Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Teaching Authority

Jesus fulfilled the Law.
17 [a]“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.[b]-Matthew5:17-19

The gospel reading made me wonder about something and made me remember someone. A world-renowned boxer was initially known for being a devout Catholic. So many people were touched at his piety. One day, he announced that he would leave the Catholic Church in favor of a born-again religious sect. I do not want to judge him, but it made me, and so many others, wonder if he did this just so that he can include it in his achievements - self-made man, millionaire, world-class boxer, philanthropist, politician (sic) and now a preacher. Can anybody preach just like that? Is the desire to be a motivational speaker enough reason to leave a Church in favor of another? What is more important - to preach the Scriptures with one's experiences as fuel, or to preach the Scriptures with years of studies as fuel? Preaching and evangelizing are noble acts and I am touched by men and women who do it, but can anybody just do it? Is there danger if somebody is just plucked from nowhere to do it?


image courtesy: Dreamstime 

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