Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” [Matthew 15:12-14 NLT]
Jesus has offended the religious leaders by comparing them to vain people.
He calls them people who honor God with their lips but have hearts alienated from Him.
He further compares them to blind guides who are leading their followers astray.
The tension between Jesus and the Pharisees seems to increase as the story continues.
In these verses He indicates that these fundamentalists are not ordained by the Father.
His instructions to ignore them is a compelling one for people like me.
I wonder when I should stop conversations with people who embrace different views.
I have a hard time doing that - especially online with people who have egos like mine. ツ
Maybe I need to learn to ignore those with pharisaical attitudes alone?
That seems to be the heart of why Jesus advises us to ignore leaders like this.
For years I was manipulated by a fundamentalist leader who brought out the worst in me.
I would have been wise to ignore much of the teaching that I once embraced.
Lord help me to avoid useless religious conversations.
... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
Good thoughts, Bob. It's sometimes hard to know when a discussion has ceased being beneficial and has become pointless. May God give us the discernment to recognize that point.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the idea of leaving them alone is difficult. I think perhaps the issue is one of blindness. If you converse and there is an open discussion, great. I someone insists their interpretation is the only possible correct one, then what hope is there?
ReplyDeleteIt is worth noting that Christ was talking about church leaders - people whose finances and importance are wrapped up in maintaining a particular theology.
ReplyDeleteI will engage lay-people (but only until it becomes fruitless,) but will generally not engage church leaders and pastors - unless they come to me. (my brother in law is an exception)
I also don't go to other peoples "homes" including blogs - in order to start a theological argument.
the more important questions is what the other theology involves. If it's a false religion that cannot save, the matter of first importance is spreading the gospel.