Mark 3 RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS AND JESUS

People and churches have always had a natural tendency toward creating religous systems, which, in turn, destroy the relationship with God that they intend to have. That was true for the Jews. It is still true today.

In Jesus' day, the religious system focused on what could not be done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees took the Sabbath principle, which was made for the refreshment, renewal and re-creation of people, and put so many fences around it that it was turned into an ugly manifestation of the opposite. It became a day of limits and debate and hatred and plots of murder! How could this unbelievable turnaround happen? Apparently, it was not too difficult.

Here are three symptoms of a relationship with God turning into a religious system:

One. When I start focusing on wrong place or times or people for doing certain things, especially when those things would normally be good. Jesus was healing someone, and it only took a word from Him to do so, but because it was the wrong day, the Pharisees considered it to be evil. (3:2)

Two. When I start watching someone closely, especially with a plan to condemn. Perhaps the Pharisees even brought and planted that disabled man to the synagogue, not because they cared for his soul, but because he was bait for their hatred of Jesus. (3:2)

Three. When I am willing to compromise my stated values for the sake of what I see as a greater good, especially when I will cooperate with my enemies in order to break a law. Unbelievably, the Pharisees met with the Herodians (who were on the opposite end of the political spectrum) to plot together how to kill Jesus. And their meeting took place on the Sabbath, of all times! (3:2,6)

Jesus' question is more than valid: "Is it right to do good, or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?" (3:4) With a word, He did good and saved a life, and with their words, they plotted to harm and destroy. Who really broke the Sabbath that day?

I am making a note of it: religious systems categorize God's principles, and unwittingly wind up negating them! Plotting murder was never God's intent for the Sabbath!

Even today, in a new, non-traditional churches, there is a tendency to create such fences around our relationships as we live in community in Christ. We call them policies and programs, and in the name of doing good, we wind up in competition and power struggles. Praise God that He has protected our baby church from such struggles, but I well know the temptation to "organize" in order to mass-produce a relationship.

"LORD, thank You for the warnings in Scripture of what religious systems will do to Your body. Jesus, let me love You purely and without guile. You are marrying a Bride, not a machine. You want relationship with us, not just our compliance to Your laws. You have called me to love people, one at a time, and in Jesus' name, I would commit myself to that simple goal. May You be glorified now and forever, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God. Amen."
-ker