http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=65
That was a link to The Message (note this is NOT a translation of the Bible)
I always love how Eugene Patterson take on the Lord's prayer is:
vv11:2-4
Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."
This is much different from the NIV:
2He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' "
I love the three square meals part in The Message. =)
Well for the NIV posting the link is:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011;&version=31;
The section I wanted to share about today is from Chapter 11:37-41
Six Woes 37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41But give what is inside the dish [j] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
It really speaks to me about religious rituals.
What’s wrong with religious ritual?
Do you have any religious rituals in your life?
Pray that your walk with God won’t just become a dutiful ritual, but that it will remain fresh and authentic.
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1 comment:
Is religious rituals a bad thing?
If you define rituals as in wikipedia, a ritual may be performed at regular intervals, or on specific occasions, or at the discretion of individuals or communities, then I would say the ritual by its own is neutral.
At MCAC we have a ritual of doing Communion first Sun of a month. Some other churches do it more frequent and some less. Is that wrong?
In this chapter, Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees because they only perform the rituals without the relationship with God.
To summarize the rebuking, Jesus said in verse 52: "You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in yourself, and won't let anyone else in either."
The role of the Pharisee was to point people to God. Instead, they filter people away from God with rules and regulations.
In Christian living, we can go through the motions. Fellowship, prayer meeting, Bible Study, workshops, events. What I am challenge by this chapter is that am I keeping this knowledge or I am sharing this and let others in as well.
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