26 September 2021
What scandals have you heard
about in the past month? How did they affect you?
Scandals. Like
gossip. Create news. Headlines. And the patter and chatter of talk shows.
Politicians and entertainers. Cause the public concern. With their dress. Their
lifestyle. Or their secrets. Indeed. Scandal not only drives public opinion. It
can increase profits for media. And visibility for publicity-hungry persons.
The biggest PR myth
of all states. “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” Which
suggests. Even if they're saying awful things about you. The publicity is
supposed to still be good. Because your name is on the top of people's minds. Keeping
you relevant. And in some cases. This might be true. For a season.
Yet, the idea that
there's no such thing as bad publicity. Is laughable. It's totally insane.
When it comes to
the Church. Scandal multiplies problems. Not only does the community lose
faith. The community loses face. With potential converts. Church scandal also
gives those who oppose the faith reason for harassment. But. What happens when
the scandal within the Church is caused - by the good of non-believers?
Lord, thank
You for Your work through the lives of others. Lead me to welcome those
miracles and mercies that You show through every one of Your people. Grant
us the lasting faith that can persevere through every trial. Empty our heads of
anything that competes with You, and let us hold firmly to You eternally.
“John said to
HIM, "TEACHER, we saw someone expelling demons in YOUR name and we were
forbidding him because he was not following us.
But JESUS said, "Do not forbid him. For there is no one who will do
powerful things in my name and will be able to quickly speaking ill of me.
For, who is not against us is in behalf of us.
For, whoever might give you a drink (from) a cup of water on the grounds that
you are of Christ, again; I say to you that he will definitely not lose his
earnings.” (VV. 38-41)
John objects to
this outsider healing in Jesus' name. John's question seems to say: "How
dare He! This outsider should be one of us!"
Jesus turned the
objection to the question of discipleship. No matter how small the kind act. No
one. Who does good. In the name of Jesus. Should be stopped. In fact. Anyone
who did not oppose Jesus and His movement. Were considered potential friends
and benefactors. This outward world view allowed Christianity to grow rapidly.
Anyone and everyone
was a potential Christian. Friendship began with a simple act of kindness. It
began with a single act of charity. The good others did for Christ. And His
followers. Did matter!
But what good were
the disciples doing? Scandal is an attitude or behavior. Which leads another to
do evil.
Jesus said, “Do
not scandalize one of these little ones trusting in ME. It is better that you go into eternal life deformed.” The weight of the statement was simple. Not
only could sinners. The "deformed" enter the Kingdom. But the
righteous. Those with "two hands." Could suffer eternal punishment!
(Vv.41-43)
How has your practice of the
faith challenged others? Did it invite others to join? Or, did it cause others
to step away? Which is worse? To cause scandal? Or to be scandalized? Neither
advance faith, only egos. Both can destroy faith and community participation.
Both can lead to spiritual death.
When believers
cause scandal. It is a challenge away from faith. But. When God causes scandal.
It challenges us towards faith. God's "scandal" happened when He
rejected His Son at the cross. There. Stretched out on wood. Jesus was cut off
out of the land of the living. When the Son of God entered this world. ‘He
took upon Himself all your embarrassments. All your disappointments. And
regrets. All the sins you've only realized later. Much to your shock and
appall.
Jesus came neither to impress you. Nor to be
impressed by you. He came to save you. He took your sins as His. Suffered and
died in your place. He received the punishment you deserve. So you won't.
Have you ever felt conflicted in your
spiritual life? Gone from great to little. From high to low? Behold His cross. And understand. He knows
your every sorrow. And see. He has taken it all away. All away to His grave. He
died for everything that pains you. For on the third day. He rose victorious
from it all.
In the glory of this His resurrection. He
declares and pronounces. That you are righteous before God's heavenly throne.
That your sins are forgiven. That the gates of heaven are now opened to you.
You are forgiven.’[2]
Jesus wanted an
increase in faith. Not scandal. So place your focus on Christ. More of
Him. And less of you. Trust not in your own merits. Your own strength.
Your own understanding. Instead. Place your trust and confidence in Jesus. He bore the scandal of the cross. To give you both. A hope and a future.
Passive Sentences-5%
Reading Level-3.4
Readability -80.7%
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