You have certain traditions that you've grown up with that may have been surprising when you found out someone did it differently. There may be some traditions which you established when you became married and had a family of your own. Traditions can help moments be that much more special. However we can't expect all to fall in love with our tradition(s).
What about for those of you who are religious, by nature. What traditions do you hold as important, possibly going as far to say the lack of observing them may shake up your faith?
In Matthew 15:1-20, Jesus was approached by the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law to point out that Jesus' disciples were not washing their hands prior to eating. As my lesson pointed out, this was not a commandment, but it was something that had been observed as a traditional activity.
As we reflect back on that lesson, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...
- What's Important ~ Importance is one of those lovely subjective words. What is important to you may not be important to me. The reverse is also correct. If you view certain things in the worship setting as important and I don't - who is right? You can feel free to see that it is important and observe it all you want, but there are many matters in which I may not see them as important. I fear to make a list, so you can leave comments if you wish. However, may we watch our judgments when it comes to "who does what" in the religious circles.
- Three Fingers Pointing At You ~ Pointing a finger causes you to have three that are pointing at you. There may be the occasional "good" reason to point out a wrong in someone. However, as Jesus replies to the claim of the Pharisees, they were not doing what is right and needed to watch out!
- What Comes Out is Polluted ~ We've all likely had the stomach flu. When you vomit all that polluted food that you ate, plus stomach fluids are coming out. The food you took in was not bad, but this partially digested food was bad. Jesus points out that what goes in does not make us defiled, rather what comes out of us is what defiles us. Watch out and make sure that what is coming out is not full of defilement.
- Dumb Question ~ As a minister, some people have a warped view that I know"everything" about the Bible. I wish that were the case, though it is flattering to have people come to me with questions. I am always in a learning process. In the passage, Peter asks a question that Jesus responds with a sense of a rebuke. Almost giving the thought that this was a "dumb question" that he asked. When you ask God questions that may be "dumb" just know that you are in good company. Peter was a good guy to be paralleled with. Ask God all the questions...He knows we are just "us."
Pointing out that one's tradition is better or that others should be following it is treading in dangerous waters. Keep in mind that traditions are different than commandments. When we see commandments, they are something we should be observing.
Where is your heart when you are pointing out the wrongs of others...traditions or actions? May we look closely at our hear in those situations.
Now it's your turn...when have you been bound to a tradition you didn't agree with? Religious or otherwise...I'm eager to hear!
Judgment...can be a difficult thing to do correctly. Maybe it is an official trying to determine the correct call on a play, a judge determining whose correct in a courtroom, or deciding which item will be the best for your needs on a particular job. It can have its difficulties.
Usually the times in which judgment is easy are when we do not gain the necessary information to make the correct "ruling."
Jesus discusses judgment in the first part of Matthew 7, specifically, verses 1-5. Then, in verse 6 he uses the idea of judging and makes a profound and deep statement, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." This was our text for Sunday. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...
- Who? ~ Dogs tear things apart, similar to their kin, the wolf. Pigs do not have a "conscience" in the sense that they will eat practically anything and trample on whatever is under their feet. People who are willing to do this are who Jesus is mentioning. Do you know someone who likes to tear lives apart and just run over whatever is in its path? This is probably someone Jesus is discussing. This person should not be offered the greatness of salvation, at this point, because they are not at a point of being able to receive it. The preciousness of salvation will just be ripped up and/or trampled on.
- Determination? ~ Be careful who you put into this category. Jesus had just mentioned about not judging. If you put someone in this category just because they are obscene, profane, or evil, they still may be needing to hear the good news that comes from knowing about Jesus. You may be taking away someone's opportunity to hear what they need to hear. This is a tough call...probably worth praying about and asking God for clarity.
- Err on Side of Caution? ~ As I sometimes will buy my son a toy that may be a bit too "old" for him, I am giving him a chance at playing with something fun. Occasionally, that will result in him tearing things up. As we think about casting out what is sacred, or connected to God, to people - trying to decide if they are dogs/pigs - maybe there are times we should cast it out regardless, and see if the heart is fertile. Maybe we'll know if it is not fertile based on their reaction, then we can determine that for the next time.
- See Yourself ~ Have you been tearing the "good news" to pieces and not appreciating its benefits? Have you been trampling the pearls underfoot? Think about who you are being when you are trying to determine who you are not going to "cast" to.
Until really studying and researching this verse, did I realize how tough and deep it goes. It is similar to a vein of gold that may run deeper than seeing it on the surface.
We are not to judge, but we are to determine who are pigs and swine...tough thing to do! Good luck fulfilling the verse!
Pointing fingers...figuratively or in reality, we all have a tendency to do it in our lives. There may be times it is innocent in nature; other times it is to direct attention to a person.
I have had my fair share of times that I have looked (down) at someone and formed a judgment about them (not simply an opinion). It is sad to say, but I have. Though it is getting less and less frequent the more I try to think like Jesus would, I am not free of it completely. It is probably one of those areas that I will always be working on.
In the Matthew passage that we looked at Sunday (7:1-5), one of the bigger "hit me on the head" areas of the text was "in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." WOW! My grading scale toward someone else is what will be used to grade me..how do I measure up when I'm evaluated? Scary thought.
Continuing with that thought, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...
- Gauge Perfection ~ Think about all the things in which you excel. Specifically, those areas you do not make mistakes in. Now, see how long that list is. One, Three, Ten, or more items? As you look to a person that you see as a bit lower than you, they can have a list, too. I am guessing that each will be fairly short, if there is any existence to them at all. As you think about the brevity (or existence) of your list, may this keep you humble to not look at someone else with a harsh judgmental attitude.
- Where are you - Tree or Roadside? ~ When Jesus came into Jericho in Luke 19, there was a great crowd alongside the road. One man was shorter than most and had a great desire to see Jesus, so he climbed up in a tree to get a better look. Jesus talked to him, invited himself over, and upon that, people started to form judgments upon Zacchaeus. When someone of "lower" (perceived) stature comes around, where are you - in the tree trying to see Jesus or looking around forming judgments about certain people? May that question just cause you to think a bit about where you "are" in those situations.
- "Embrace" People ~ Casting Crowns has a phenomenal song titled "If We are the Body" that talks about the things we can be implementing to go out and "be" the Body of Christ to people so that they will see Him in us. By doing so they will see Christ in us rather than a "judge" in us.
Jesus is not condemning the idea of forming an opinion, but rather having a harsh and brash forming of a judgment. We must watch the line between the two. This week, show Jesus by embracing them where they are at in their life!
Personalities, everyone has one. Some are outward bound. Some are inward bound. Some are funny. Some are serious. Some are witty. Some are nerdy. It takes all kinds of personalities to make this world the wonderful place to live that it is. Sometimes, however, we think our personality is the standard to live by and other personalities are judged on that measuring stick.
When my wife and I were in preaching school and looking into the possibility of joining a mission team we took a personality test, of sorts. It was actually a spiritual gifts test. But it revealed certain things about our other teammates that maybe we didn’t know. It also revealed a sense of sympathy in me toward some of the teammates because I could now understand them better and they me. It also uncovered an excitement in knowing some of the teammates were very similar. This brings us to this week’s quote…
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ~Carl Jung
WOW! When you look into the lives of others you get to know something deeper than you ever knew before. You may be able to see the miles they’ve been through. Which brings the trials and victories they’ve encountered.
You may be one that is quick to assess someone based on how they are acting. Maybe there are times you feel “above” someone or times you feel “below” someone. Either case can cause you to be “irritated” with them for one reason or another.
May your interactions with others not lead you to make a judgment, but rather may you be moved to understand yourself a bit more.
For a little extra, read this verse (just click) and see how it fits in to today’s quote Luke 18:9-14
How many of you know what happens within the walls, on any given Sunday, within the Church of Christ? How about the Presbyterian Church? The College View Baptist Church? Do you know what happens during the Lenten Brown Bag & Bible?
My point is not to endorse, nor leave out, any of the churches in the city or anywhere else. I am simply introducing the fact that we often do not know much other church denominations. However, we may be forming opinions about them without actually ever experiencing them. I write this from experience and if I have had this experience, I presume others have too. Even if you have experienced more than one place of worship, you may have formed an opinion about a place you haven't attended.
I grew up going to the same church denomination my whole life. Occasionally, as a child I have stepped foot in other church buildings for special events (weddings, funerals, VBS, etc.). However, I didn't go to those buildings for a "worship" time.
I am not suggesting that one should go from church building to church building, nor to leave where they are attending. I am wanting people to realize that sometimes what happens behind a building's closed doors may not actually be that much different than what you're used to doing in your church building.
As mentioned previously, I grew up going to the same denomination. I was told things about other churches that caused me to form an opinion about them. This limited what I knew to other people's opinion (most of which didn't really know much about the group they were advising me on).
So, when it came to being a part of a ministerial group, I was hesitant, stemming from the lack of experiences I had while growing up, even into my twenties. I had just formed opinions based on what I was told or from looking at churches from the outside. But something happened whenever I became a part of a ministerial group, I started seeing people from other churches a bit differently. I became close enough to ask questions about their faith and getting their answers, rather than going off of what I was told or presumed. Even if I didn't theologically agree, I would know firsthand. I have even took the opportunity to step foot in the buildings of other churches to see what they looked like. I have had the opportunity to experience a few church's worship styles based on the opportunities to join in with them for special worship events (Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc.). This allowed me to see what they were really like.
The Church of Christ, where I attend, has something significantly different in our worship settings than most all other churches in Colby. Maybe you know about that significant difference; maybe you don't. It is the fact that we traditionally sing without instruments. If you've never experienced what this is like, you may be surprised. Don't presume it is uninteresting based on face value.
I have made the mistake of judging what other churches did or believed based on an opinion that didn't come from firsthand knowledge. I have found that opinions should be formed after one experiences something for themselves. Whether that opinion is about a religious organization or a person, don't "judge a book by its cover". Check things out for yourself and then decide.
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