Matthew 4:8-11
This is the last of the recorded temptations that Jesus faced at the beginning of the public ministry phase of his life. In this temptation, Jesus is taken by Satan up a mountain and is shown all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms if he will simply make a small compromise and bow down and worship him once.
This would have been a huge temptation for Jesus, especially if (as it seems) he was aware of God's plan to ransom the kingdom's of this world: the cross with all its pain and humiliation plus the fact that Jesus, the sinless one, would take on himself all the sin of the world. Satan was offering him a short cut.
The temptation would have been even bigger because after all Jesus would go through, people would still have a choice to submit to him. Satan's plan would not only mean that he wouldn't have to suffer physically, emotionally and spiritually but that all people would have to submit. This was a tempation to be powerful.
Man, have we fallen for this temptation! Christians through out history, right up to the present (the moral majority, anyone?) have been seduced by the possibility of power and I have yet to see where it worked out very well. I remember as a young kid I wanted to become PM of Canada and make it a truly Christian nation but forcing everyone to either submit to Christ or leave. Take it easy on me, I was young and immature and didn't see the inherent contradiction between being Christian and using force. I've matured, I hope.
But maybe we haven't. I see it in the Western Canadian Evangelical churches voting predominantly Conservative because we've been told we will have a voice at the table. I see it in the states with the promises the Bush administration sold to gain the support of the Evangelical movement (and the catering to that base with the appointment of Palin as VP candidate). Have we learned nothing from history? Do we honestly think we'd do better with our power than the State churches of the Middle Ages and earlier? Are we that arrogant?
May Jesus be our model and our example of how to speak to the culture and stand up for what is good and right and just without being sucked in by the attraction of power.
Showing posts with label temptation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temptation. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
drawing a crowd
Matthew 4:5-7
It is interesting the slight change of tactics that Satan makes in tempting Jesus: he starts using Scripture to support his temptation. Of course he uses it out of context and to support a faulty premise which Jesus recognizes very quickly but I'm not sure that I would. Especially because it would have been tempting: Satan is playing on a desire that Jesus already has but is tempting him to achieve that desire in an unholy way or to twist the desire towards something that is unholy. The desire that Satan is playing on here is the desire for significance and he is telling Jesus that the way to be significant is to do something spectacular - jump off the temple and live. If Jesus did that, he would be sure to draw a crowd and be famous.
I think that my youth ministry (and youth ministries - and probably churches - in general) face this temptation all the time - we argue that the end justifies the means. We will do anything to draw a crowd, justifying it by saying that we then have the opportunity to speak truth in their lives. The life of Jesus and the teaching of Scripture clearly teaches that the method we use to share the message is part of the message itself. In other words, in order to battle this temptation we must constantly ask: what does the method communicate? Is it at odds with the message I want to communicate? This is why, as an aside, I am so against the bait and switch approach to evangelism - it communicates that lying or deceit is ok as long as truth is proclaimed at some point in the event.
I think I also face this temptation in the constant pressure to do bigger and better than last time. Specifically for Identity, we're already asking the question of how we can do better. Of course careful evaluation is needed but if it's just about drawing a bigger crowd or being more spectacular, I think we've lost our focus. Jesus reminds me that there is something more important at stake then drawing a crowd and that is the agenda of Christ.
It is interesting the slight change of tactics that Satan makes in tempting Jesus: he starts using Scripture to support his temptation. Of course he uses it out of context and to support a faulty premise which Jesus recognizes very quickly but I'm not sure that I would. Especially because it would have been tempting: Satan is playing on a desire that Jesus already has but is tempting him to achieve that desire in an unholy way or to twist the desire towards something that is unholy. The desire that Satan is playing on here is the desire for significance and he is telling Jesus that the way to be significant is to do something spectacular - jump off the temple and live. If Jesus did that, he would be sure to draw a crowd and be famous.
I think that my youth ministry (and youth ministries - and probably churches - in general) face this temptation all the time - we argue that the end justifies the means. We will do anything to draw a crowd, justifying it by saying that we then have the opportunity to speak truth in their lives. The life of Jesus and the teaching of Scripture clearly teaches that the method we use to share the message is part of the message itself. In other words, in order to battle this temptation we must constantly ask: what does the method communicate? Is it at odds with the message I want to communicate? This is why, as an aside, I am so against the bait and switch approach to evangelism - it communicates that lying or deceit is ok as long as truth is proclaimed at some point in the event.
I think I also face this temptation in the constant pressure to do bigger and better than last time. Specifically for Identity, we're already asking the question of how we can do better. Of course careful evaluation is needed but if it's just about drawing a bigger crowd or being more spectacular, I think we've lost our focus. Jesus reminds me that there is something more important at stake then drawing a crowd and that is the agenda of Christ.
Monday, October 6, 2008
but I'm hungry...
Matthew 4:3-4
One thing that strikes me is that Satan is a master at introducing doubt. He basically employs the same device he used against Adam and Eve: "Did God really say..." only here he says, "If you are..." Here it is a direct attack from Satan's mouth; through the rest of Jesus' life the same sentiment or test would be expressed through people: if you are who you say you are, then heal this person or perform this miracle or come down from the cross. It must have been a real temptation to shut people up and remove all doubt by reacting to their requests. I know I would have.
The other thing that strikes me is that Jesus relies heavily on Scripture to defeat temptation. He refuses the premise of Satan's attack (are you really the Son of God?) by not addressing that question at all and then he uses a verse which reminds me that I am to depend on God for everything and not myself. This goes back to the very first sin recorded in history. Rather than go to God with any questions of what might be right or wrong, Adam and Eve decide they would rather make the choices for themselves. This is the same tactic Satan uses here: "Jesus, God brought you out here. The least he could do is feed you. Obviously he can't be trusted and he is not good so why don't you take matters into your own hands." Jesus responds by saying that there is something more important than food.
Which raises the question, why would it be so wrong to change the stones into bread? I think one reason is that it would have shown an independence from God. Jesus would have been saying that he (or Satan) knows better than God what is good and necessary in this situation. I am influenced quite heavily by Henri Nouwen's In The Name of Jesus when it comes to this passage and he suggests another reason: that this was a temptation to be relevant. The pressing need was hunger and the way to alleviate that is with food. Jesus reminds us all that there is usually something more important than the pressing and presenting need. If we spend all our time seeking to be relevant, we will miss what is more important - the word which comes from the mouth of God. Don't get me wrong, I think we should be doing what we can to meet people's pressing needs but we must never forget that which is most important. Jesus reminds us of that here.
One thing that strikes me is that Satan is a master at introducing doubt. He basically employs the same device he used against Adam and Eve: "Did God really say..." only here he says, "If you are..." Here it is a direct attack from Satan's mouth; through the rest of Jesus' life the same sentiment or test would be expressed through people: if you are who you say you are, then heal this person or perform this miracle or come down from the cross. It must have been a real temptation to shut people up and remove all doubt by reacting to their requests. I know I would have.
The other thing that strikes me is that Jesus relies heavily on Scripture to defeat temptation. He refuses the premise of Satan's attack (are you really the Son of God?) by not addressing that question at all and then he uses a verse which reminds me that I am to depend on God for everything and not myself. This goes back to the very first sin recorded in history. Rather than go to God with any questions of what might be right or wrong, Adam and Eve decide they would rather make the choices for themselves. This is the same tactic Satan uses here: "Jesus, God brought you out here. The least he could do is feed you. Obviously he can't be trusted and he is not good so why don't you take matters into your own hands." Jesus responds by saying that there is something more important than food.
Which raises the question, why would it be so wrong to change the stones into bread? I think one reason is that it would have shown an independence from God. Jesus would have been saying that he (or Satan) knows better than God what is good and necessary in this situation. I am influenced quite heavily by Henri Nouwen's In The Name of Jesus when it comes to this passage and he suggests another reason: that this was a temptation to be relevant. The pressing need was hunger and the way to alleviate that is with food. Jesus reminds us all that there is usually something more important than the pressing and presenting need. If we spend all our time seeking to be relevant, we will miss what is more important - the word which comes from the mouth of God. Don't get me wrong, I think we should be doing what we can to meet people's pressing needs but we must never forget that which is most important. Jesus reminds us of that here.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
what did the rich ever do to you?
James 1:9-15
I wonder what the rich did to deserve these scathing words from James. They must have been the driving force behind the persecution or something. James certainly pulls no punches: "Hey rich people! Take pride in your humiliation - you're going to fade away like a wild flower." That doesn't sound very nice at all. At first I'm kind of cheering James on but when I stop and think about it, I realize that I am one of the rich. I don't remember the specific numbers but it goes something like this: if you have a car, a telephone and equipment for a hobby (game system, hockey equipment, etc.) you are in the top 10% of rich people. Now James is talking to me! I must make sure that I have my security in something besides my possessions and money.
James' letter reads like a bunch of strung together sayings - sort of like Proverbs for the New Testament Church. This saying is telling those who are facing persecution to persevere because the pain of this life is nothing compared to the rewards waiting in heaven. I think our tendency is to apply this to our petty, wimpy temptations (ok, I don't want to downplay the power of temptations and the awful way our failures make us feel. But compared to the pastor in North Korea who is being executed, my "trial" of being tempted to watch something I shouldn't on tv in the comfort of my living room while eating popcorn, completely sheltered from the cold wind, is pretty wimpy!) but James is talking specifically about persecution, not temptations. It makes me wonder if we're going to miss out on the crown of life because we are not willing to pay any price to follow Jesus. I don't think ducking our head and hiding our faith is equal to persevering under trial.
James does talk about temptations next - he tells us that we shouldn't blame God for our temptations. We are tempted because we have sinful desire for that thing. If I didn't like Zesty Cheese Doritoes, then I wouldn't be tempted to eat them. The same goes for pornography - it wouldn't be a temptation if I didn't like it. James is telling us to stop making excuses and stop blaming others for our sin and for our temptations - face the truth that it is your fault that you are tempted in the first place because you have cultivated a desire for that thing. He doesn't really offer any solutions but perhaps the implied solution is that we need our desires changed and the only one who can do that is God.
I wonder what the rich did to deserve these scathing words from James. They must have been the driving force behind the persecution or something. James certainly pulls no punches: "Hey rich people! Take pride in your humiliation - you're going to fade away like a wild flower." That doesn't sound very nice at all. At first I'm kind of cheering James on but when I stop and think about it, I realize that I am one of the rich. I don't remember the specific numbers but it goes something like this: if you have a car, a telephone and equipment for a hobby (game system, hockey equipment, etc.) you are in the top 10% of rich people. Now James is talking to me! I must make sure that I have my security in something besides my possessions and money.
James' letter reads like a bunch of strung together sayings - sort of like Proverbs for the New Testament Church. This saying is telling those who are facing persecution to persevere because the pain of this life is nothing compared to the rewards waiting in heaven. I think our tendency is to apply this to our petty, wimpy temptations (ok, I don't want to downplay the power of temptations and the awful way our failures make us feel. But compared to the pastor in North Korea who is being executed, my "trial" of being tempted to watch something I shouldn't on tv in the comfort of my living room while eating popcorn, completely sheltered from the cold wind, is pretty wimpy!) but James is talking specifically about persecution, not temptations. It makes me wonder if we're going to miss out on the crown of life because we are not willing to pay any price to follow Jesus. I don't think ducking our head and hiding our faith is equal to persevering under trial.
James does talk about temptations next - he tells us that we shouldn't blame God for our temptations. We are tempted because we have sinful desire for that thing. If I didn't like Zesty Cheese Doritoes, then I wouldn't be tempted to eat them. The same goes for pornography - it wouldn't be a temptation if I didn't like it. James is telling us to stop making excuses and stop blaming others for our sin and for our temptations - face the truth that it is your fault that you are tempted in the first place because you have cultivated a desire for that thing. He doesn't really offer any solutions but perhaps the implied solution is that we need our desires changed and the only one who can do that is God.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
You're not the boss of me!
Romans 6:15-18
Observe:
Repeated words: slaves, sin, righteousness.
Paul uses the rhetorical question again in this paragraph. He also makes a contrast between being a slave to sin (which leads to death) and a slave to God (which leads to righteousness).
Interpret:
Paul is making the point that our freedom from the law does not equal freedom to sin but freedom to obey God (something we were incapable of apart from God's intervention - Romans 3). He anticipates that people would abuse the fact that they are not under law but under grace (from the previous paragraph) as a license to sin. He argues that by submitting to sin a person makes himself a slave again to sin. He also indicates that humans are always slaves to something - in Paul's world it is either we are slaves to sin or slaves to God.
Apply:
Sin is no longer my master. I have been freed through Jesus Christ to obey God. Compared to the power of God, the Holy Spirit, in me, sin has no power. I need to remember this when temptation comes. I also need to remember that there is a snare hidden in the temptation: that sin never has my good in mind but is trying to entice me to become its slave again. I admit that in the middle of the temptation it seems very attractive and very powerful. I truly need to become more sensitive to the Spirit in me as he seeks to remind me of the truth: God is more powerful that the temptation and the temptation leads to enslavement.
Observe:
Repeated words: slaves, sin, righteousness.
Paul uses the rhetorical question again in this paragraph. He also makes a contrast between being a slave to sin (which leads to death) and a slave to God (which leads to righteousness).
Interpret:
Paul is making the point that our freedom from the law does not equal freedom to sin but freedom to obey God (something we were incapable of apart from God's intervention - Romans 3). He anticipates that people would abuse the fact that they are not under law but under grace (from the previous paragraph) as a license to sin. He argues that by submitting to sin a person makes himself a slave again to sin. He also indicates that humans are always slaves to something - in Paul's world it is either we are slaves to sin or slaves to God.
Apply:
Sin is no longer my master. I have been freed through Jesus Christ to obey God. Compared to the power of God, the Holy Spirit, in me, sin has no power. I need to remember this when temptation comes. I also need to remember that there is a snare hidden in the temptation: that sin never has my good in mind but is trying to entice me to become its slave again. I admit that in the middle of the temptation it seems very attractive and very powerful. I truly need to become more sensitive to the Spirit in me as he seeks to remind me of the truth: God is more powerful that the temptation and the temptation leads to enslavement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
