Humility 2

Luke 11:52-54

It is hard to take criticism. As a pastor and an aspiring writer I need to be edited all the time. I need someone else, usually my wife, to look over what I have written and give me an honest evaluation.

Corrections can feel painful sometimes. It is almost hurtful to see that what I thought was brilliant is actually erroneous or weak and requires rewriting. But it is for the best.

Jesus has a final comment for the experts in the religious law. What have they done? What is the reaction?

Jesus says that these experts in the law “have not entered.” We must assume that what they have not entered into is the knowledge he speaks of in the previous sentence. We can further assume that the knowledge is knowledge or awareness or enlightenment about faith and God.

These experts have taken away the opportunity for others to understand God better, and they have not worked to understand God themselves. It seems that they are very secure in what they believe and how they have always done things, and they are not open to any correction or change.

But in fact they needed to change. They should have seen the errors of their ways and been willing to look at things with a new perspective, but their pride evidently prevented any editing.

As we look at our current society we must be aware that the church no longer has the influence and authority it once had. Most mainline denominations are in serious and dramatic decline. Misguided and mistaken theologies appear to be on the increase along with the number of people who simply have no religion at all.

It’s time for an edit. We can be proud of our past and proud of the good work the church has done over the centuries, but we need to humble ourselves and admit that change is needed. We must be humble enough to realize that new approaches and new attitudes are called for so that we can continue in the good work of building God’s kingdom and serving God’s children.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What would be one thing you would change about your church? What would you change about yourself?