Unlikely teammates

Today's passage comes from the book of Mark. All of today's readings can be found here.

"And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not? But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. And they brought one. And he said to them, Whose likeness and inscription is this? They said to him, Caesar's. Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him." - Mark 12:13-17 (ESV)

In today's passage, we see a very interesting interaction between three opposing parties - the Pharisees, the Herodians, and Jesus. You see, the Pharisees were very adamant about the freedom of the nation of Israel from foreign rule, while the Herodians were very adamant about the right of Rome to govern any conquered land, and Jesus - well He was doing what He always does - bringing glory and honor to the Father and preaching the Good News brought through Himself.

We see in the verses before this passage that the Pharisees were trying to bring allegations against Jesus in order to bring down the public's view of Him, and ultimately to garner support for their plans to imprison Him. You see - the Pharisees preached just what Jesus preached against. They were all about the law, while Jesus was all about the grace of the Father. While Jesus talked about the spirit of the law, they kept the letter of it, adding more to it so as to make themselves seem more holy. While they fruitlessly searched the scriptures, Jesus fulfilled them and called sinners and gentiles to righteousness - the same people that the Pharisees were not even willing to associate with.

The Herodians were a little simpler - they wanted to make sure no one was committing treason by claiming that taxes were not to be paid to Caesar and that Jesus was not 'disturbing the peace', and here we see two unlikely teammates gear up for battle.

Does this seem familiar? How often do we choose our friends, our teammates, or our coworkers not on the basis of what (or who) they love, but what (or who) they hate? We as Christians are so quick to lash out at each other and band together against those who are faithfully trying to preach the gospel because they missed a minor point in some obscure text. Granted all scripture is God breathed and profitable, and we are to be students of the scriptures as we seek the Lord and His righteousness, but at what point does 'love cover a multitude of sins' within the church? We are so quick to show love, mercy, and compassion to a pagan, but when it comes to reading a book by a ________ (insert denominational categorization here), we throw up our hands in disbelief that anyone would even suggest that, committing to pray for "that heretic's salvation"! Amillenialists rail against Dispensationalists, Emergents criticize Evangelicals, Presbyterians wreak havoc with Baptists, and somewhere in the middle of all this ruckus the message of Christ is lost.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we should not engage in theological discussion - we should, and anyone who knows me personally can testify to the fact that this is my favorite activity - but when the discussion turns to bickering and the biblical reprimand morphs to personal reproach, what is gained? More importantly - what is lost?

If someone is truly and fully seeking Christ - should we first try to encourage them or break them down? To the world looking on - would we rather them see a Church in constant internal turmoil or a Church full of compassion for one another? There are issues worth separating for, and issues that are not. May the Lord grant us the grace to know the difference.

I leave you with the words of the Orange County Supertones:

No more time
for us to bicker and complain,
If we're called by the same name,
there's nowhere for us to lay the blame,
except for ourselves.
And if we died to our old selves
we've come alive as God's flesh,
that makes us family.
Deeper than death,
but we don't act so tight
when there's a back to bite.
Are we less like a family, and
more like a fistfight?
Are we there, but not quite
are hypocrites children of light?

And can we sing with one voice,
if we all love the same God?
Can we agree to disagree?
And so we cry with one voice
to the only God in all the universe-
who holds us in His hands.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the fellowship you have so graciously given me in the universal Church. I thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ, wherever they are and however they worship - I thank you that you call men and women to yourself and to love you with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Father guide me, and show me when it is profitable to speak up, and when it is necessary to hold my tongue. I love you, and recognize that I am a lowly sinner who can only see but the smallest part of your eternal glory. Help me to walk humbly in Your sight and in that of the body of Christ. Amen.


-MD Letteney