| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"rhuff163" |
| Date: |
10 Oct 2005 11:08:46 PM |
| Object: |
Being yoked to a denomination |
Devotional Guide
For the week of October 9, 2005
WAS JESUS UNEQUALLY YOKED?
Being yoked to a denomination
To Read: Job 7-9
To Know:
³¹ŠI have sinned in betraying innocent blood.¹ They said, ŒWhat is that to
us? See to it yourself.¹ And throwing down the pieces of silver in the
temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.² (Matt. 27:4,5)
When Jesus paid his head tax to the corrupt temple leaders did he take upon
himself an unequal yoke? Did some disciples counsel Christ not to pay the
temple tribute because the temple authorities were evildoers? Was this the
reason that the collector of the half-shekel tax in Capernaum asked Peter,
³Does not your teacher pay the tax?² (Matt. 17:24) Not only did Jesus pay
the tax, he provided for Peter to pay too. Christ said, ³Šgo to the sea and
cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its
mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for
yourself.² (Matt. 17:27)
The Byfield Parish Church stopped all mission giving to the United Church of
Christ 35 years ago. At that time we decided to pray and work that other
congregations might experience the renewal of the faith that we were
beginning to enjoy. Therefore, we decided to continue to pay our head tax.
It seemed to us that unless we pay the $15 a year (today¹s rate) we could
not speak with integrity to the abandonment of the Bible by denominational
leaders and teachers. In this do we not follow in our master¹s steps?
The corruption in Israel was profound. The high priests paid Judas to betray
Christ out of the temple tribute. Why else did Judas seek to return his
blood money to the temple treasury? (Matt. 27:4,5) If Jesus did not yoke
himself to his betrayers by paying his half-shekel tax, do we yoke ourselves
to the falsity in our denomination by paying our dues?
10115$-10115
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