SOCIETY
A small group of citizens can make up a society; such as, a “circle of friends” or a “family”. Likewise, a large group of folks can make up a society; like, “unions”, “churches”, “schools”, “cults”, and the “United States of America”. Within all of these groups there are leaders and followers. Naturally, the qualities of these leaders and followers vary substantially. Certainly, leaders are a necessary part of any group. Yet, are all leaders successful? Are they all truthful? Do they look at what is beneficial for the group or what is paramount for their own pursuits? There is a saying that, “Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Have you ever been around someone who personifies this philosophic model of corruption?
Recently, I was a candidate to be a juror for a capital murder trial. In the state of Texas, if a person is found guilty of capital murder, then the jury has to determine the kind of punishment the individual will be given. The only two options the jury has, in a capital murder case, is; either, life imprisonment or the death penalty. Know this, the death penalty cannot be considered unless certain questions are well thought-out and answered. One consideration to pursue is if the guilty party is a threat to society. Fascinatingly, the only society that is considered is the prison society in which he would spend the rest of his life. So, if the guilty person is thought of as a threat to that society then the death penalty must certainly be highly considered if not, by default, approved. Surely, this type of individual must be horrifically repugnant in nature.
It is not uncommon to look through Biblical history and notice corruption that plagued people. There were times that the community openly worshiped idols and performed immoral acts that were even sanctioned by some of their leaders (Ex. 32:1-33:6; Num. 25; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Pet.; Jude). There was a time when the shepherds of Israel led poorly, in fact, downright irreverently (Jer. 23; Acts 15:1-35; Eph. 2). There were other times when the leaders were jealous of God’s chosen leadership and tried to usurp God’s decision (Num. 12; 1 Sam. 15-16; 2 Sam. 15-19; 2 Chron. 10:1-11:4; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 3 John). Some leaders even took bribes and gave preferential treatment to the rich and the powerful by not using the scales of justice fairly (Is. 10:1-4; Mt. 26:47-56, 27:3-10; Luke 22:47-52). There were, also, times when the people allowed evil to influence their own godly life (Deut. 1; Judges 3:5-6; Ps. 106:34-48; Hos. 7:8; Rom.; Heb.; 1 John). And, sorrowfully, there were “spiritual/governmental leaders” who enjoyed power and position within their society and hated the idea of losing their status.
“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus has done. Then the chief priest and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:45-48 [NIV]; cf. John 12:9-10, 17-19).
When Jesus was alive as human and God (John 1:1-3, 14), He involved Himself with many groups of people so as to assist them in their spiritual needs; such as: Jewish society, Samaritan society, Roman society, Gentile society, His disciples, His home community, and His personal family – among many other groups (Luke 15). He said this of Himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:9). He, also, talked with the disenfranchised; like, cripples (John 5:1-17; 9), adulterers (John 8:1-11), prostitutes (Luke 7:36ff), Roman government workers (Luke 19:1-9; John 4:46-54), Jewish religious leaders (John 3:1-21), children (Mt. 19:13-14), Samaritans (John 4:1-42), and Gentiles (Luke 8:26-38). Regrettably, for many within the greater society; both, Roman and Jewish, Jesus was considered a blasphemer, divisive, and even demonic (John 7:20; 8:58-59; 10:22-40). Jesus’ biggest problem, of course, was that He didn’t know His place in society because He went against the flow of the standing leadership within His community (Luke 19:45-47; John 5; 8:31-47; 9:35-41; 18:28-19:42).
Jesus was charged with a capital crime because He spoke against the society in which He lived. He dared to take interest in the spiritual needs of others: Samaritans, Jews, and Gentiles. He challenged His society by exposing their motives and “the Devil” in them. To them, He stirred the stink-pot and they didn’t want to smell it. So, He was charged with blasphemy, having a demon, and being a Samaritan. Jesus was tried by those who had something against Him. His enemies were the court and His accusers were haters of God. They wanted Him removed from their society – Jesus committed a capital crime and His punishment was death.
We, who are adopted sons and daughters of God, are also on trial against this world’s society because we expose haters of God and the “Devil in them” (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7). Our goal is to help them see the error of their ways so they too can be adopted in the family of God (Mt. 28:18-20; Luke 19:9). We who are followers of God, through Jesus Christ, have chosen a society greater than all others – the society/community/church/body/bride of CHRIST.
The Lord’s humbled – John A. Reeves
Recently, I was a candidate to be a juror for a capital murder trial. In the state of Texas, if a person is found guilty of capital murder, then the jury has to determine the kind of punishment the individual will be given. The only two options the jury has, in a capital murder case, is; either, life imprisonment or the death penalty. Know this, the death penalty cannot be considered unless certain questions are well thought-out and answered. One consideration to pursue is if the guilty party is a threat to society. Fascinatingly, the only society that is considered is the prison society in which he would spend the rest of his life. So, if the guilty person is thought of as a threat to that society then the death penalty must certainly be highly considered if not, by default, approved. Surely, this type of individual must be horrifically repugnant in nature.
It is not uncommon to look through Biblical history and notice corruption that plagued people. There were times that the community openly worshiped idols and performed immoral acts that were even sanctioned by some of their leaders (Ex. 32:1-33:6; Num. 25; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Pet.; Jude). There was a time when the shepherds of Israel led poorly, in fact, downright irreverently (Jer. 23; Acts 15:1-35; Eph. 2). There were other times when the leaders were jealous of God’s chosen leadership and tried to usurp God’s decision (Num. 12; 1 Sam. 15-16; 2 Sam. 15-19; 2 Chron. 10:1-11:4; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 3 John). Some leaders even took bribes and gave preferential treatment to the rich and the powerful by not using the scales of justice fairly (Is. 10:1-4; Mt. 26:47-56, 27:3-10; Luke 22:47-52). There were, also, times when the people allowed evil to influence their own godly life (Deut. 1; Judges 3:5-6; Ps. 106:34-48; Hos. 7:8; Rom.; Heb.; 1 John). And, sorrowfully, there were “spiritual/governmental leaders” who enjoyed power and position within their society and hated the idea of losing their status.
“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus has done. Then the chief priest and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:45-48 [NIV]; cf. John 12:9-10, 17-19).
When Jesus was alive as human and God (John 1:1-3, 14), He involved Himself with many groups of people so as to assist them in their spiritual needs; such as: Jewish society, Samaritan society, Roman society, Gentile society, His disciples, His home community, and His personal family – among many other groups (Luke 15). He said this of Himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:9). He, also, talked with the disenfranchised; like, cripples (John 5:1-17; 9), adulterers (John 8:1-11), prostitutes (Luke 7:36ff), Roman government workers (Luke 19:1-9; John 4:46-54), Jewish religious leaders (John 3:1-21), children (Mt. 19:13-14), Samaritans (John 4:1-42), and Gentiles (Luke 8:26-38). Regrettably, for many within the greater society; both, Roman and Jewish, Jesus was considered a blasphemer, divisive, and even demonic (John 7:20; 8:58-59; 10:22-40). Jesus’ biggest problem, of course, was that He didn’t know His place in society because He went against the flow of the standing leadership within His community (Luke 19:45-47; John 5; 8:31-47; 9:35-41; 18:28-19:42).
Jesus was charged with a capital crime because He spoke against the society in which He lived. He dared to take interest in the spiritual needs of others: Samaritans, Jews, and Gentiles. He challenged His society by exposing their motives and “the Devil” in them. To them, He stirred the stink-pot and they didn’t want to smell it. So, He was charged with blasphemy, having a demon, and being a Samaritan. Jesus was tried by those who had something against Him. His enemies were the court and His accusers were haters of God. They wanted Him removed from their society – Jesus committed a capital crime and His punishment was death.
We, who are adopted sons and daughters of God, are also on trial against this world’s society because we expose haters of God and the “Devil in them” (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7). Our goal is to help them see the error of their ways so they too can be adopted in the family of God (Mt. 28:18-20; Luke 19:9). We who are followers of God, through Jesus Christ, have chosen a society greater than all others – the society/community/church/body/bride of CHRIST.
The Lord’s humbled – John A. Reeves