Division in the Faith

Scripture: And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. Luke 9:52-53

Observation: The rejection of Jesus by the Samaritan village is, interestingly, rooted in the argument about proper worship of God. It is, in fact, this same question that the woman at the well in the book of John brings up to Jesus when she first discovers he is some kind of prophet. The Samaritans - who have some Jewish beliefs but differing practices - worship God at Mount Gerizim, and one of the complaints by the Jews is that it is only Jerusalem where true worship and sacrifice can occur.  Again, this is such a point of tension that the woman at the well jumps to that topic out of the blue, and here a village refuses Jesus request for lodging because he is on his way to Jerusalem.

Two people groups, both worshiping the Lord, yet in deep conflict partly because ... they don't agree about the logistics of that worship. When the woman at the well understood that this conflict was moot, she was freed to discover that Jesus was the Messiah. By contrast, by clinging to this conflict, this entire village is denied the chance to even meet Jesus.

Application: I try to be more and more open to all kinds of Christian denominational thought. I even enjoyed the Catholic podcast I listened to last weekend, and found their in-depth discussion about the dual nature of Jesus informative. However, I know it is often with the "practices" where I get hung up ... certain routines in certain churches where the members of that denomination cling to the process as if it is mandated by God, and I react to that with thoughts that they are heretics.

Neither is true. Church liturgical practices were not handed down by God, and having liturgical practices is not bad as long as it enhances - and not detracts from - the relationship with and worship of God.

As I understand it, the Samaritans were effectively Jews from the first exile, and they certainly worshiped Yahweh, and yet the "Jews" hated them. It seems the Samaritans hated the Jews right back, and so much of it had to do with procedures. I know I do not feel that way about any Christian denomination that meets the standard of discipleship defined by Jesus ... to simply believe in him as the Messiah of God, our Lord and savior. I hope the universal Church can continue to embrace all brothers and sisters worldwide.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for your Church today. We are a flawed organization not because of any imperfection in what you have taught us, but because of the imperfections of us. Our activities and plans are entangled with us, who are of sinful flesh, and as a result none of us are true and perfect reflections of your intended body. Yet we try. May we continue to try, and continue to unite as one body, for your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.