John 2

Drawing the Line

Jesus always has and always does know where to draw the line. I don’t. I walk into church each Sunday and often don’t question what is happening around me. I pour myself a cup of brewed coffee from the provided push pots, visit with fellow attendees, find my seat and join in the first song as it begins. What I don’t usually notice is what is or is not happening that Jesus would disapprove of.

Read John 2:12-19. In this passage Jesus has absolutely no tolerance for “business” people in the synagogue. Israelites were traveling from all over to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, particularly at Passover. Corrupt priests would tell pilgrims their sacrifice was unclean and sell a healthy, unblemished animal at an exorbitant price. Furthermore, these pilgrims would have to exchange their foreign currency to buy the animals. The moneychangers would charge outrageous exchange rates, therefore gauging even more.

I have to ask myself was there anyone in the congregation who was questioning these practices before Jesus came in. Was there anyone who noticed or knew better and was trying to get it to stop? Did anyone outside the priests have a voice that would make a difference?

Culture has changed so much since the days when Jesus was physically on earth. In 30 some years I have never seen anyone selling a dove or any other foul in the sanctuary or for that matter in the building. But I have to ask myself what is the equivalent?

Is there anything in your church or church community that you know is beyond the line Jesus has drawn? Are we ever making excuses for selling things in the church in the name of ministry, or comfort? When we do this are we shutting out outside business and witnessing opportunities?

The answer here may be no. Take a moment this week to really look at your church service and community to examine whether anything seems to not fit with what Jesus had in mind for us. Is there something you can do about it? Are you ready to start?