Just after his baptism, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tested. At stake in these tests is what kind of Messiah will Jesus be?
He faces three temptations:
1. Use his power to turn stones into bread.
2. Throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple and force God to save him, while claiming a promise from a proof text suppled by the devil himself.
3. Become the king of the world the easy way–by making a deal with the devil.
Even though Jesus responds to each test decisively, he’ll continue to face them in a variety of forms throughout the rest of his ministry. Crowds will beg for a miracle. Skeptics will demand a sign. Followers will do their best to make him into a conventional king. Jesus resists these temptations and instead charts his own path all the way to cross and out of the tomb.
The church faces similar temptations. As we face each temptation, we’re answering the question: What kind of church will we be?
We are tempted to:
1. Resort to gimmicks to try and draw a crowd.
2. Manipulate God with superstitious faith.
3. Employ quick-fixes to solve complex problems.
Can we say no to these temptations and yes to the way of Jesus?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade, I really like this.
I think we take number one farther than resorting to gimmicks.
I think trying to manipulate our classes, churches and small groups with some sort of fervor falls into that same category. I have only been a Christian for 17 years but I have already observed and participated in driving agendas. I guess my counterparts and I knew better than the church leadership. It bothers me greatly.
Number two goes farther as well. We not only define God on our own terms but we abuse scripture. We assign God’s name to our own agendas.
Finally, we don’t trust God. We often look for the easy way. It may not always be as clear as selling our souls, but we often trust in ourselves rather than God.
Wade,
All three of your points are enlightening and I believe need further thought & study; but I wish to comment only on number 2.
Our being, believing, and acting in a superstitious manner has been of concern to me for some time. Specifically, I am concerned about our prayers (& as a window to our thoughts.. our basic beliefs). Those I can know about….in the assembly, or e-mails, etc… seem to me that though we should be concerned with the sick, we sometimes devote an excessive amount of time to this important aspect of our prayer life and leave other aspects completely out, or as grandma used to say…..’go begging’.
Where is our praise of God….of thankfulness to HIM?….or do we just ask for things? …and when we do, are we asking for what God has taught us to ask for, or are we asking in a superstitious manner?
For instance, asking that a baby be a boy or girl AFTER it is already conceived….does one want God to change the sex in ‘mid-stream’?
I may not be very clar…but I would like to see more study on how we are superstitious, and also more concentration on how we are(& are not) to pray.
Thanks for all your writings,
j.
Wade,
Excellent post brother.
Good thoughts for the new year, Wade.
I think it is interesting that in Matthew 4:10 when Jesus says, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’”, that he uses two words that are found in Scripture related to worship, proskuneo and latreuo, “bowing before God” and “service” are their meanings. Hopefully this kind of humble posture before God and attitude toward God will help to avoid the arrogance that often leads to the temptations that you mentioned.
Peace.
This is an excellent post. And these temptations are true to the church today.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
There were a few parts I almost clapped for on Sunday. Great stuff here.
The real question on the first point to me is the distinction between what is and is not a gimmick. I feel that sometimes more traditional members of Christianity call some new ideas “gimmicks” for no other reason than that they are different than the way things have always been done. This point needs a lot of clarification before it is truly applicable, in my opinion.
It seems, like so any things, there is truth in this teaching but there is also a self-righteous pitfall that we all need to avoid.
Nouwen does a similar thing with the three temptations regarding church leadership. He calls them the temptation to a) relevant b) spectacular c) powerful.
Good stuff.
really good post.
We live in Brazil, serving the Lord. I was raised in the churches of Christ … blessed by parents who loved and honored the Lord. . and I loved HIM even as a young child.
The road of my walk with Him has had many twists and turns… but He’s been holding my hand each step of the way
The path you are walking is not easy.. but may God watch over you and protect you… and you and your congregation grow daily closer to the Lord. For He is truly the reason!
Blessings.
Every temptation hurled at Jseus was to influence Him to not be a cross Savior. Be a bread Savior. Be a worldly Savior. Be a popular Savior. But do not be a suffering Savior. Why endure the pain of an arrest , trials and a cross ; just be popular .
Same with the church. We can be tempted , distracted from the mandate to reach the lost with the gospel . Be a social gospel church. Use the worldly methods for church growth. Be seeker sensitive, ask the community what they want ; do not give them what God knows they need. Do not preach about sin and and wrath. Limit saying very much about a cross and the shedding of blood. Not much about a voluntary substitutionary atonement. Dumb down the language Never call for repentance. Be careful about making disciples who deny themselves. Tell everyone that they are ok and preach a health and wealth, prosperity gospel. Just make sure you do not go the way of the cross.
very thought provoking… thanks!
This post, which is a great one, prompted a great discussion at DevelopingWorship, a forum for worship musicians, worship leaders, and worshippers…
http://developingworship.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=229
Wade,
I’m only getting about 50% of the podcast. Might it have a glitch? What I’m hearing up untill it quits is great stuff.
I hate gimmicks and fund raisers! That’s what clubs and other sectarian organizations do. I think it’s degrading to the church. The elders should only have to present the need(s) and the congregation should respond without having to be entertained for their donations.
I’m a fairly new Christian who was raised and schooled in church and spent the first twenty years of my life around people I felt were mostly hypocrites. I always made fun of the hokey stuff some churches did to “attract” people to church services. What was really telling was what our friends thought who actually went to these things. They were just “shows”; entertainment and not much else. Even as an unbelieving church-goer I appreciated a sound gospel message a lot more than the light fare so many teach.