Ekklesia - part two

A long time ago a girl was found locked up in a bathroom. When she was rescued she was almost a retard. She couldn't speak properly, eat properly, or even walk up straight. All this because her parents had locked her up ever since she was born. Whenever she wanted to step out she would shout, and end up being beaten within an inch of her life. Eventually doctors, examining her, had learnt that her DNA had been altered.

This is the state of the church in our times. Does that statement shock you? Let me explain why I’m writing this.

When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago His opponents were men of religion and tradition. These people, the Pharisees, locked up God’s word in a cage – the cage of tradition. Man-made traditions dominated the time in which Jesus lived. The Pharisees had even turned God’s name into a business. They twisted God’s laws and prophecies to keep the people’s attention away from the Christ in scriptures. Jesus became furious at these things and remarked.

… why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? (Matthew 15:3, NIV)

Again and again Jesus, the ultimate Revolutionary, confronted the Pharisees.

‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:7-8, New American Standard Bible)

Little do we realize that these man-made traditions are the very things tearing up the church today. These traditions prohibit Jesus from taking control and encourage men to ‘lord it over the flock'. These traditions create a barrier between believers and labels them ‘clergy’ and ‘laity’. These traditions destroys the beautiful bride of Christ and turns her into a retarded little girl.