I woke up today, looked out the window, and was astonished to see the ground covered in snow. Brrrr, it is cold! And it’s the end of April! Such is the weather in the Midwest. I recall a severe blizzard many years ago that occurred in April, but I think that happened earlier in the month.
Tristan and I went to church today. He gave me a really neat thing he had made a few Sundays before in his class: a model of the house on the rock. He was able to explain the meaning of this to me, also, from Matthew 7:24. Today we heard the pastor talk about the Pharisees and how they basically said to Jesus, after he had cleared out the temple, “How dare you? By whose authority have you done this?” (See Matthew 21:23-45.) How much like the Pharisees we are. We in this country (the U.S.) in particular are very individualistic. We tend to glorify self. I’m in charge of my life, my body, my possessions. How dare anyone tell me what to do?! That’s how we tend to think and act. Yet if you read this passage, Jesus clearly says, “No, you are not in authority. I’m in control. I am the One who made you. Listen to Me.” The Pharisees are unable to let go of their self-importance, their foolish pride, their arrogance. That is like us. Sadly, this attitude of religious self importance is particularly evident in Christendom, and clearly, God abhors it.
Hi, Steve,
Wow, you’ve had a record number of postings this month, haven’t you? I’ve just recently gotten into this blog thing as well, and I’m now keeping up with you via bloglines.
I’ve been teaching the Ray Vanderlan video series, “Faith Lessons on the Death and Resurrection of the Messiah,” in adult Sunday School, and your posting today rang bells with what we were discussing today — the importance of children and their faith. Their faith is the sort that we adults should have and most of the time don’t. Our text was Matthew 18:1-5:
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child, whom he placed among them. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place — becoming like this child — is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.’” TNIV
We need to listen more carefully to children because what they say in the faith is often profound. And what Jesus goes on to say about stumbling “such a little one” is quite sobering. The “little ones” in this passage can possibly be extended to other categories of people as well, like to new believers, the disenfranchised, those who are discriminated against (race, gender, the poor), etc. I always learn so much when I teach new believers; I love their fresh perspectives. And of course, I’m currently researching the gender issue as you can see with my blog. Anyway, humility, in anyone, is always welcome.
I’m praying for Michelle.
Craighton Hippenhammer
christianegalitarians.blogspot.com