Jesus the non-conformist

In 29 years of being a Pastor/leader I have found the attacks within the Church are more regular and more damaging than any attack from outside. Every attack has centred around offence that a decision or action caused discomfort, change or disregard to how things are usually done or should be done.

“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”(Matthew 9 v 32-34)

Contrast 1: The healed blind men left the house and disobediently began talking about Jesus. As they leave a demon-possessed unable to talk was brought in.

When a Church is unable to evangelise the problem may well be a spiritual one.

Contrast 2: The openness of the crowds who are surprised that they are witnessing such activity in their generation (Nothing like this has ever been seen …) expose the closed and insecure Pharisees who assume that if this was God He would work through them (It is by the prince of demons …)

When the culture of a Church is worshipped then it can dismiss the ways of God.

Contrast 3: The blind could see and the mute could speak but the seeing Pharisees were blind and their accusations of Jesus only silenced the spiritual warfare taking place in their own hearts.

When a Church opposes a move of God their condition can be worse than the demonised outside of it.

God still moves today.

When He does He usually offends those who are not moving.