Dear Friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Pharisee and the Child\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In disciplemaking it is extremely important to reproduce the right DNA.\u201d Like father like son\u201d. When Jesus formed His disciples during His earthly ministry \u2013 He used two metaphors to teach them what the DNA of discipleship does not look like and what it does look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprisingly \u2013 when He wanted to show them what they must NOT be like \u2013 he did not use sinners, murderers, unbelievers as a metaphor \u2013 He used church leaders, deeply religious people, the most respected people of their time as a metaphor \u2013 PHARISEES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Their Concept of God is that of a bookkeeper whose favour you can only win by religiously obeying outward rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Mistakes must be limited to the minimum. You constantly measure yourself on a spiritual ruler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 You are self righteousness \u2013 \u201cif only the others can be like me\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Very aware of your own spiritual advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Always defensive. There is always something positive that makes up for who \/ what you are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Blaming \/ Condemning \/ Judging \/ Intolerant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 An earnest desire to change others. Very critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 See the speck of sawdust in the other\u2019s eye, but not the log in his own eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Play power games in the church \u2013 to dominate others and increase their own influence and reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Their religion enslaves others rather than empowering them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus made disciples \u2013 He warned them against the church!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And pointed them to the values of CHILDREN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Jewish culture children had very little value \u2013 no status in society. Jesus literally asked his disciples to regard themselves as unimportant \u2013 a small child:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Who reacts with his whole life on his belovedness and acceptance by his parents. When he makes a mistake he knows it will not affect his parents love for him. They may disapprove of his behaviour, but their love for him is not based on his performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 They are trusting, dependent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Live unpretentiously, lightly and freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Playful, not over-aware of himself \u2013 does not pursue spiritual perfection and don\u2019t over-analise himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Not worried about what others will think of his behavior and if he will receive accolades for his behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 His most important attribute is his innocence \u2013 his inability to inhibit, wear a mask, to pretend to be somebody he is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 His eyes do not see labels like black and white, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. The Pharisee spends a lot of time on reacting on these labels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChildren are our model because they have no claim on heaven. If they are close to God, it is because they are incompetent, not because they are innocent. If they receive anything, it can only be as a gift\u201d (Brennan Manning)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can I invite you for are time of reflection?:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Play the video of your life in the past week: Where do you recognise the Pharisee? Where do you recognise the Child?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Are you following Jesus like a Pharisee or a Child?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Are you reproducing Pharisees or Children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. If you look at the church in the world \u2013 Pharisee or Child? In which way is this helping \/ preventing us to make disciples?<\/p>\n\n\n\n God believes in you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Johann Theron<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kingfisher Mobilising Centre<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Friends \u201cThe Pharisee and the Child\u201d In disciplemaking it is extremely important to reproduce the right DNA.\u201d Like father like son\u201d. When Jesus formed His disciples during His earthly ministry \u2013 He used two metaphors to teach them what … Continue reading