it isn't kumbaya Jesus.  God takes it seriously when you reject Him!  God doesn't take a live and let live attitude towards that.  God curses those who reject Him. 

Jeremiah 17:5(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Cursed is the man who trusts in man     And makes flesh his strength,     Whose heart departs from the Lord.

Jesus asked "who is worthy?" Doesn't that require a judgement?

Matthew 10:11(NKJV)

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

Matthew 10:13-14(NKJV)

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

Isn't this interesting.  Once again we have Jesus instructing the disciples to make a judgement do we not?  Kind of goes against that whole 'do not judge" thing doesn't it?

Jesus doesn't say go stay with anyone.  He says go stay with someone who is worthy.  Those are Jesus' words.  So what does worthy mean?

worthy

adjective, worthier, worthiest.

1. having adequate or great merit, character, or value:

a worthy successor.

2. of commendable excellence or merit; deserving:

a book worthy of praise; a person worthy to lead.

noun, plural worthies.

3. a person of eminent worth, merit, or position:

The town worthies included two doctors.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/worthy>

Isn't that interesting.  Jesus didn't say go stay with anyone.  Jesus didn't say go stay with the poor because they will inherit the earth.  Jesus did say go stay with someone of distinction, someone worthy. 

I would also point out that Jesus said if they aren't worthy to "let your peace return to you".  Now that doesn't seem to be very loving and accepting of Jesus does it?  Penalizing someone because they reject Jesus?  Just another example that those who reject Jesus are not entitled to the blessings of being a Christian.

So how do we determine who is worthy?

Matthew 12:33(NKJV)

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 

Works for me!

"Cursed is the man…..whose heart departs for the Lord"

Once again it isn't kumbaya Jesus.  God takes it seriously when you reject Him!

Jeremiah 17:5(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Cursed is the man who trusts in man     And makes flesh his strength,     Whose heart departs from the Lord.

I can't believe I never noticed this before.

Matthew 10:2-4(NKJV)

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

I don't know why but I had always assumed that the four Gospels were each written by an original apostle.  As I look at the names above I realize that only two of the four books of the Gospel are written by original apostles.  Mark and Luke, while apostles, were not part of the original 12.  Just weird that I never noticed that before.