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| image from https://www.montroselutheranchurch.org/ |
Esther, of the Old
Testament book “Esther”, was never a Christian…a Christ follower.
Heroic as was Esther (Hadassah
being her “birth certificate” name) we continue to speak of her by her
oppressor’s name given to her.
But my immediate point is
heroic as she was, in her historical context, she never claimed to be a Christ
follower. Of course, I acknowledge that she lived hundreds of years before
Jesus and thus never had opportunity to hear his teachings.
But those of us who claim
Jesus have much opportunity to know the teachings of Jesus.
The Gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John provide the attitudes, the teachings, and the sacrificial
conduct of Jesus.
For sure the writings of
the Old Testament are inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and
to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.
But when there is a
conflict of moral discernment, those that profess Jesus should land with the
Jesus teaching rather than try to find some Old Testament words that will
provide faux justification for them to behave in ways undistinguishable from
the world.
Moses said that there should
be no work on the sabbath. He said that anyone who worked on the sabbath would
die. And he lived up to that notion when a fellow caught picking firewood on
the sabbath was put to death (Numbers 15:32-36).
Jesus did some of his
best work on the sabbath, in the synagogue, healing people.
As a Christ follower, where
do you choose to land?
Moses said to not eat
gentile food. Jesus often had dinner with gentiles.
As a Christ follower,
which teaching is to be followed.
Moses said to throw a
stone at a woman caught in adultery. Jesus saved that woman.
As Christians, do we
subscribe to Jesus’ teachings or a “pick and choose” selectivity of Scripture
to excuse our self-centered goals and pursuits?
I continue to become increasingly
fatigued of religious leaders who pick and choose words from the Bible to
enable and excuse civilian leaders to behave in ways that are indistinguishable
from those that they denounce.
A true revival of
religion among Christians will be achieved when Christians actually open the
gospels and read for themselves the attitudes, teachings and conduct of Jesus. And
then seek to follow that model in all that we do.
