CHRIST BY HIS MINISTERS - STILL NO BETTER TREATED

by Adam Harbinson

I’ve been fascinated by something I read recently by Matthew Henry, that highly respected eighteenth century theologian and clergyman, and I was surprised by his radical views. Speaking of his contemporaries three hundred years ago, this is what he said; ‘Christ in his Spirit, in his word, and by his ministers, is still no better treated. By a thousand devices they make religion give way to their worldly interests.’  

Perhaps the reason I was so gripped by what he said was that it resonated with two of the most significant turning points in my life. The first one was when it dawned on me that it was religious leaders who demanded the death of Jesus, and the second was when I saw that many of them are still at it. That’s what Matthew Henry was saying, ‘…by his ministers he is still no better treated.’

By any standards that’s remarkable, although precisely how they treat Jesus badly is a topic for another day, but it helps us understand what Jesus meant when he said, ‘On judgment day many will say to me, “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.” But I will reply, “I never knew you.”’

That’s what’s been occupying my thoughts for the last couple of weeks, the fact that there are people who prophecy, who cast out demons, and who even claim Christ’s authority to perform miracles, to whom he will say, ‘I never knew you.’ A bit mind-blowing that isn’t it? I mean, who are these men and women? You can be pretty sure you won’t find them in the pubs and clubs, for if they’re prophesying, that is, uttering divinely inspired revelations, they’re probably preachers. And if they’re doing convincing stuff like casting out demons and performing miracles the chances are they’re seen as influential Charismatics.

Could it be that those who have rejected religion have seen through the charade and have toddled off? Could that be why so many who are disenchanted with religion but haven’t yet got around to rejecting it, only ‘hang in there’ because it’s respectable to be seen in church on a Sunday?

Are the ministers who treat Jesus as badly as ever he was, really ministers? If so, are they continuing to ‘play their little game’ because their status in the community demands it? And if they’re not, why haven’t they been removed from their pulpits?  Does it suit the drowsy masses whose pious bums warm pews on a Sunday morning to allow the Great Deception to continue unabated? Are they fearful that a blast of inconvenient truth might have the same effect on them that a shaft of sunlight has on the living dead?

Big questions, but they’re questions that we need to confront if we ever hope to understand something of what life, religion, spirituality and God are all about.

Maybe New Year Resolutions aren’t your thing, but wouldn’t it be great if we all began to ask awkward questions of ourselves for a change?