"But the First Shall Be Last, and the Last Shall Be First"

In Mark's Gospel, chapter 10, verses 17-31, the Holy Spirit records through Mark the account of the rich young ruler who sought to justify his reserved right to eternal life. 

When that sad encounter ended and the young man walked away grieving, Jesus says: "“How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were shocked that Jesus could say that! Why? Because for generations, the religious leaders and the Pharisees had taught that following the rules of the Law and the Pharisaic interpretation of the Law (known as Oral Tradition or Mishnah, which is now a part of a more broader set of interpretations called the Talmud) gives a person the right to consider themselves "good", deserving of riches/wealth, position through which gave them seated authority over others who were "less". They were taught that those people who remained poor, or who could not conceive or bring to full term a child from their womb, who were born blind or deformed, or who met with some kind of calamity - well, to them it was proof that these persons or someone in their family line had to be sinners, scorners of the Mosaic Law and the teachings of the Pharisees. (compare John 9)

Jesus repeats His statement, and adds:  "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  Jesus uses hyperbole to make the point that it will be very hard for a rich person, so schooled in and adherent to the Pharisees' "prosperity gospel", to enter into God's kingdom - which would have been the expectation of those whose wealth and comfort should have confirmed their residency there. It would be like trying to fit a camel through a sewing needle! So in just one sentence, which he repeated, Jesus overturned the prosperity teachings of the Pharisees, and the expectations of the proud. 

Well, good grief Lord, who can be saved? - was the essence of the stupefied response from the disciples.

Jesus answers them, but not how they expected: “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news [Gospel] who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life."  They were expecting Jesus to offer them some good-deed-doing options, but instead, Jesus continued with them as He did with the young ruler - you must be willing to be living sacrifices for me. That you will inherit a spiritual family through Me, and all of your needs would be met by Me, and your richest reward will be eternal life with Me. 

Then to add to that eye-opener, Jesus says at the very end of this account in verse 31, "But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Who are the "first"? Who are the "last"? What does all of that mean?

Jesus' statement ties to the running theme here, which is, how do we perceive ourselves in the perspective of deserving God's grace and favor? (Until doing some Bible research - comparing scripture by scripture as God commands, and following a discussion of this during our regular Bible study, the Spirit has begun to bring us some understanding of this difficult statement. Some of us had been taught that this referred to the order of salvation, as if we are given some ticket to show us where we are to stand in line relative to salvation. That there would be those who would be at the head of the line and others wayyyyy in the back of the line. Thus, it was a blessing from the Holy Spirit to be corrected on this matter.)

The Pharisees' prosperity gospel teachings were - to put it in the contemporary vernacular - a "set up" as regards attaining eternal life and entering the kingdom of God. It may have given a sure "slam dunk" in the minds of those who had the accoutrements to show for their adequate to fervent adherence to the Law and those interpretations of the Law (for example, the Pharisees brought forward interpretations that would cast certain people in a very good light, deserving of honor and praise, and cast others in the role of unrepentant sinners, persons without the favor of God. Like the dozens of interpretations on how to carry out the Sabbath (for an indepth look at the interpretations, view this page on Wikipedia). By such "oral traditions" and other add-ons, the Pharisees were able to set themselves apart (and those who would closely follow their teachings) pridefully, and even exalt themselves as models of a good Jew.  

In their own determination, they set the standards that should be followed to attain to righteousness. Their "faithful" obedience to the Law and traditions rated them A-one in their own sight and estimation. Their self-righteousness gave the impression that they were of great importance, and should be followed - if you, too, wanted to be recognized as righteous. Have you ever had to experience such an attitude either in or outside of the Church? Many of us have. How did we deal with their put-downs and better-than-thou attitude? That they followed the rules that they made gave them the self-embossed rubber stamp of approval before God, their self-assurance that they were, indeed, in right standing before God. Positionally in the scheme of things, they considered themselves "first" in importance and portrayal of righteousness. Proud of their pride.

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount recorded by the Holy Spirit through Matthew in chapter 5, Jesus speaks of those principles that undergirded the Mosaic Law as originally given by Yahweh God. We are familiar with the Beatitudes topically, but do we understand what Jesus was actually teaching relative to what the Law was conveying?1/  Following the teaching of the Beatitudes, Jesus goes into the deeper meaning of certain of the commandments, indicating that God's favor was not found in shallow obedience to rules, but in relationship with Him on a personal level, in being "holy as He is holy" in mind, heart and soul. Not the "holiness" proffered by the Pharisees that amounted to self-righteousness. In that context, Jesus says, as found in verses 19-20: "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  The light is getting a little brighter now regarding the "first" and "last", maybe?

"Whoever teaches others to break the Law of God..." Jesus would also speak later and boldly of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and of how they had misled the people. In Matthew, chapter 23 we read of Jesus' condemnation of the scribes (those who taught the teachings of the Pharisees) and the Pharisees - who set their teachings equal to or above the Law of God. Jesus' words are damning. His judgments were also foretold by the prophet Isaiah in words God-breathed found at Isaiah 11:1-5 --

"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill [condemnation judgment] the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins."

The "wicked" were those who had transgressed the Law of God and were those whom God had judged and condemned; Jesus, fully God and fully man, announces the judgment of God on those scribes and Pharisees -- as a group -- and who have - in God's sight - committed atrocities that were unforgivable (most comprehensively recorded in Matthew 23). (As scripture shows us, not all the Pharisees were condemned to eternal judgment - there were individuals who dared to not fully identify with the body of Pharisees as a whole, such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and later through a miraculous conversion, Saul of Tarsus, and some Pharisees per Acts 15:5) The Pharisees demanded strict obedience (see John 7:47-49 for example), to the extent that they would ban individuals from the Temple for not obeying them. Per Jesus' words in Matthew 23, the scribes' and Pharisees' hypocrisy and errant teachings made persons who followed those teachings "twice as much a child of hell" - eternal death rather than eternal life.

Within the Matthew 23rd chapter, Jesus clarifies His statement in verse 31 of Mark 10 regarding the "first" and "last". Verse 12: "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." Thus, as Jesus points out, the Pharisees themselves (and all who practice their ways even unto these modern times) have positioned themselves as above others, exalting themselves through pride, and were then and now by Jesus condemned. He condemns those who have throughout the centuries exalted themselves as demi-gods, positioning themselves to be the spokesperson of God or even equal to God. They place themselves (or even their denominations) first according to their self-righteousness to the detriment of all who would embrace through coersion or free will their false teachings and behaviors.  

We who have lived in the latter half of the 20th century and forward have witnessed the growing trend of such leadership in the Church - regardless of denomination. Those who will teach false doctrine with assurance to their hearers that it comes from God's mouth. Those who would call "right" their teachings which condone those things God says are "wrong". They exalt themselves even in false humility and demand obedience. They put themselves and their teachings "first" before or even in place of sacred doctrine. They put heavy demands on their people or congregations financially - chiefly for self-aggrandizement; e.g., who of their ilk will be "blessed" with the most luxurious vehicles and homes, or "build" a gleaming edifice that is supposed to bring glory to God, but who instead brag about what they have accomplished. God Himself demotes them in His eyes, while the world applauds them, and He counts those sins against the unrepentant; in His view, they are not only "last" but also condemned. 

Therefore, it is God who exalts the lowly and humble, who makes the "last" the "first", and it is God who humbles the proud and haughty, who makes the "first" the "last". 

As we consider the foregoing, we must ask ourselves as the disciples asked and ruminated on: how do we perceive ourselves in the perspective of deserving God's grace and favor? Can the grace of God be deserved? Are we in right standing with Him, or simply righteous and good in our assessment of ourselves? Ask the One who sees the heart to help with the answers. 

 

1/  For those who may be interested: I have written up in a separate blog post series in the form of a regular Bible study some lessons that were shared with the youth a while back on the Beatitudes. The study goes a bit further past what was shared with the youth, as it helps to highlight the principles undergirding the Mosaic Law that Jesus exposited on in His Sermon on the Mount.

Is The Church a Business?

Lately, I have heard very well-educated churchgoers make the statement - to a congregation within a sermon or other corporate discussion - that the Church is a business. At least one of those who said such graduated from a seminary with a doctorate. Not only does the statement: the Church is a business - unsettles me, but that it was being taught to vulnerable Church members - vulnerable in that many are Biblically illiterate - riles me. On one of the occasions, the gathered worship community had incorporated into the worship service discussion of the congregation's dire financial status. Persons mumbled, then one courageously and boldly, rebuked the Pastor, saying that he took offense to having the discussion of money and finance disturbing "the worship". Bible illiteracy in neon signs.

They do not understand - even though they seem very certain that they have Bible knowledge, that in the Bible, money and the offerings have always been a part of worship. Money/ currency of whatever type is referred to in the Bible over 2300 times!  Discussion of such also was nearly always related directly or indirectly to how to worship God.The Sovereign of all things, Creator of the universe and man himself has never been caught unawares by persons making statements that malign God and His provisions.

One of the more outstanding accounts of this is in the New Testament at Acts 5. The new movement called The Way, i.e., followers of Christ and believers of His Gospel, were calling forth testimony or offerings during a worship service from members of the worshiping community, as there was a strong impetus within the worship community to support one another that was borne out of the wondrous miracle of Pentecost. There was an overflowing of joy and love among the newly baptized community members so that sharing between and supporting one another in whatever way needed was the fruit or product of their growing faith. The support would become a necessity as the community of believers grew and the antagonists - Judaizers and nationalists stirred up by the religious authorities - grew in disapproval of this movement.  The worshiping community had gladly accepted the responsibility of caring for one another. (Acts 2:38-47; 4:8-37) 

On the occasion in Acts 5, the apostles were together with the worshiping community during its gathering when a man named Ananais brought his offering to the apostles. He and his wife Sapphira were wealthy enough to sell personal property, which would have been known by all and would cast a spotlight on their "charitable", supposed divine, act. Divine in that many who had done so prior to Ananais and Sapphira's offering, had been moved by the work of the Spirit, had acted in faith, to offer monies raised from the sale of property and possessions to support the worship community. However, Ananais and his wife, in selling off their possession did so in a deceptive spirit - they wanted to appear to be giving an abundant offering to the gathered community saying they were giving the full sum of money from the sale, when they were actually only giving a portion, thus lying to look superior and worthy of praise before man, and to benefit themselves with such a deceptive act. Here is the account in verses 1- 11 (NRSV):

"But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2/ with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3/ 'Ananias,' Peter asked, 'why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4/ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!' 5/ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6/ The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

"7/ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8/ Peter said to her, 'Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.'  And she said, 'Yes, that was the price.' 9/ Then Peter said to her, 'How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.' 10/ Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11/ And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things."

What a worship service that was! While money was the subject of that portion of the service, the primary matter at hand was faith and obedience. It always should be.

The "business" of collecting monies to support the saints that was taking place within the worshiping communities was an act of faith and humility. The business aspect of that act consisted of collecting, tabulating, and reporting to the congregation the totals that were collected, no doubt expressing what those funds would accomplish. If the members had been stingy, or lax in giving, leaders would need to encourage further giving during the time the community gathered for worship as their giving was an act of worship and faith, a faith that knew God would also supply their needs in their obedient sacrifice. As Peter's message inferred, God has a strong interest in how we express our faith or lack thereof, whether it is during worship, or during an act of worship and prayer. What is our heart engagement with our giving? Where is our faith in our giving?

In His Sermon on the Mount, with regard to our attitudes about money and wealth, Jesus had this to say to those who would follow Him, and who would worship Him and His Father, as recorded in Matthew 6:19-21, 24:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ...No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." He did not stutter, He did not slur the message, but rather, spoke clearly to those who were listening.

Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church, in chapter 8, is another example of the topic of ministry financial matters taking place within a worship service. Paul had cautioned the church on many things - its moral conduct, its celebration of the Lord's Supper, its abuse of Spiritual gifts, its dissensions and divisions, and the list goes on. In the second letter - both of which would have been read and discussed during gathered worship, Paul addresses the Corinthians' failure to support God's people in Jerusalem where extreme famine had greatly impacted the followers of The Way and which, at that time, was the "home office" of The Way. He contrasts the Corinthians' failure - a community that had an adequate financial capacity at their disposal, against a sister community of worshipers - their sister church in Macedonia, whose members were very poor. The Macedonian church did not have "excess" savings to fall back on, yet, through a sacrificial act of faith, gave above and beyond from their "pitiable" finances to ensure that the church at Jerusalem would not starve, while the Corinthians were holding on to their comparative "wealth" and putting faith in their coffers.

In our modern times, where emails and printed publications are created to communicate to church members what the state of finances are, sometimes these forms of sharing information on financial status are ignored. There is a lack of concern on some level about the financial condition of the church, under the supposition that since God says He will supply all of our needs, we don't have to sacrifice our monies. What this way of thinking disregards is that God has promised to do so by His grace. They do not understand that neither God's grace, nor His mercy are unlimited. They fail to ask themselves: How long will God's grace extend to disobedient children? Do we want to test God like that? How long will a congregation keep the mindset of taking, getting a perceived benefit from the worship service, and yet refuse to give their tithes and free will offerings? Does Malachi 3 carry any significance for those who make those choices? 

Giving and the stewardship of church finances indeed are a matter of worship, as the essence of worshiping God is found in obeying and trusting Him. Worship isn't about coming into a building with others and getting our "praise on", eating and drinking, then walking out oblivious to God's command to serve Him and others. But many churches have adopted that style, leaving all the serving to the leaders. They make worship about themselves, what makes them feel good. They put on the blinders and choose not to know that we are called to be stewards of the manifold grace of God, and that includes stewardship of financial provision. Stewardship is an act of ministry and worship - obeying God's purpose for His Church. He observes and holds us accountable for acts of disobedience. Remember God's words to Moses when the nation of Israel rebelled against God in the wilderness? They disregarded God's commandments, they disregarded the proper management of the gold and silver they had acquired from the Egyptians by Yahweh's grace and salvific act. Because of that, God said to Moses said that He would destroy each and every person, and create a people through Moses. Stealing from God is a sin, a blatant act of disobedience. Need I continue?

In the United States, for a church or house of worship to be able to transact business, it must have a legal entity within its organization, which means in many states, following the rules set up for "charitable nonprofit organizations". In Maryland, in order for a church to transact business, it must be registered with the state as a house of worship and do so through filing as a charitable nonprofit corporation, identifying its "board" as its legal entity by state standards. Our church's Vestry is the legal entity representing our church. Other denominations have trustee boards and similar structures that act as the legal presence under state law. The church itself is not intended to be recognized as a commercial business, but as a charitable nonprofit organization that conducts business through its legal entity. Within that legal structure, the church's legal entity files with the IRS to be recognized as a tax exempt organization. Thus, under that structure, the church conducts business under the auspices and authority of its "board", or in our case, Vestry, to transact business to supply the house of worship with services such as water distribution, gas and/or electrical power, to be able to purchase supplies used in its ministries, to make donations, pay salaries and fees, and employment taxes, to obtain required insurance coverages to protect its property and staff, to follow regulations and statutes applicable to commercial buildings and properties, to enter into contractual relationships and obligations with firms, etc. The legal entity is responsible for accurate recordkeeping and its financial status is subject to audit to publicly ensure that it is above reproach and not operating illegally on any level, and that it is still able to maintain and sustain the properties. In the first century, the elders and deacons and the appointed treasurer or "caretaker of the money bags" would have been the "legal entity" so to speak that would act on behalf of the church or worship community.

God explains very clearly what the Church is and what it is not. It is not a building - although a church may meet in a building. No - He tells in scripture that the Church is the foreordained called out people of God in Christ, chosen by God. It is a "people" created by God for Christ. (Ephesians 1; Colossians 1:15-24; Acts 12:5; 14:27; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 12:27-29; Revelation 19:27; Revelation 21:2,9; 22:17) As God did in the Garden of Eden when the perfect man Adam was given by God a perfect Bride created for him, namely Eve, God has given to His Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Church - Who is His Body and His Bride. The Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:20-33 allegorically uses the relationship of husbands and wives to illustrate God's provision of the Church to be the Bride of Christ. This Bride, this Church, has been the plan of God since before the foundation of the world. God's choosing it makes it a sacred, divine entity. So, to describe as or confer the designation of business to the Bride of Christ, His Church, may be just a hair short of blasphemy. It dishonors the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - the sacrifice that in purpose would follow God's plan of the creation of the Church. Common sense would lead us to ask: so did Christ die on the cross so that God could create a business and call it Church?

The Church is not a business. Let me say it with even more emphasis: The Church is not a business! However, there are those religious organizations that belie this truth by their actions and harloting themselves - using the church as a basis for financially enriching its leadership and others, sometimes even telling members that they must mortgage their homes or give their rent money to the church so that "God will bless them a number of times over when they give such monies to the preacher for material goods." These greedy deceivers will pay a dear price for such blasphemy, and for causing weak people to stumble. (Romans 14:13; Matthew 24:4,5,11; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Revelation 2:12-29; Amos 5:6-27)

Pray that those who believe themselves to be Christ's followers will indeed come to a saving knowledge of God, will cherish all of the utterings of God, His words, as found in scripture and study them and apply them so that they will not be ignorant of God's purpose and will. That they will not be those persons who hear this from God, as recorded in Hosea 4:6 -- 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge! Because you have rejected knowledge,     I reject you from being a priest [rejects their worship] to me; and since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

Pray that they will obey God with their whole heart, minds and strength. Pray the prayer in Colossians 1:9-14 regularly, personalizing it as needed. So that when persons hear preaching that doesn't sound right that they will be like the Bereoans in Acts 17 who sought verification in the scriptures for what they were being taught, to ensure it wasn't falsehood that kills, but truth that brings salvation.