I have been thinking a lot about Israels call to be different, to be not the norm. While I was in Ezra and Nehemiah during a Jan Term(a 8hr a day, for five days intensive) at my school I heavily noticed this. Ezra and Nehemiah is all about the build of the temple which established Israel as a nation and Gods chosen people. In these book they struggle with a sin that threatens them into being sent into exile again. This sin is some of the men have taken on foreign wives.(Ezra 9:1-5) Ezra ask for forgiveness in an extensive prayer taken on his burden of his people on for himself.(Ezra 9:6-15) “His(Ezra) apparent despair provokes them to seek hope for Israel at any cost, and his abandonment to grief stirs them to impatience for some more positive response.”(Kidner 70) This brings the Israelites to make a drastic and I would say necessary decision to be different then the world around them. Israel decides to send away all the foreign wives and their children.(Ezra 10:3) This was by no means was the Law called for, but it was a necessary evil. They need to separate themselves from their sin and move into what God called them to.
So since we have been grafted into this(If you are a gentile)(Romans 11:17-24) I think we too have a call to take drastic measures to be different and set apart from our community. The reason foreign wives were such a problem in these passages in Ezra was because they were bringing in their pagan gods and heathen tradition.(Goldengay) Israel was becoming these other nations and not being set apart like they should be.
I believe Jesus as well gives a call that I think the church is missing out on. In the simple book of Mark he tells a story of a rich young ruler who ask a question. The question he is asking is “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17) Jesus responds in I would say a sarcastic way. He states that the young ruler knows the ten commandments and keeps them.(Mark 10:19) The ruler say “of course I do.”(Mark 10:20) Here comes Jesus with a stinger. A call to be different then everyone else. A call to change his whole life completely around. Jesus says "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Mark 10:21) This man went away sad. He had tons of property and possessions.(Mark 10:22) I think it is crazy here because it does not say this man had lots money but he had lots of possession.
Why as the American church are we striving to win people for Christ with the coolest possessions?(well thats how I view it in my eyes?) I have heard of many churches recently having to lay off pastors because they could not make budget in this recent economy. What if instead of this the churches sold their million dollar buildings or sold their 30,000 dollar sound boards? Do we really need these things to reach Christ? Are we really being different then the culture around us?
I would say no. I recently stepped foot on a church campus and I thought I was at Mall of America. Is this what God really wants? Are as a church supposed to be consumerist just like the rest of the world? Are we supposed to go into dept on new building that are supposed to reach a community? Is the call to give all your money to the poor a lost thing?
I would like to know everyone else thoughts.
