Dealing with Honest Concerns
Scripture – John 5:14-18: Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Sometimes it’s hard to be open as I read these Bible stories because they are so familiar, and I know who Jesus is. Yet, if I step back a bit, I find myself sitting with “the Jews” more than I’d like to admit. From their point of view, Jesus had done a couple of very troubling things. He knowingly and intentionally broke the Sabbath law – almost thumbing His nose at it. And He claimed equality with God, which no person can have. So we have a popular teacher/healer who’s gaining in popularity. At the same time, He’s leading people away from the Law, and He’s making false claims about who He is and who God is. I would be wary, too. However, there surely is a more productive way to deal with such concerns than killing someone. Where is the line between maintaining an open dialogue and compromising our faith?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will look for examples of what, to me, are questionable teachings. I will identify points of my own faith at which I’m not open to change. I will make sure those are based in scripture rather than tradition.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Give me a wise and discerning spirit, Lord. Please help me recognize false teaching and confront it. And give me grace to encourage truth when I see it. Show me the difference between defending my faith and acting out of jealousy. Actually, remind me that true faith doesn’t need defending.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Sometimes it’s hard to be open as I read these Bible stories because they are so familiar, and I know who Jesus is. Yet, if I step back a bit, I find myself sitting with “the Jews” more than I’d like to admit. From their point of view, Jesus had done a couple of very troubling things. He knowingly and intentionally broke the Sabbath law – almost thumbing His nose at it. And He claimed equality with God, which no person can have. So we have a popular teacher/healer who’s gaining in popularity. At the same time, He’s leading people away from the Law, and He’s making false claims about who He is and who God is. I would be wary, too. However, there surely is a more productive way to deal with such concerns than killing someone. Where is the line between maintaining an open dialogue and compromising our faith?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will look for examples of what, to me, are questionable teachings. I will identify points of my own faith at which I’m not open to change. I will make sure those are based in scripture rather than tradition.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Give me a wise and discerning spirit, Lord. Please help me recognize false teaching and confront it. And give me grace to encourage truth when I see it. Show me the difference between defending my faith and acting out of jealousy. Actually, remind me that true faith doesn’t need defending.
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