Churches challenged in search for balance
Scripture reading: Matthew 23:13-26. Text: “Jesus answered them (Pharisees and the teachers of the law) ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'” Luke 5:31-32. The churches (clergy) should be popular while doing what is disliked. Only the doctors are paid for telling us what we do not like to hear and touching us where it hurts. It was said: “The purpose of the church is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” See our text and also our Scripture reading: “Woe to you …” and you will find that Christ had already practiced it.
BALANCE IS ONE OF THE BASIC LAWS OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE
Without the balance between the centrifugal and gravity forces the planets would not be able to remain in their orbits. Without balance, we would not be able to walk or ride a bicycle. You raise your children with love and discipline; you mind your own business and help others when needed. There shall be time for work and rest, and you shall be forgiving yet not condoning sin.
Look what the Bible has to say about the right balance;
– “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.
– “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak,” Romans 15:1.
CAN WE PRACTICE THIS WONDERFUL THEORY WITHOUT ANY UNFAVORABLE CONSEQUENCES?
Most of the people will say that they shall be comforted because they were afflicted, hurt or mistreated. They deserve attention, love and compassion because they are the martyrs of their own kindness and good intentions as well as victims of others’ ignorance, rudeness and cruelty.
But who are the “comfortable” and the “hypocrites” of whom Jesus had spoken so boldly? Check again our scripture reading. These are the questions here;
– WHO WILL BE THE JUDGE? How many of you would dare to go to a person and tell him/her in a loving and caring way: “Brother or sister, please see that what you do or how you behave is not in compliance with the teaching of the Lord?” If you have the courage to do this, you shall be lucky if you receive only this answer: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3. The answer can be more blatant also.
– IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE A PURE CHRISTIAN LIFE and are the separating lines between good and bad, kind and rude, honest and crooked, innocent and immoral so clear? Are there easy and quick solutions to our complicated and chronic problems?
– ARE THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE INFLUENCES WE ARE EXPOSED TO IN BALANCE? Are the movies, TV shows and DVD disks constructive or destructive? To whom do people listen or pay attention first? The statistics of the AIDS victims preach a better sermon than all the TV evangelists together.
– IF YOUR PASTOR WOULD BE INVOLVED IN “AFFLICTING THE COMFORTABLE,” would you support as well as defend him/her against an angry member? You do not mind what is said on the TV by an evangelist because you know that he cannot be personal for he does not know you, but how would you react if the same is preached by your pastor?
The Christian ministry was not given exclusively to the ordained clergy; all of the faithful serve the Lord. If you agree with the statement that the purpose of the church is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, would you mind to help the pastor to find the “comfortable,’ change his/her/their mind and side with your clergy in the case of unfriendly reaction? Please read what Apostle Paul had written to Timothy: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5. If your local pastor will follow this, will he/she be popular? And if he/she is not, will the donations decrease?
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.