Jesus, And Market-Driven Churches
“It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer : but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:13
“And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: “ 2 Peter 2:3a
Matthew, Mark and Luke all record Jesus' cleansing of the temple just before he was delivered up because of our trespasses. John, writing last, records Jesus cleansing the temple near the beginning of his ministry (John 2). Those two thrusts of zeal revealed the mind of Christ toward a market-driven temple – of any day. Those who serve themselves , always blame the messenger , when confronted. Cf. Galatians 4:16.
The Lord intended his temple, our hearts , to be a place of prayer. But prayer-less hearts are left to offer other sacrifices. We much prefer to teach than pray. Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18) makes clear the way for us all : “be merciful to me, the sinner.” Yet we may find ourselves replacing confession with a panorama of behavior, much like the Pharisee – who prayed with himself.
The desire for money has long driven prayer-less people. The temple merchants of Jesus' day are only one example. Paul foretold people “having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own desires:”- 2 Timothy 4:3 Peter warned that disciples themselves would be merchandised by false teachers. - 2 Peter 2:1-3 Today, glib speakers and authors, tour leaders and fund-raisers are legion.
Numbers-driven pastors may react with arrogance (like Diotrephes, 3 John 9), when programs that fill the pews and plates are questioned.
(See Wall St Journal story of 9/5/06 by Suzanne Sataline) 1 But a humble heart fears no inquiry. See John 8:40-47.
“These are they who make separations, sensual, not having the Spirit.” – Jude 19
In 1825, church reformer Alexander Campbell wrote a stinging satire of the pompous clergy of his day. His words are a timely rebuke of religious marketers of every sort : “Those who have “freely received” let them freely give, and let not men have your words without money nor without price, but bargain ye for hundreds and bargain for thousands, even for thousands of silver and gold shall ye bargain…And the more that the people give you the more will they honor you: for they shall believe that in giving to you they are giving to the Lord: for behold their sight shall be taken from them, and they shall be blind as bats, and shall know not what they do.”
– 3 rd Peter 4:5,8 2
The Baal of Many People, has snared many. Jesus promised he would be with as few as two, who gather in his name. Gnostic teachers had already left true disciples when John wrote his first letter, 2:18-19. John's final words there are still a warning for us all: "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." - 1 John 5:21
“Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:21
9/11/06
1 http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB115741786888753373-lMyQjAxMDE2NTA3NTQwMTU3Wj.html
2 http://www.theexaminer.org/volume7/number2/wisdom.htm