To many churches today hide behind the facade of Christianity. In their desire to be socially acceptable to the body that supports them they loose something valuable. Honesty of the people.
We all struggle with something. Some anger, some morality, some are closet drunks. Still others struggle with believing at all. I have noticed this the most with people raised in the church. How is this possible? What need isn’t being met.
In my last post I spoke about the web that surround me. How sin in its various forms connects different aspects of my person and causes me to simultaneously unwind and rebuild the web around me. Endless circles disguised as progress. How did I learn this? I was given a facade by my fellow believers. A look, and way of acting that is socially and morally acceptable. Step outside the facade and the group gets very nervous. Even the Apostle John wasn’t immune.
The Name of Christ: Mark 9-38
38 John spoke up and said, “Teacher, we noticed someone was using your name to cast out demons, so we tried to stop him because he wasn’t one of our group.” 39“ Don’t stop him!” Jesus replied. “For the one who does miracles in the power of my name proves he is not my enemy.u 40 And whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Listen to the truth that I speak: Whoever gives you a cup of water because you carry the name of Christ will never lose his reward. 42 But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves! x
Simmons, Brian. Mark: Miracles and Mercy (The Passion Translation) (Kindle Locations 1151-1157). BroadStreet PUblishing Group LLC. Kindle Edition.
In the next section is one of the least understood and often quoted sections of the bible. A favorite of preachers across the world on how to deal with sin.
43“ If your hand entices you to sin, let it go limp and useless! y For it is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have your entire body thrown into hell, z the place of unquenchable fire. 44 This is where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.aa 45 And if your foot leads you into sin, cut if off! For it is better to enter life crawling than to have both feet and be flung into hell. 46 This is where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out. 47 And if you eye causes you to sin, pluck it out! For it is better to enter into life with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two. 48 This is where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out! ab 49“ Everyone will pass through the fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.ac 50 Salt is excellent for seasoning. But if salt becomes tasteless, ad how can its flavor ever be restored? Your lives, like salt, are to season and preserve.ae So don’t lose your flavor, af and preserve the peace in your union with one another.”
Simmons, Brian. Mark: Miracles and Mercy (The Passion Translation) (Kindle Locations 1157-1169). BroadStreet PUblishing Group LLC. Kindle Edition.
Two things are glaringly apparent here. One, in the paragraphs right before the start of this The disciples had been arguing over who was the greatest. Jesus pointed out that, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be content to be last and become a servant to all.” Why? If you are willing to serve all and hold others in higher esteem you are the most useful. By default you will be the greatest. How do you do it. By becoming like a child. A blank slate ready to hear everyone and, share all that’s within them. The benefit is protection.
42 But if anyone abusesv one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulderw tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves! x
Simmons, Brian. Mark: Miracles and Mercy (The Passion Translation) (Kindle Locations 1154-1157). BroadStreet PUblishing Group LLC. Kindle Edition.
Don’t be fooled its not only mankind that knows this truth. In the spirit realm this is a powerful truth. The enemy has an array of tools to keep us from learning it. When we step outside our facade and become like a child we become useful and protected.
And secondly the benefit of all this is we enter into Life. Read 43-47 again. You notice how Jesus says, “enter into life.” Lets put the whole conversation they had in chapter 9 into context.
In the Mark 9: 2-7 the disciples witnessed the transfiguration, In Mark 9: 14-29 Jesus explained how sometimes it takes sacrifice in the form of prayer and fasting to accomplish your goals.
In Mark 9: 33-37 The disciples are set straight on how our idea of greatness and Gods are opposites. Told if you want to be great, be like a child this affords the protection you need to do battle in the spiritual realm.
In Mark 9 38-40 He teaches, just because people are different, and not part of your crowd they are not the enemy. In Mark 9 43-47 what Jesus is saying when He speaks about, hands, eyes and feet is this. If a hand is only aware of its fingers its useless, you will never enter into life. If an eye only sees its reflection in the mirror its useless, you will never enter into life. If a foot is only aware of its toes its useless, you will never enter into life. We must be willing, and encouraged to share our innermost thoughts with the body of Christ without judgement. We must listen to others through the ears of Christ without judgement. We must comprehend that the body of Christ is mostly made up of people outside our circle of friends. Step outside the church facade and be open to everyone.
As a person and a part of the body of Christ, I must learn to share without fear, hear without fear, and serve without fear. The customs that hide behind the facade are the modern day hands, eyes, and feet. We have to be willing to change our view if we want to see the truth.
Behold I Saw 