Age-Old Corruptions
Age-Old Corruptions
The corruptions that blind religion are clearly shown in God’s Word. In the passage in Matthew discussed above, we read that as Jesus was talking about being “greater than the temple,” his mother and brothers came to see him. The crowd was so great around him that they couldn’t gain access to him or find a place to sit down. Can you see what that meant in the culture of the day? Somebody came to him and told him they were there and trying to get to him through the crowd. Jesus reminded the person that those who were following him had equal access to him and were part of his larger family. There was no nepotism here.
Jude was the half brother of Jesus. Yet he begins his book with the following salutation: “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.” I find this salutation utterly fascinating. By this time James had become the head of the Church in Jerusalem, and I would have thought that Jude would describe himself as “Jude, the brother of Jesus, serving under James.” But no, he clearly recognized the lordship of Jesus, whom he was gladly willing to serve.
Jude then proceeds to warn his readers of three personalities in the Bible that he felt best represented the corruption of religion: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Cain killed his brother out of jealousy because God saw Abel’s heart and accepted his sacrifice, while he refused Cain’s. Jude must have understood the temptation of sibling rivalry. Comparing oneself with another is the breeding ground for creating distinction in the very place where distinctions are supposed to cease. Jealousy in serving God has always been at the core of religious “one-upmanship.” Jude warned of being jealous of another’s service to God, of another’s calling or station in life… an attitude like Cain’s.
But he went further. The comparison to Balaam is more sinister. Balaam was a prophet known for his gift of making pronouncements that came true. Enemies of God’s people came to him and offered him money if he would curse the people of God, “For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed” (Numbers 22:6 NIV). The fascinating story of how Balaam struggled with the temptation, wishing he could do it and take the money, makes for an intriguing study of motives as people toy with their convictions. He never actually cursed God’s people, but in his heart he did, and he told their enemy how they could accomplish their goal to destroy them while still looking spiritual. There are Balaams in our ranks today for whom money and prestige are worth skirting the truth, all while still managing to look spiritual.
The third person Jude mentions is Korah. That name would have brought to mind for the reader the day of the rebellion Korah led against Moses, God’s chosen servant. Korah was not willing to follow God’s way through his servant. He believed his own ideas were better and wanted Moses’ position as leader to exercise his own agenda. Cain, Balaam, and Korah—in the case of all three, the backdrop to their actions was religious zeal, which stood in the way of a godly relationship.
Cain—jealousy and hate; Balaam—greed and manipulation; Korah—power and sectarianism. Has anything really changed? That is why there will be no temple in heaven. God will be the object of all worship in consummate expression, in person. Jesus was greater than the temple.