KiNGdOM StEwARdShiP - The Lausanne Global Conversation ...

K i n g d o m S t e wa r d s h i p
In the Gospels, Jesus often warns against proud religious
leaders:
Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk
around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the
marketplaces and have the most important seats in the
synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They
devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy
prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.
Could there be a parallel with the front tables at our Christian
conferences, or the best parking places in the car lot?
Hypocrisy is another danger that can prevent us from giving
God our best. Luke 12:1-3 says:
He began saying to his disciples first of all, “Beware of
the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there
is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and
hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever
you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and
what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be
proclaimed upon the housetops.”
Leaven is hypocrisy, the opposite of sincerity and truth.
Wherever you have spiritual pride, you will have false teaching,
and wherever you have false teaching, there you will have
spiritual pride.
Prideful and public giving is the third danger. “Beware of
practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by
them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who
is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1-4).
We must also beware of false prophets (Matt. 7:15-20) and
false teaching (Matt. 16:6, 7 and Mark 8:15). These can create
a “religious class system,” resulting in a separation between
the clergy and laity, or the professional and the ordinary. It
can create a false division between those who have resources
and those who need resources.
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