"Preachers" and "Indians"
An Introduction To Seeking Answers to Doctrinal Questions
Perhaps you thought all the really important doctrinal questions required someone with a Ph.D. in either protesting or promoting Papal Bull, or perhaps a Rash Rabbi to formulate them, after which you would need a dictionary, a lexicon, and several years to even begin to understand them. Well, for those who get paid for doctoring their divinities, that may be true, as prestige and income are often tied to one's ability to impress or confuse others. And prestige and income are important, to some.
On the other hand, some believe that it is the simple things which are important and that the important things are almost always simple.
Take Jesus Christ for instance. When his disciples inquired about high-ranking positions in his future kingdom, he replied, "Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 18:3). When was the last time you saw a "religious leader" demonstrate any (positive) child-like attributes? For instance, child-like faith? According to Christ's comments, the "religious leaders" of his time (Pharisees, scribes and Priests) were preoccupied with their public image (*Mat. 6:1-2; Jn. 7:18; Mat. 23:2-7, see below).
Some things never change.And when some parents brought their "young children" to Christ, the disciples tried to run interference, thinking that he had much more important business to tend to than 'just kids'. "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Allow the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mk.10:13-14).
Christ was not saying that his kingdom is a daycare center. Little children tend to do things wholeheartedly, enthusiastically, without reserve or concern for decorum. Such as asking anyone, anything. And that's how God expects us to seek him and to seek the answers to life's questions from him. "And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:12). He didn't say, "Have your people (preachers, priests) get in touch with my people (dead saints)".
And fifteen minutes per year on Easter Sunday isn't going to cut it, no matter how whole-hearted you are about rabbit eggs.Little children tend to take a direct approach, without guile and without pretension. When their parents took them to Christ, the children didn't say, "Hey, let's ask each of the disciples for their interpretation of what Christ said or did." Christ died so that we don't have to go through priests or other "intercessors" (Heb. 7:25) to speak to God (Mat. 6:9) or to be taught by His Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13). On the other hand, since what Christ actually said makes some uncomfortable, then it's easy to see why third-party interpretations are so popular.
So a question doesn't have to be incomprehensible to be important. If it's important to you, it's important to your Father. If you seek him with the faith of a child, you should expect an answer. Of course some questions may get answered sooner than others, such as, "How many angels can dance on the head of a Baptist?".
Some questions are important because they relate directly to obtaining eternal life. Others are thought to be important because your membership in a corporate religious organization may depend upon your answer or at least upon your public acceptance of someone else's answer.
When we were kids, we played "Cowboys and Indians", in which some pretended to be cowboys with imaginary guns while others pretended to be American Indians with imaginary bows and arrows. We argued over who got to be cowboys because we all knew that the cowboys chased the Indians and almost always won, by pretending to kill all the Indians. American culture equated cowboys with being on the side of "right" and Indians on the side of "wrong".
As adults, many of us play a variation on the same theme, called "Preachers and Indians". Our culture tells us that the "Preachers" are "right", that they have superior weapons, that their purpose is to pursue "Indians" (all non-preachers, non-priests, or non-rabbis) and to eventually overcome them. The rules are the same. Make up your own and change them if it helps you win. If an "Indian" denies being killed, then argue about it. Whoever argues loudest and longest, wins. When you get bored over the arguing, go play something else.
As little children we had advantages we somehow gave up as "adults". As little children, we took turns being both "cowboys" and "Indians". We always had fun. And we knew when others were "pretending" to be something they weren't.
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Scriptures referenced above:
*Mat. 6:1-2 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."Jn. 7:18, "He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: . . ."
Mat. 23:2-3, "The scribes and the pharisees sit in Moses seat:" (in other words, "the religious leaders [at that time] have civil authority over you and [claim to have] religious authority over you"). [Some translations have the scribes and pharisees presumptuously assuming the authority of Moses.]
[NASB has, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;"
Darby has, "The scribes and the Pharisees have set themselves down in Moses' seat:"
Young's Literal Translation has, "On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees;"
Worldwide English has, "The scribes and Pharisees have taken Moses' place."
JFB has, " 2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit--The Jewish teachers stood to read, but sat to expound the Scriptures, as will be seen by comparing Luk 4:16 . in Moses' seat--that is, as interpreters of the law given by Moses."]"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;" (in other words, "obey the civil law" for example, paying taxes, Mat. 22:15-22) but do not according to their works: for they say and do not do." (in other words, "do not follow their spiritual example, because "religious leaders" proclaim the law of God but don't observe it." He gives examples of their spiritual hypocrisy in verses 4-36).
23:5, But all their works they do to be seen of men: (their motivation is selfish, they are vain seekers of fame, public attention and popularity) they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, (they wear expensive clothing, and highly decorated robes with large symbolic attachments)
23:6, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (they wave from balconies, ride in parades, march in processionals and recessionals, sit in the front of the church where all can see them, place their pictures in the front of their publications, or sell them to be hung in the churches and homes of members, and pay millions of dollars to be seen on TV or heard on radio.)
23:7, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [they love public meetings with other "great religious leaders" and to be called by (humanly invented) official, religious titles of honor such as "reverend", "his eminence", or "most holy father".
In verses 8-10, Christ said "do not" use "Rabbi", or "Father" or even "Teacher" as spiritual titles of honor for men.Some people haven't learned to follow instructions so simple, that even a child could understand them.
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