seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 16:5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
This morning, when I opened the forums on my computer, I saw where a government entity clamped down on the church. The complaint was that the Pope didn't do anything about it. Then I open the Gospel for today and Jesus is warning about the leaders of the church.... and the fact we have to guard against them. Who's to say that dictator who is clamping down on the church isn't on the right side. I guess before I hate on the dictator or the Pope, I should read the whole article.According to the story, as I understand it, the dictator is shutting down organizations that would vote him out along with anyone who might control their vote. In other words, if someone at the food bank might mention that they didn't support the dictator, the food bank would be shut down. Apparently, the church run radio stations were talking about the "injustice" of the dictator and he shut them down. Not all democracies work the way ours does, I guess. My fellow forumite, GURPS, seems to think the Pope should get involved. What would happen if the Pope showed up at a political rally here in the democratic USA!!!!!
People will twist the Gospel to make it fit their needs. I had a friend once who would base on her decisions on the "flopping of the verse". She would hold her Bible above a flat surface and let it fall, opening itself to a page. Then she would put her finger on the words on the page that fell open and the decision would be based on that verse. It would be appropriate this morning.... if she were making pizza dough or bread.... but not for every decision she had to make. But she is a good Baptist and believed "the Spirit" will guide you. Today she would not use the yeast and her bread would be flat.
Don't be tied to what the preacher says. He gets his information from the same place you do.... but he may not have the same interpretation you do. In this case, he may be siding with the dictator who says the church is a political football he can't control. You may think the church is right because it's the church and God should be running the show. Who's checking to see if that church is really run by God, or if another wannabe dictator isn't trying to oust him through the church. A lot of our priests, preachers, and teachers are owned by the rich in their "flock".
Before taking a side.... before uttering "division of church and state".... think about the human tragedy here. Young children who are just beginning to learn about the Lord are listening to all this. How is this affecting their Christian decisions or their Christian walk?
Let's not settle for "flopping of the verse". Let's not take it out of context. It's not about baking bread.... it's about being able to read and understand. It's not about politics, it's about the devil being everywhere all the time. Satan is down in the details and anything he can do to twist the Gospel is there for him to use. We have to be careful.... God never wanted us to have a king.... Jesus is the only king we need... right?
Do you settle for "flopping of the verse"?
