Who is better than whom?
I've decided to venture back into academia and finish my PhD after taking a year off. I'm a little nervous because graduate level math classes are hard, and if I don't get an A, I consider myself a failure. To be very honest, I simply want to be the best. I want people to think I'm smart and being a female in a male dominated field makes for an interesting dynamic - one which I'm compelled to prove myself daily. But though my feelings are strong, they are also sinful.
My sinfulness was made even more apparent when I read the story about Leah Sharibu, a 15 year old girl from Nigeria, who was captured by Boko Haram and has been held for over a month. Out of the 111 school girls that were taken by the terrorists, 5 died in captivity and the rest were released home after they converted to Islam. However, Leah refused to convert from Christianity to Islam and so she was not released.
It was made clear to the girls, that if they converted, they could go home. Many of Leah's friends pleaded with her to simply renounce her faith so that she could be safe with her family, but Leah refused. Leah is 15. She doesn't have a PhD. I highly doubt she's theologically astute. But this I know: she would rather die than renounce Christ. Would I do the same?
While we don't intentionally impose a caste system within the American church, we still rank people within the church. I wonder how Leah was ranked prior to her capture. I wonder if she held to some aspects of incorrect doctrine. I wonder if we would be quick to condemn her to hell because she was less than perfect. I wonder what my opinion of her would have been. I wonder if my opinion even matters. (Actually, I don't wonder that last statement, because we all know my opinion is worthless.)
I am reminded of Jesus' teaching in Mark 12:38-43. Jesus begins by giving his disciples a warning about the "teachers of the law" who "like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets." These Pharisees were all about being the best, looking the best, and having the praises of men. Sadly, I can relate. Then Jesus shifts from the teachers of the law and directs his disciples to look at a widowed woman who has almost nothing and is hardly even seen. She quietly without notice put in 2 cents to the temple treasury. It doesn't seem like much, but it is all she had. The contrast is startling.
If we were to rank the teachers of the law against the poor widow, they beat her out in nearly every area - money, intelligence, respect, etc. But God doesn't judge people like we do. So, I have to ask myself: Am I more like the Pharisees or the poor widowed woman? Am I more like Pulpit and Pen or Leah?
My sinfulness was made even more apparent when I read the story about Leah Sharibu, a 15 year old girl from Nigeria, who was captured by Boko Haram and has been held for over a month. Out of the 111 school girls that were taken by the terrorists, 5 died in captivity and the rest were released home after they converted to Islam. However, Leah refused to convert from Christianity to Islam and so she was not released.
It was made clear to the girls, that if they converted, they could go home. Many of Leah's friends pleaded with her to simply renounce her faith so that she could be safe with her family, but Leah refused. Leah is 15. She doesn't have a PhD. I highly doubt she's theologically astute. But this I know: she would rather die than renounce Christ. Would I do the same?
While we don't intentionally impose a caste system within the American church, we still rank people within the church. I wonder how Leah was ranked prior to her capture. I wonder if she held to some aspects of incorrect doctrine. I wonder if we would be quick to condemn her to hell because she was less than perfect. I wonder what my opinion of her would have been. I wonder if my opinion even matters. (Actually, I don't wonder that last statement, because we all know my opinion is worthless.)
I am reminded of Jesus' teaching in Mark 12:38-43. Jesus begins by giving his disciples a warning about the "teachers of the law" who "like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets." These Pharisees were all about being the best, looking the best, and having the praises of men. Sadly, I can relate. Then Jesus shifts from the teachers of the law and directs his disciples to look at a widowed woman who has almost nothing and is hardly even seen. She quietly without notice put in 2 cents to the temple treasury. It doesn't seem like much, but it is all she had. The contrast is startling.
If we were to rank the teachers of the law against the poor widow, they beat her out in nearly every area - money, intelligence, respect, etc. But God doesn't judge people like we do. So, I have to ask myself: Am I more like the Pharisees or the poor widowed woman? Am I more like Pulpit and Pen or Leah?
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:43-44
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