A couple of entries from my sabbatical journal a few years ago….

Day 4: Nuts, I’m Religious!

I’m unsettled by what I’ve multiplied over the years. If you spend enough time with me, you’ll likely end up in some sort of leadership position, and have a well-developed theology. But it’s unlikely that you’ll end up leading people to Christ. Disappointingly, the people Jesus gave the hardest time were the guys holding the key leadership positions (Sadducees) and the guys who were really excited about their theology (Pharisees). And what they had didn’t multiply; it took a lot of effort…. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert.” – Mt 23:15

Day 5: It’s Worse than I Thought

I looked at all the verses about Jewish religious leaders in the New Testament. I’m struck by how much I have in common with them compared to how much I have in common with my friends in disciple making movements. Much of it seems inherent in being part of an organization. But as I study the list, it really looks like I’m trying to earn or feel worthy of God’s love, often in comparison with others. Again: Nuts! The DMM folk have created an environment that’s more conducive to God’s kingdom, but it still requires believing that God deeply loves me.

Here’s what Matthew says if you want to take a look:

• Not producing fruit, and making excuses – Mt 3:7-10
• Not righteous – Mt 5:20
• Telling others about your giving – Mt 6:2
• Praying to impress others – Mt 6:5
• Telling others when you fast – M 6:16
• Teaching with no authority – Mt 7:28
• Entertaining evil thoughts in your heart – Mt 9:4
• Discerning spiritual realities with your own logic – Mt 9:34
• Not really understanding the Bible – Mt 12:7
• Looking for ways to undermine others – Mt 12:10
• Not valuing what matters most – Mt 12:12
• Not understanding the kingdom of God – Mt 12:27-28
• Not trusting God, asking for a sign – Mt 12:39, Mt 16:4
• Saying honoring things, but hearts are far from God – Mt 15:7-8
• Teaching merely human principles – Mt 15:9
• Don’t know where they are leading people – Mt 15:13
• Teaching that is destructive – Mt 16:11
• Persecuting leaders you don’t understand – Mt 16:21
• Trying to make logical sense of everything – Mt 19:3-9
• Condemning rival ministry leaders – Mt 20:18
• Control what people do – Mt 21:5
• Jealous of popular ministries; question their legitimacy – Mt 21:23-27
• Seeing other’s fruit and still not believing – Mt 21:31
• Afraid of what the crowd thinks – Mt 21:45
• Flatter and manipulate the competition – Mt 22:15-18
• Know better than the Bible or the Holy Spirit – Mt 22:29
• Testing rival ministries with questions – Mt 22:34
• Avoid looking bad – Mt 22:46
• Not practicing what you preach – Mt 23:2-4
• Doing things to impress people – Mt 23:5
• Loving the honor and respect – Mt 23:6-7
• Not entering the kingdom, and stopping others – Mt 23:13
• Work hard to convert people, but to the wrong thing – Mt 23:15
• Prioritizing money over the church – Mt 23:16-17
• Following rules while missing the point – Mt 23:23
• Look good on the outside; dirty on the inside – Mt 23:25-28
• Blaming others – Mt 23:29
• Silencing feedback – Mt 23:33-36
• Scheme in secret and deceive people – Mt 26:3
• Slander competing leaders/ministries – Mt 26:59
• Bully, manipulate and mock the competition – Mt 26:62
• Shift the blame – Mt 27:3
• Justify your actions – Mt 27:6
• Accuse your competitors – Mt 27:12
• Manipulating the people – Mt 27:20
• Protecting your reputation – Mt 27:62-64