Keeping Religious People Happy

As a pastor, have you ever looked in the mirror on a Monday morning and asked yourself, “What are we as a church doing? What am I as a pastor doing?” Do you wonder if you’re simply keeping religious people happy instead of doing what Jesus did? If not, then stop reading now and go back to your favorite podcast. But if you have, then keep reading. You and I are in the same boat, and we need to encounter the irreligious message of Jesus.
Imagine this scene. Jesus and his disciples are at a wedding (John 2:1-12) when His mother comes to tell Him that there’s no more wine. The implication: You, Jesus, need to do something.
Of course Jesus is reluctant and tells His mother, “My time has not yet come.” Mary, in true mom fashion, completely ignores Jesus’ hesitation and tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you to do.” I can imagine Jesus’ exasperation as, at the behest of his mother, He tells the servants to fill up the stone pots with water.
The servants follow Jesus’ instruction and fill the pots with water, which promptly turns into wine. Problem solved, right? Well, sort of. Filling these particular pots with wine rendered them useless for the religious ceremonial washing for which they were intended. Do you see the problem?
I suppose some people at the wedding—those who were really religious—got upset with Jesus. His miracle made it difficult for them to follow their formulaic religious rituals. Conversely, I bet those in attendance who were thirsty were really pleased.
Here is a stark reality. The religious people could get more water to cleanse themselves of their ritual uncleanness apart from the presence of Jesus. But the thirsty people could not get more wine without the presence of our Savior.
As I processed this passage I came to the following conclusion. If I am serious about living according to the mission of Jesus, I need to be more concerned with giving thirsty people a drink than I am about keeping religious people happy.
I also came to a second conclusion. If I am to live like Jesus I must be willing to embrace the cost package associated with such a life-style. If I am to live like Jesus I must, “Take up my cross, put my hand to the plow and not look back, let the dead bury the dead, turn the other cheek, rejoice in suffering, see death as gain, love my brothers and sister in Christ as myself…” That’s harder. Don’t you think? It’s harder because it’s more than just theory, it is action.

4 Responses to “Keeping Religious People Happy”

1. jtonsofun says:

   March 21, 2011 at 10:46 am

   I wonder if what the religious folk needed was also a drink and not finding their own water for ritual cleansing. For too many of us who have been believers or at least in the church for a long time we have come to believe that our ritual cleansing is what makes us righteous, instead of resting in the living water that only Jesus offers. Both groups, the fun, festive, partying sinners & the somber, self-righteous, religious need the same thing – deep drinks of what Jesus has offered – Grace.
2. tatethegreat says:

   March 21, 2011 at 2:16 pm

   I whole heartedly agree with @jtonsofun. So many times we get caught up in, “doing things for God” that we forget that our primary task as followers of the way is to sit at the feet of Jesus and take in his fullness. Only from here is true service rendered to the King.
3. Dennis Moles says:

   March 22, 2011 at 6:55 am

   I think you both are hitting on a very important point. We all need the living water of Christ even if we don’t know that we are thirsty. I know I sure need more long refreshing drinks of it.
4. Kris says:

   March 22, 2011 at 11:27 am

   Great points. Last week I met with my Elder board to do a SWOT analysis and we analyzed our ministries and realized that about 96% of our time, money, and energy goes into building current believers verses equipping believers for ministry and winning new believers.

   Seems like 96% of the time we’re having a feast for ourselves, and we tend to throw the scaps to those around us. Hopefully we can reorient soon.