Religion is broken and an end is coming

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

For anyone who hadn't already got the point, Jesus made it very clear that religious life was broken. This was not a mistake by God, but a result of the trap that leaders had fallen into by swapping God’s authority for their own.

These leaders simply did not get the point of what God had given them to administer. So in their attempts to regulate people’s behaviour while trying to maintain an appearance that everything was good with themselves, leaders puffed themselves up with pride even as they crashed into hypocrisy and failure.

I wonder how much they knew that before Jesus called it out in the most uncompromising way. How much did Jesus enrage them because they knew he had hit on sensitive truth? They probably wanted the kingdom Jesus promised, but could not bear to face the repentance he called for because they were sure they were the solution, not the problem.

I can’t help being struck too by the end of the world. Why does Jesus talk about this? I think this might be the hardest part of the gospel to talk about with friends who don’t believe in God. But while they may not recognise him, I think we all recognise raging battles between good and evil, construction and destruction, not just around us but in us.

It reminds me of how angry and conflicted we can become when we consider climate change. How can we be the problem? How dare someone tell us what not to do! Could our trust in God and acceptance of his authority over us, changing what we do, grab the attention of anyone else who knows that the world must change or end?

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God is determined to renew our world and eliminate evil. He will do this decisively and with massive consequence for anyone choosing to oppose him, so he needs us to know that we are in a critical part of history right now. This is the time when we can choose what we want for our future. God gives us this choice because he loves us. The whole point is that those who want to can live fully in good relationship with God.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I need to be more honest with myself about where I’m sometimes part of a problem instead of faithfully being part of God’s solution. That includes more than my carbon footprint; when I emit anger instead of love, that is pollution God needs cleared up too.

Who am I going to share this with?

I know some Extinction Rebellion organisers who also follow Jesus – one is studying for ordination! I want to learn how they share about faith, authority and the end of the world.