A Deeper Look...

I hadn't planned on doing a "part II", if you will to yesterday's prayer regarding the Good Samaritan... that was why I included the Levites, as temple ministers under the leadership of the priests, in their response (or lack of one, as it were). Yet the more I thought about it, I couldn't help but wonder...

The temple minister had the same response response as the priest. I know it's just a story, but the whole point of the parables, is the element that their exists a "parallel" truth, if you will. So, I wonder...

Was their something gone wrong in the temple (church) culture that prompted both the priest and minister to pass over this man? (And not only that, went out of their way to avoid them!)

Was their something in the leadership style of the priest, that influenced those underneath him... perhaps, setting an example (albeit a wrong one) that the affairs of the temple were more important than the cares of the people?

Did they both share an attitude, that now that they were in leadership, they expected the actually work of offering care to be carried out by the parishioners and those in the fellowship that they were leading?

While this was a dangerous road, it was often traveled. The understanding (and perhaps assumed) is that these incidents happened with some sort of frequency. Who else had the "passed by on the other side?"

These are hard questions, I know. But what has changed?

Are churches not more busy than ever?
Do ministries and meetings not take even more time and planning?
Are we not more concerned with teaching the church how to be the church, rather than just stepping out and doing what God has for us?
Do pastors not use their influence to delegate many items and circumstances for someone else to solve or call for others to offer assistance?

As you consider these questions, keep modern day temple ministers, in your prayers, this #associatePastorTuesday. Pray that schedules and plans would not stand in the way of recognizing the needs and dire circumstances that surround us. Pray that church and its' leadership would be people of action, not just of vision... to not just see problems, but to resolve them. May the caring of those in need to be left to others, whether they be individuals or organizations, but that the church would be first responders. May associates and others in church leadership have the insight and boldness to speak, when Senior Pastors and head priests or executive leadership steps away or moves in directions that are out of alignment with Scripture. In this day and time, when it's easy to lose our influence and impact with the world, under the guise of popularity and political correctness, among many other circumstances, may the church remain true to what it is.

The body of Christ.
Representative of the person of Jesus.
To be used by God
In ways that would prompt a lost and dying world
To understand who He is and come into right relationship with Him.
Over these things, we pray.

- PNC