Being a church leader is not always easy or fun. There are seasons you go through where people who are focused on themselves and their motives shake things up and you get caught in the middle of the muck and mire slinging. It’s not a comfortable place to be in. This all came back to me this morning when I was reading Mark 15.

Up to this point, the religious leaders were getting more and more upset with Jesus. He had been teaching truth and challenging their comfort zones in many of their ways and traditions. They noticed that people had been starting to take heed to his way of teaching which threatened their places of power and desires.

They designed a plan to undercut Jesus, arrest Him, accuse Him falsely, and send Him to Pilate to be investigated. Ths is where we pick up the story….

 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” Mark 15 2-5

While they made accusations against Jesus (which were false as we see in the preceding chapter), Jesus remained quiet. Pilate took note and was amazed.

Now Pilate had a choice. He could gather himself together and address the problem with the people who were causing the problem or look for an easy way out. He looked for an easy way out.

“Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.” Mark 15: 6-10

Note, he knew it was out of ENVY that the religious leaders were doing this to Jesus. He should have addressed it but wimped out. He hoped the crowd would take the pressure off his shoulders by making the decision that he was in place to make. I have seen this often growing up in democracy based churches. There is a challenge, the pastor refers to the church for a vote, and hopes they make the right decision so he can place it on them. “What can I say? The majority wants it.”

Well, here’s the problem with this mentality (besides the fact the leader is ignoring their responsibility). Antagonists work hard to get people on their side and through pity, confusion, and pretend empathy… they are very effective.

“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.” Mark 15: 11

I have been in this position before. People I considered my best friends…. Christ followers….. people who tell you what a difference you have made in their lives and their families…… now trashing you, yelling at you, and gossiping about you around town. It’s confusing, hurtful and you just want to ask, “what in the world is going on here?” It makes no sense!

Pilate faces this in the next section….

““What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” Mark 15: 12-14

Notice how the crowd never answers the “Why?” question…. Chances are they really don’t know why. They have been worked up with half truths and victim mentality so instead of seeing the whole picture and walking in faithfulness, they charge ahead full of emotion.

Now, Pilate has had several chances to expose the truth, challenge the wrong, and shut down the false motives. Surely, he will stand up now as he knows the accusations are false, they are acting in envy, and there is no justification for the act they call for. Right?

“Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15: 15

Church leaders, stand up and be ready to move for what is right and what is true. You may become unpopular, you may lose friends, and you may lose your job but never be the one who crucifies truth to avoid making others unhappy.

Random thoughts….

As follow up….here are some thoughts from Gene Edwards in the book “Preventing a Church Split”

Over the years I have gleaned a few points that seem to be common to church splits and raids. A raid is when a person comes into a church and leads a handful of people away to his cause. His style is very important. He is not rude, pushy or insistent. Polls show, that all who listen agree that this brother who raised these issues was doing it out of a pure heart. But the division still took place.

Whole article here…..

A post from my wife, Jenni Hypes…….

Mother’s Day… Wishing everyone a happy day tomorrow but in the midst of enjoying your day with family, please also tuck in the back of your mind that this holiday is a very tough one for a lot of your friends and maybe even your family members.

Think about your single friends that are still looking for prince charming. I didn’t get married until I was 28 and every church service where the moms were recognized reminded me that I still hadn’t found Mr. Right yet and wasn’t any closer to starting a family of my own.

Consider those around you that have had miscarriages and/or lost a child. This holiday is one more reminder of what could have been.

What about the families that are not able to have children and are mourning that loss? Please give them an extra hug.

Also, on a personal note, I ask that you consider your friends and family members that are on the adoption path. The stress of a “paper pregnancy” and always wondering when you’ll get that call is a lot to bear. Mother’s Day was one of those holidays during that time in my life that I would rather have stayed home “sick”. I knew my time would come, but it hadn’t yet… and my heart ached because of the unknown.

And on a final note, please love on those whose moms have either passed away or have maybe never even been a part of their lives. A child (no matter how old they may be) without a mother close by needs your love as well.

So with all that being said… enjoy your day tomorrow and please be sensitive to those around you. Be a blessing and be blessed!

This is not just a church leader problem though. I meet many people who seem to worship their church, their traditions, and/or their pastors. Often times, they say things that show their suspicion and concern about any other church than their own.

Then there’s another level where people can be very prideful and cut themselves off from any contact with other churches at all which is a strong problem in the area I live. That might push someone’s buttons but as the guy who owned the Christian bookstore in town and knows many in our area, this is a very true statement.

So some thoughts came to mind as I was doing my study time this morning and read this…..

“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.”  Mark 9: 33-37

When I have read this in the past, I thought this was an internal battle between the apostle’s themselves but with a closer look, this appears to be a Christ follower issue. This may have even been the chosen twelve versus other followers. Let me continue to explain…..

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,  “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Here, Jesus calls the twelve aside to have a little chat to refocus them on his perspective (He’s has a habit of doing that with us). He says that His followers are much more than just a small, hand picked group. His family is all of His children who He holds in his arms intimately.

The response?

““Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” Mark 9: 38

John (who tends to have an issue along with his brother and mother on “being the greatest”) reveals the start of the argument on the road. There was someone else was doing effective ministry and they were jealous. This is especially true since it wasn’t long after the twelve tried to cast out a demon and failed (Mark 9: 14-32).

It’s sad how we can trash each other when we get jealous of each other’s ministries.

Jesus replied…

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,  for whoever is not against us is for us.  I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” Mark 9: 39-41

Not all churches are created equal. There are those with false teaching and false motives. However, for Christ following churches, we are all held in the arms of the Savior and need to remember we are all precious to Him.

What advice would Jesus have for us?

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50

The pulpit was a tradition. It wasn’t Biblical, it was a tradition.

Now let me be clear, I was raised with a respect for tradition in the church. There is a beauty within tradition. However, I was also raised in churches that had a problem….they considered tradition more important than the move of the Holy Spirit and it often led to lack of love, compassion, and God doing a new thing.

When this happens, it is a sin.

Explore with me Mark 7: 1-23 with me….

“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?” Mark 7: 1-5

Notice how the religious people were annoyed because Jesus’ disciples were not falling in line and acting like the other rabbi’s disciples. They weren’t following the tradition of washing their hands before they ate. There was no law given from God on washing your hands before you eat (sorry, parents).

Now, there is nothing wrong with washing your hands before you eat. However, Jesus could see the religious leaders did this because they held a tradition over Godliness….. Watch what He has to say….

“He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
   but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
   their teachings are but rules taught by men.’

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.””

Wow! I thought I was being clear on the topic. It seems like Jesus is more passionate than I am on the topic!

When people hold onto tradition over the move of the Holy Spirit, it is hypocritical, dishonoring to God, worship in vain, and moves their hearts far from God as they hold onto rules taught by men instead of leaning into God.

Now, let me take a break and remind you, I was raised with a healthy respect for traditions. They can be a tool to move us closer to God. However, if we hold them too tightly, they can be a wall that blocks God. This may be the way a church is governed, rules within the sanctuary, a system that tells us who we help and don’t help… it could be many things so we must be careful.

After Jesus explores this, he moves into an example with them and shares with the crowd around Him. He shares a new teaching that shows that all food is now clean to eat. He taught that things going into the body do not make someone unclean but the things that come out of the heart…… lust, theft, murder, slander and more.

Those who were open to this new thing of God, enjoyed the freedom that came with it. However, those holding to traditions were left in bondage to an old way. Which would you rather be?