4 GREAT QUESTIONS

Hey, Christian, Jew, Catholic

(and everyone else):

Please Ask Yourselves

These FOUR GREAT Questions

#1.  Why does Jesus instruct and warn, “Do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ.”

#2.  Why do Jewish Rabbis insist on being called Rabbi (which translates as ‘teacher’)? Why do Catholic Priests insist on being called Father? Why do church pastors and elders insist on being called ‘church leaders’ and like to call others ‘church leaders’?

#3.  Why do the (religious) ordained and (religious) commissioned insist on disobeying the words of Jesus and of the Bible, while telling others to obey Jesus and the Bible?

#4. What do you think?

(The answers to questions #1 through #3 could be because of pride, egoism, narcissism, seeking honor for self, seeking power and lordship over others, self-exaltation. (And, by the way, none of these things should have a place in the Church or in a mature Christian’s life. We can and must work to rid ourselves of these characteristics.)

THE TEXT

Matthew 23:1, “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, verse 2, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Verse 3. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. Verse 4. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. Verse 5. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. Verse 6. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, verse 7, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. Verse 8. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi (which means teacher); for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Verse 9. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Verse 10. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. Verse 11. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Verse 12. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

When a Christian repeatedly chooses to ignore the Words of Jesus and the Bible, doesn’t it reveal a ‘secretive’ yet deliberate and willing defiance of God? Or is it just pride, arrogance (and maybe even an ignorance of the Bible)?

How embarrassing is it to ‘dress one way’ and act in direct opposition to the claims of one’s ‘attire’ – and, in open view for all to see? (I.e., dress as a Christian and behave as a pagan. Isn’t that like wearing

“The Emperor’s New Clothes?” (<-link)

What is it called when someone claims the authority of their position and to personally ignore or to disobey that same authority for themselves?

(10 Red Flags)

How arrogant and foolish is it to call oneself a Christian “leader” and to stand in judgement of scriptures and in defiance of the Bible by the way they think, speak and behave – then to show their face in public?

Okay, maybe that’s a little too much? I’ll ‘take a breath’ and slow down. Maybe you are not a preacher, pastor, elder or ordained or commissioned by the Church.

Maybe you are just an ordinary, lovable guy or gal who call themselves a Christian. Can these same instructions apply to you?

Would you consider that they could apply to you, IF:

 

• If you expect or demand to be called by a title, but rarely get that recognition?
• If you dress yourself in ways that advertise your life accomplishments? (insignia, patches, gaudy jewelry).
• If you get privately angry with people who will not give you the respect you think you deserve?
• If your possessions advertise your success in subtle or overt ways?
• If you present yourself in loud or flamboyant ways in order ‘let others know that you are a leader’?
• If you find yourself doing or saying things that draw attention to yourself?
• If you love to sit in or near the chair of notables at events?
• If you put heavy expectations on others and feel disdain toward them when they fail to measure up?
• If you do your deeds in secret or are you careful to be noticed by other people (even if you don’t want to admit it).
• If you love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in church?
• If you love the personal greetings as you go about, being recognized as a leader or called ‘pastor’, doctor, professor, or by other ranks or titles by people?

I confess. I am embarrassed to admit that I have done some (or maybe all) of these things in my lifetime. I admit they have probably been a cover for my inadequacies and failures. I admit I was probably tired of being overlooked, marginalized and disrespected. I admit I was tired of being one of the ‘have-nots’ so I would exaggerate, inflate myself, thinking I would look better before others. I admit that my thinking and behavior was erroneous.

Now, by the grace of God, I admit that I no longer wish to be called or known as Teacher or Leader to be recognized by others – and I now recognize we all are brothers and sisters. I admit that the greatest of us shall be a servant.  I admit that ”whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted”.

Please note that I understand that none of us are righteous, in and of ourselves. We all are sinners – saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ Jesus, and that we need to show one another the same mercy and grace that God shows us. I need to show others the same mercy and grace that God has shown me.

But, we should not and cannot remain comfortable in our sinful ways. We are to bury the ‘old person’ and our old nature and be made a new creature in Christ.

Ours is to be an upside-down and inside-out existence. We are to be ‘in the world’ but not part of this world system and its ways of thinking and behaving. We must understand and realize the consequences for those who would ‘die in their sins’. Therefore, we can and must confess our sins before God, as He is just and faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We should also confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another so that we may be healed.

Please, let’s show understanding and kindness to one another, at the same time encourage one another to good works.

How about you? What do you think?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young