How to Disturb the Religious

"The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead." Acts 4:1-2

I have found that religious people, who sometimes pretend to be spiritual people, are easily disturbed. I think for three reasons. They hate three things. Change, Competition and Criticism.

Of course this disturbance takes three character traits, pride, power hungrier and position protection. In simpler words, they felt threatened. Doesn't bring out the best in us either. They had made money, gained position and power and prided themselves in all of it.

Wasn't enough to criticize believers in Jesus, they needed to be silenced. So they postured. You know, brought some muscle, the temple guard, the brass, the priests and the instigators, the Sadducees, who don't believe in the resurrection of anything on anybody. Interrupted their teaching to stop them from challenging their power, position and beliefs.

The religion of the day was so out of control and self-consumed. Religious people haven't changed much. Still self-preserving and self-serving.

Let us not be like them. Let us be like the apostles, and even more like Jesus.

Convicted and humbled,
Pastor Fred

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