April 11th, 2022: Temple Court Clearance

 

John 2: 14-16

"In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

Greed is one of the well-known human struggles.

We can turn a worship place into a money-making machine without any trouble.

Nothing can be worse than a tithing talk that lasts longer than a sermon.

It is sometimes full of guilt and manipulation.

We seem to forget that worship time is supposed for the people.

When money becomes the real focus, we are indeed in serious trouble.

What happens to prayer and praise?

Are we so lost in our own spiritual malaise?

We are after huge buildings and mega-church estates.

So we can worship a bantam god who we have created.

The Gospel is no longer the central theme of our teaching.

It is about feeling good philosophy and self-help babbling.

Greed is not just about money but power and fame.

How many pastors have modelled themselves after the Hollywood game?

We forget that God will express His righteous anger.

We learn about that when Jesus decided to clear the temple.

Now it is time for us to engage in some self-reflection.

So we can prepare ourselves to be people of transformation.