Bertha Betternyou: Concerned Sister or Outright Gossip?

If you have ever listened to Ray Stevens' music from the 1980's, chances are you know who Bertha Betternyou is. Sadly, for many outside the church, Bertha is the go to gal when summoning an image of a typical Christian. Sister Bertha sits all prim and proper, can quote scripture all day long and knows the secrets of many around her. Turns out though, that Bertha has a few sins of her own.

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Do you remember the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector)? It's found in Luke 18:9-14. In short, both men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee was boastful in his prayer: He wasn't like others, especially like that publican over there. He even reminded God and anyone who might be in earshot that he tithed, fasted, and otherwise outshone others. To put it bluntly, meet Bertha's Brother Benjamin. 

The publican, on the other hand, wouldn't even look up. Instead he smote his breast and said "Lord forgive me, a sinner."

The ultimate goal of a Christian is to become more Christlike. From the moment we obey the gospel and step out of the watery grave of baptism, we are a new person. From then on we continually try to walk in Jesus' foot steps and teach others along the way, by word and deed. Sometimes though, in our zeal to be Christlike, we look around at others... and become a little more like Bertha than we would really like to be. 

Brother Tom thinks its okay to have an occasional glass of wine. Sister Colleen and her kids use the curse word knock offs (dang, heck, crap, you get the picture). And did you see how short the Davies' daughter's skirt was? And with him a shepherd of the church! Honestly, you'd think they'd have taught that girl better.  Wait. Why are we discussing their sins or shortcomings as though we have none of our own? 
  
First of all, if any of us, and this includes me, has a concern about a brother or sister's behavior, words or whatever, we are instructed to go to the person privately and in love (Matthew 18:15-17). Those verses tell us exactly how we are to handle a problem, so why do so many of us think its our duty to discuss the situation with others first?

It shouldn't matter who the brother or sister is, whether he be an elder, or she the preacher's wife, or if the person happens to be a celebrity of sorts. I know if I am wrong, I want someone to come talk to me privately first. I may cry or otherwise get upset, but I will be okay with it. As well meaning as others are who are concerned, I can't make it to heaven on someone's coat tail. If it's my behavior that needs to change, I'm the one who needs to be spoken to first.  If you can't speak to me in person, write me a letter. In other words, we should be building up one another, not tearing each other down with our concern. I for one have to change this habit.

A Morning Cup of Tea: At Least I'm Not...

 Good morning! Please excuse my yawning. It's not the company, be assured. Its the fact that I woke up on husband time  (his alarm woke me up, then J was awake, along with the cats) this morning and instead of getting on up and getting the day started I foolishly tried to go back to sleep. Didn't happen. First shift can be such fun, let me tell you. That's okay though. A more relaxed schedule is on tap for the next several days. In the meantime I have a cat asleep on my arm as I type and J has let me know he's ready for breakfast. As long as I talk to him, I have a few minutes to write so I'll hush with the gabbing and get today's reading started. : )
  Today we are reading Luke 18:9-14. How many of us has ever heard heard herself or someone else say, "Well at least I'm not a murder (or an adulterer, liar, cheat, or other sin that is "worse" than what we do)? We may not actually say those words but its hard not to think it sometimes when we think about the hierarchy of sin. That's human speak, by the way.  As humans we tend to like to put things in perspective. Oh, I only fibbed and told Margaret that dress looked good on her. That's only a little white lie. It's not like I cheated on my taxes or killed somebody! 
  Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a publican, or tax collector. Tax collector's had a bad rep even then. Both these men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee was loud and proud in his prayer, telling God all the things he did, such as tithing of everything he possessed. "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." (V 11)
  Can't you just see him saying this with a sneer on his face? Almost as if he hated to even say the word publican.
  The publican, however, stood in a corner and wouldn't even lift his eyes heavenward. He thumped himself on the chest and said God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself  shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
 To God, sin is sin. We all sin, even after baptism. We are not better than anyone else even though we try not to sin. Even a murderer can be forgiven and be a Godly person if he is repentant. Look at King David. He went after another man's wife, and deliberately placed him in the front lines during a battle, knowing he would be killed, so he could marry the woman. That's murder. Yet God considered him a man after God's own heart. 
 How wonderful to know that when we mess up, if we are repentant we can be forgiven. 
  Have a great day. 

A Morning Cup of Tea: The Pharisee's Hous

Today we are finishing chapter seven of the book of Luke.  Beginning in verse 36.  A Pharisee wanted Jesus to come to dinner. A woman, who was a known sinner, came in and stood behind Jesus. She carried with her an alabaster box of oil. With her tears she washed Jesus' feet, and dried them with her hair. She used the oil to anoint Jesus' head.
  The Pharisee saw all of this and could not understand why Jesus would even let this woman touch him. Surely if he knew this woman was a sinner he would not! (Paraphrase)
  Jesus told the man a parable about a man who had two debtors. One owed 500 pence, the other owed him 50. Neither man could pay their debts, and the man forgave them both. Jesus then asked, which will love the creditor more? Of course the Pharisee answered, the one who owed the most.
  Then Jesus explained that while the Pharisee did give him water with which to wash his feet (as was customary at the time), the woman did so much more.  Jesus forgave her sins. This made those at the table wonder more about who Jesus is, that he could forgive sins.

A Morning Cup of TEa: Jesus Prayed

Good morning!  Today we begin chapter 6 of Luke. The first few verses tell about different Sabbaths in which the Pharisees are not happy with Jesus or his followers' actions, and question him on it. Taking and eating corn from the field (v 1-5); healing a man's withered hand (v6-10).  Jesus did what needed to be done, no matter the day. The Pharisees did not like this and Luke says they were already angry and talking amongst each other trying to decide what to do with him.
  Luke brings up in verse 12 that Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and stayed there all night in prayer to God.When  it was day, he called the disciples to him and from those he chose twelve, known as the apostles:
 Simon, called Peter
 Andrew, Peter's brother
 James
 John
 Philip 
 Bartholomew
Matthew
 Thomas
 James the son of Alphaeus
 Simon called Zelotes
 Judas the brother of James
 Judas Iscariot, who is named as the traitor (v 17)
  This is a great example to us, how important prayer is. This was a serious decision, choosing the ones who not only would help in his ministry, but to carry on the teachings later when his job here on earth was done. I like that he was consistently in communication with the Father.
Have a wonderful day.

A Morning Cup of Tea: Mark 3: 1-7

 Jesus is once again in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Waiting for him there is a man with a withered hand. Of course, the Pharisees are also there and they see this. For them it is unlawful to do anything on the Sabbath other than to go to the synagogue, and very little else. 
 Jesus asked the Pharisees, " Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life or to kill?" (v 4) But they held their peace.
  Mark says Jesus looked on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. (v5) He healed the man's hand and when the Pharisees sought out the Herodians to discuss how to destroy Jesus, Jesus took his disciples to the sea. 
  Jesus was angry with the Pharisees. They didn't have compassion on a man with a hand he could not use. They saw and cared only for the law. Instead of caring for their fellow man, they were there only to be sure the law was kept.  We should not be so intent on "being good" that we forget to treat our brothers and sisters with kindness. That does not mean that we can choose to or not to follow Christ's teachings willy nilly. It means that if a friend needs to go to the emergency room on Sunday morning, by all means take him. Call a little later to let someone know where you are. It shouldn't matter what day of the week it is when someone needs you. 
  Also, notice that Jesus was angry but he did not throw a fit. He healed the man and went on.  We don't always have to act on our feelings.  

A Morning Cup of Tea: The Pharisees Find Fault

The second chapter of Mark has three instances where the Pharisees don't like what Jesus is doing. The first time is when Jesus is in Capernaum again. The crowds have found him and there is hardly any room to move and no way to get inside the house he's in. A man who was sick with the palsy was brought there, but they could not get in. Did that stop them? No ma'am. They took the man up to the roof where they made a hole and lowered him into the place where Jesus was preaching. Jesus was so moved by the persistence that he told the man his sins were forgiven.  
  I'm sorry, this time it was the scribes who were offended. They accused Jesus of blasphemy for saying the young man's sins were forgiven, because only God could forgive. Jesus calmly said, What is easier, to tell a man his sins or forgiven or to say arise, take thy bed and walk? To show you that the Son of God has such power, he said, and turned to the man and said Arise, take up thy bed and go thine way into thine house. And the man got up and walked. (v1-12)
  While at the sea side, Jesus passed by Levi, the son of Alphaeus (Matthew). He bid him come and follow, which he did.
  The second instance was when Jesus sat at dinner with the tax collectors and sinners. The scribes and Pharisees could not believe he would dare do this because they certainly wouldn't eat with common sinners. 
  17. When Jesus heard it he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
  Also in chapter two the disciples of John the baptizer came to ask Jesus why they fasted and Jesus' disciples did not. Jesus explained to them that he was with them so there was no need to fast. There would be a time to fast when Jesus was no longer with them.
  The third instance of the Pharisees finding fault was on the Sabbath. Jesus and his disciples were walking through a cornfield. They became hungry so they ate some of the corn. This was simply unheard of on the Sabbath!
 25. And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungered, he, and they that were with him?
26. How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
27. And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.  

A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus Warns of the Pharisees

Jesus spoke quite a bit about the Pharisees in chapter 23 of Matthew. Pharisees were very religious, but most of it was for show and for power. 
 1. Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and  to his disciples,
 2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 
 3. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not.
 4. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
 5. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.

Phylacteries are small leather boxes worn on the arm and on the forehead. To learn more, read here.    Jesus said they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments. Why would they do this? For show! The very same reason a male peacock fans out its tail feathers or a televangelist has a huge megachurch, wears expensive clothing and jewelry, and misses no opportunity to be in the spotlight. 
Please do not misunderstand me. There are preachers today who are on television, the radio, or even the internet broadcasting their services simply for another way of reaching the home bound. But there are others who only want man's glory and have forgotten what it's like to be a follower of Christ if they ever were to begin with.  There is nothing wrong in itself for having a taste for expensive clothing, if one can afford it, but when it comes from taking money from the very ones who need help... it's not good. There are good preachers out there who are just wanting to preach the gospel and reach the lost. They do not ask for money because the ministry is funded by the congregation or sister congregations. Look for those if you desire a preacher to watch on television.
  I'm going to stop here for today. There is a lot more that needs to be said, and we will pick this up tomorrow.