Marginal Christianity

Warnings to and about the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt.16:1-12) Pharisees and Sadducees are not naturally allies. Much divided them, particularly belief in the resurrection. One who believes in it believes the world can be fundamentally changed. One who does not sticks with the powers that be and the way things are. The two had very different ideas about how Israel should be God’s people, especially viz-a-viz Rome (as we have seen). For them to collaborate against Jesus, to catch him up in a way to discredit or destroy him (v.1), each sense in him a threat to their way of being Israel so strong that can unite in the project to do away with him. They challenge him to perform a sign for them (one they could use to turn the people and/or the authorities against him). The issue at the heart of this confrontation is the same as it was for their ancient forebears who, freed from Egypt by God’s mighty act of deliverance, grumble and gripe in the wilderness soon afterward and ask G...

“Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”                                                                                                                                                                ...

The Church’s Temptations The devil tested Jesus by offering him three (false) ways of being Messiah and, thus, three ways of being God’s people. Ways that would offer no challenge to satanic rule over the world. Ironically, each of these three entangle God’s people in colluding with devilish designs in substantial ways. We begin here because this bad news or our collusion with the enemy sets a necessary negative foil for our reflections in this presentation. Consumerism : Jesus was tempted to provide bread for the masses. He rejected this temptation by pointing to the primacy and sufficiency of God’s Word. Rebuffed by Jesus, that old snake continued to ply God’s people with the same temptation. “Give the people what they want! Meet their felt needs! Feed them! Clothe them! Satisfy their needs and wants. Even in church, present God as the great vendor of religious services who will service their every spiritual need! Make consumers of them! They’ll love you and flock ...