the religious reich
So, this is obviously a shameless pun on Reich sounding like right (comparing the modern “religious right” conservatism in America to the socialist Nazi movement under Hitler). Let me make this clear before we begin, I do not believe the religious American Conservatives to be anything like the third Reich, you should understand what I mean as you read further.
Today, I was reading Matt 9.27-38 for a daily devotion I do. In these verses, an interesting occurrence is recorded. Jesus is performing miracles, people are being healed, resurrected, and freed from demon possession, and the people (Bible calls them the “multitudes” in 9.33) are almost convinced it was a Messianic power that was doing these things. Understand, in this day of Jewish culture everyone was awaiting the coming One, the promised Messiah. It is similar to how many evangelicals today are sitting on the edge of their seat looking for the coming of the rapture and end times, almost as if just hoping to find an excuse to develop a theory about how the day of the Lord will occur in the next few months. While the day of the Lord may be in a few months, it is that anticipation and looking that I want to focus on. That was the atmosphere in 1st century Judaism. Many even mistook John the Baptist for that coming One, and he had to tell them otherwise (see John 1).
So, the people are seeing Jesus do things that seemingly could only be done by someone who was of God. The silence on God’s part for the past 400 years or so surely built the social tension of looking for the Messiah to come. And finally, after many years of waiting, looking, hoping, and hearing nothing from God, a man comes on the scene doing great and mighty Messianic-type works. No wonder they pondered to themselves His true identity.
However, to spite the heart of the people, the Religious Reich felt differently. Those whose responsibility it was to lead Israel to a relationship with the Living God, were the ones who opposed Him. While the Bible there says the multitudes marveled, it also says the Pharisees blasphemed, and ascribed to the Son of God the attributes, motives, and power of the Devil (9.34).
Religious leaders must stay close to the hearts of the people. Obviously, it goes without saying that we must stay true to God first, and let everything else pale. In doing that, we must also recognize what he is doing among our people. Too many pastors and teachers have no idea what is going on in the average pew on Sunday. Few of them even have contact with the people they “Pastor”. And when that is the case, even if the whole congregation knows something, it may be the religious Reich that takes them in another direction. Away from their desires, their wonders, their own walk with God’s leading, and ultimately from the very Son Himself.
God help us to be mindful of your working among our people. May our hearts be intertwined with those to whom we minister, and may your Son always have precedence in our directing. Amen.
