WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY NEED?

WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY NEED?

Mark 11, 12

The chief priests, scribes, and elders of the religious system “were afraid of the people; feared the people.”  They knew that Jesus “was true and did not care about anyone’s opinion; not swayed by appearances but truly taught the way of God.”  In the end they gave Jesus over to the people and they killed him.

Are not the churches of today doing the same thing?  Those in authority want numbers and to fill their buildings, and to do that they offer the people what the people say they need and want.  Often it seems like their needs are the ways of the world, only dressed up in religious garb.  People aren’t going to say or think they need to die to self, give everything away, or truly obey the laws of God.  They resemble the rich young man who said, “all these things I have kept from my youth” but was told by Jesus, “you lack one thing; go and sell all that you have.”

Good parents don’t ask their children what they need.  They, in good authority, give their children what they know their children need so that they will grow into healthy and whole adults.  Good churches would be wise to follow that pattern.  Fear of losing members or offending people is a terrible motivation and ends poorly in the long term.

People today, as always, need to be “truly taught the way of God.”  That way is not the most traveled way, not the most popular way, and not paved by human opinion.  It is narrow and it leads to death of self.  But in the end it provides a selfless self, is enriched by the love and laws of God, and leads to God himself, who is the one and only true need of us all.

It is time for the churches to stand tall, in truth, and fearlessly teach the way of God.  People’s eternal souls depend on it.