Day 20 – Heart’s Attitude
As I write this, I want to reiterate that I myself am a recovering Pharisee. Imagine Jesus sharing this woe in today’s churches, temples, or mosques:
Matthew 23:15 (ESV)
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”
Hear it again in modern words from The Message:
Matthew 23:15 (MSG)
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.”
With a sense of caution, please allow me to try to paraphrase:
You raise money, and send missionaries around the world, but instead of preaching Me, Jesus Christ, you carry the message of greed, materialism, self, nationalism, and in some cases, violence, and instead of bringing about life transformation, you help people become twice the sinner!
Is there any question on how that message would be received today? I know it would make me bristle! But, I hope it would also make me check my deepest heart’s attitude.
What is your heart’s attitude today? How will you respond to Jesus?
Rev. Andy Bales
President/CEO of Union Rescue Mission