How often do we ever get the chance to chat about really makes us angry? I'm not talking about, " The SUV driver cut me off and then pulled right into the mall!" or " They didn't have my favorite _______ at the store and I'm really ticked!" kind of mad. I'm talking about the kind of angry that we get when we see, witness, or experience something that requires an action or reaction from us.
At book club a little while ago we were discussing the passage in Mark where Jesus trashes the temple. Jesus is really ticked off in this situation, so we asked each other why this was. Thanks to a little thinking and pondering of the story, as well a one of our attendees knowledge of how the Jewish Temple was set up, we've gathered these particular insights as to why Jesus was so angry with what was going on.
The area that the money changers and sales was taking place was a place that was supposed to be reserved for "All the nations" to come and pray to God.
While there was some division in the worship space of the temple - there was a place for the Gentiles (non-Jewish folk) to worship.
Jesus was angry with the people who had allowed this trading to take place, those who were exchanging money in this place, and because sacrificial animals were being sold inside of the temple (instead of at the market) at inflated rates in a place that had been set apart for prayer and worship.
It would be something like setting up a mall inside the church sanctuary. Shopping and trading of money would be taking the place of a space reserved for worship. Before you know it, the function of a place of worship and caring for the needs of others would be subverted into becoming a place dedicated to commerce and the gaining wealth. The place that was to be reserved for all people to come and worship, would become yet another place where people are defined by the money they have (or don't have) in order to participate in community.
Sometimes, if churches are not careful, they can choose activities and gatherings for a limited percentage of members to participate in. They can limit the welcome extended to people by simply making many hoops to jump through in order to become part of the community.
When I think of the way Jesus worked with others there are several descriptive words that come to mind: honest, sincere, risky, welcoming, loving, challenging, patient, authentic. If the followers of Jesus were to follow after some of those traits more than taking care of secluded malls of commerce, they might be surprised to see some new faces entering the space of worship. The challenge though is implementing these Christ-like characteristics in the world we live in first.
If the principles we say are so important to us in worship on Sunday truly are life-giving, than why do we reserve them for Sundays alone?
Jesus anger in the temple was in response to the greed and bias of those inside the temple being totally obsessed with their own wants. Narcissism, obsession with self, proved to be a trait that Jesus knew could poison to the life and health of the church. That is why he over turned tables that day. It is necessary for Christians as individuals and church members to consider how our concern for self can sometimes cause us to gain the attitude of a money changer.
On an average day do the needs, injustices, and discrimination's towards others anger us enough to do something to help, or are we too busy changing money to notice? If we turn some tables over we may finally see there is someone else out there that is more important. In fact there is a whole wide world full of reasons to get up from our tables and see who Jesus was willing to upset the temple for.
At book club a little while ago we were discussing the passage in Mark where Jesus trashes the temple. Jesus is really ticked off in this situation, so we asked each other why this was. Thanks to a little thinking and pondering of the story, as well a one of our attendees knowledge of how the Jewish Temple was set up, we've gathered these particular insights as to why Jesus was so angry with what was going on.
The area that the money changers and sales was taking place was a place that was supposed to be reserved for "All the nations" to come and pray to God.
While there was some division in the worship space of the temple - there was a place for the Gentiles (non-Jewish folk) to worship.
Jesus was angry with the people who had allowed this trading to take place, those who were exchanging money in this place, and because sacrificial animals were being sold inside of the temple (instead of at the market) at inflated rates in a place that had been set apart for prayer and worship.
It would be something like setting up a mall inside the church sanctuary. Shopping and trading of money would be taking the place of a space reserved for worship. Before you know it, the function of a place of worship and caring for the needs of others would be subverted into becoming a place dedicated to commerce and the gaining wealth. The place that was to be reserved for all people to come and worship, would become yet another place where people are defined by the money they have (or don't have) in order to participate in community.
Sometimes, if churches are not careful, they can choose activities and gatherings for a limited percentage of members to participate in. They can limit the welcome extended to people by simply making many hoops to jump through in order to become part of the community.
When I think of the way Jesus worked with others there are several descriptive words that come to mind: honest, sincere, risky, welcoming, loving, challenging, patient, authentic. If the followers of Jesus were to follow after some of those traits more than taking care of secluded malls of commerce, they might be surprised to see some new faces entering the space of worship. The challenge though is implementing these Christ-like characteristics in the world we live in first.
If the principles we say are so important to us in worship on Sunday truly are life-giving, than why do we reserve them for Sundays alone?
Jesus anger in the temple was in response to the greed and bias of those inside the temple being totally obsessed with their own wants. Narcissism, obsession with self, proved to be a trait that Jesus knew could poison to the life and health of the church. That is why he over turned tables that day. It is necessary for Christians as individuals and church members to consider how our concern for self can sometimes cause us to gain the attitude of a money changer.
On an average day do the needs, injustices, and discrimination's towards others anger us enough to do something to help, or are we too busy changing money to notice? If we turn some tables over we may finally see there is someone else out there that is more important. In fact there is a whole wide world full of reasons to get up from our tables and see who Jesus was willing to upset the temple for.
Comments
Thanks for posting this, m'dear.
I'm very often saying " Why can't we all just get along." It's freeing to realize that some table turning is sometimes necessary.