Episode 807
The Cost of Gatekeeping: How Religion Can Exclude and Divide | 807
The episode delves into the profound themes of authenticity, justice, and religious performance as explored in Luke 11:37-52. We examine the stark critique that Jesus offers to the Pharisees, illuminating the dissonance between outward religious observance and genuine internal transformation. This discourse challenges us to reflect on the dangers of performative faith, urging us to prioritize authentic actions over mere appearances. Furthermore, we consider the intersection of economic justice and spirituality, recognizing that true faith necessitates a commitment to dismantling oppressive financial practices. As we navigate these complex ideas, we are invited to identify and confront any tendencies towards gatekeeping within our own spiritual communities, fostering a more inclusive and just environment.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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The discussion unfolds against the backdrop of Luke 11:37-52, where Dr. Brad Miller articulates a compelling critique of the religious leaders of Jesus' time, particularly the Pharisees. The speaker emphasizes the stark contrast between external religious observance and internal moral integrity, encapsulating the essence of Jesus' message: true righteousness transcends mere appearance. This episode delves into the implications of performative faith, challenging listeners to introspect and question whether their spiritual practices prioritize authenticity and justice or merely project an image of piety. Dr. Miller's insights resonate with contemporary issues, prompting a critical examination of how social media and public displays of faith can sometimes mask deeper ethical shortcomings.
Moreover, the episode brings to light the imperative of economic justice as an integral aspect of spiritual life. Dr. Miller explicates Jesus' exhortation to cleanse both the heart and one’s financial dealings, positing that true faith must engage with the realities of economic disparity. This theme challenges listeners to reevaluate their relationship with wealth, urging them not to view charitable acts as mere obligations but as profound expressions of justice. As wealth inequality continues to rise, the speaker calls for a radical rethinking of how financial practices impact both personal spirituality and societal structures, advocating for a commitment to dismantling systems of oppression through informed and compassionate economic choices.
Lastly, the episode confronts the issue of knowledge as a means of exclusion within religious institutions. Dr. Miller critiques the institutional tendency to monopolize theological discourse, effectively silencing marginalized voices. This portion of the discussion highlights the critical need for inclusivity and representation within faith communities. By echoing Jesus' call to unlock the doors of knowledge, the speaker encourages listeners to engage actively in creating spaces that foster dialogue and connection. The episode concludes with a call to action, urging each individual to identify and dismantle any barriers they may contribute to, thus paving the way for a more inclusive and just spiritual community.
Takeaways:
- The episode emphasizes the importance of authenticity in our spiritual practices and warns against the dangers of mere religious performance.
- Jesus' critique of the Pharisees serves as a poignant reminder of the need for internal transformation over external appearances.
- Economic justice is presented not merely as a charitable act but as a crucial aspect of genuine spiritual practice in today's world.
- The discussion highlights the significance of dismantling barriers that prevent inclusivity and community within religious institutions.
- We are encouraged to reflect on our own practices and attitudes that may contribute to gatekeeping within our faith communities.
- The episode concludes with a call to action, challenging listeners to identify and address their own religious performance and gatekeeping behaviors.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Authenticity, justice and religious performance here on the Daily Bible Refresh as we study Luke 11, 37 52.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:That's me.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me today on this daily exploration of the Bible.
Speaker A:We read the New Testament every single day from the message translation of the Bible.
Speaker A:We read it from the selected verses for this very day using the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:That's a three year cycle of reading through the entire Bible.
Speaker A:We are in year C, the epiphany season.
Speaker A:We make Bible reading understandable by reading the message, the New Testament version, relatable by giving you some points to ponder.
Speaker A:Applicable by giving you a point of action to take.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do it all in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:And it's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:Here is our message.
Speaker A:Here's our reading for the day From Luke, chapter 11, verse 37 through 52.
Speaker A:Frauds.
Speaker A:When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner.
Speaker A:He entered his house and sat right down at the table.
Speaker A:The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn't wash up before the meal.
Speaker A:But the master said to him, I know you Pharisees buff the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun.
Speaker A:But I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil.
Speaker A:Stupid Pharisees.
Speaker A:Didn't the one who made the outside also make the inside?
Speaker A:Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor.
Speaker A:Then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.
Speaker A:I've had it with you.
Speaker A:You're hopeless, you Pharisees frauds.
Speaker A:You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God's love.
Speaker A:Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.
Speaker A:You're hopeless, you Pharisees.
Speaker A:Frauds.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:You love sitting at the head table at church dinners.
Speaker A:Love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery.
Speaker A:Frauds.
Speaker A:You're just like unmarked graves.
Speaker A:People walk over that nice grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.
Speaker A:One of the religious scholars spoke of teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you're insulting us?
Speaker A:He said, yes, and I can even be more explicit.
Speaker A:You're hopeless, you religion scholars.
Speaker A:You load people down with rules and regulations nearly breaking their backs, but never even lift a finger to help.
Speaker A:You're hopeless.
Speaker A:You built tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed.
Speaker A:The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets.
Speaker A:That accounts for God's wisdom saying, I will send them prophets and apostles, but they'll kill them and run them off.
Speaker A:What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time on earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads.
Speaker A:Yes, it's on the bill of this generation.
Speaker A:And this generation will pay.
Speaker A:You are hopeless.
Speaker A:You religion scholars.
Speaker A:You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you lock them.
Speaker A:You won't go in yourself and won't let anyone else in either.
Speaker A:Wow, Jesus really lets the Pharisees have it here, didn't it?
Speaker A:Jesus delivers, really one of his most pointed critiques of the religious leadership of his day and institutional hypocrisy and, and it's a very challenging set of scriptures here that we have here before us here today.
Speaker A:From Luke 11, let's look at some points to ponder some teaching points.
Speaker A:Number one is the danger of religious performance.
Speaker A:Jesus confronts the gap between external religious observance and internal transformation in our contemporary context.
Speaker A:This speaks to the hollow nature of performative Christianity, whether that's through social media, you know, thoughts and prayers, or public displays of piety.
Speaker A:Are using faith as a weapon to abuse others or to exclude rather than as a tool for liberation?
Speaker A:The question for us, are we more concerned with appearing righteous than actually doing justice?
Speaker A:Point number two is economic justice as spiritual practice.
Speaker A:When Jesus speaks about cleaning both our pockets and our hearts, he's making a radical statement about the intersection of economic and spiritual life.
Speaker A:This isn't about charitable giving as a spiritual checkbox.
Speaker A:It's about a fundamental economic justice.
Speaker A:In our world of growing wealth inequality.
Speaker A:This message challenges us to examine how our financial practices either perpetuate or dismantle systems of oppression.
Speaker A:One more point.
Speaker A:Gatekeeping knowledge and power.
Speaker A:Jesus criticism of those who took the key of knowledge resonates powerfully to today when religious institutions use theology, God talk to exclude, control or maintain power structures, politically and otherwise, whether through gender identity, sexuality, race or class, they are engaging in the same gatekeeping Jesus condemned.
Speaker A:Progressive Christianity calls us to tear down barriers that divide us in connection and community.
Speaker A:Here's today's action step.
Speaker A:Identify an area where you might be participating as some form of religious gatekeeping or performance faith.
Speaker A:This could be simple as reconsidering a kind of a judgmental attitude you may have towards somebody else's spiritual practices.
Speaker A:Or maybe as complex as examining how your church's or your community's policies might exclude marginalized people.
Speaker A:Take a concrete step towards dismantling that barrier.
Speaker A:We'll come back for and have a closing prayer in just a minute.
Speaker A:I just always want to share with you that you can always go to voiceofgoddaily.com and there you can get Our resource that we have for you is called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:And it and I promise you it is a simple way for you to study the Bible daily and bring it into your heart.
Speaker A:We always want you to join us here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:But on your own you can study using the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide and you can find everything@voiceofgoddaily.com along with the back catalog well over 800 episodes of Voice of the Daily Bible Refresh which is there for you.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:God, you are the Divine Disruptor.
Speaker A:Help us and we confess our tendency to choose comfort over justice, appearance over authenticity, and tradition over transformation.
Speaker A:Shake us from our complacency.
Speaker A:Help us recognize where we become gatekeepers, the very gatekeepers of Jesus challenged so fiercely.
Speaker A:Give us courage to examine our hearts, to empty our pockets in service and justice, and to unlock doors rather than to guard them.
Speaker A:Remind us that your love knows no bounds and your table has room for all in the spirit of holy disruption.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Always great to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:We have been coming to you now and this is episode number 807.
Speaker A:So we're here every day.
Speaker A:We'll be here again tomorrow.
Speaker A:We usually drop these episodes before 6:00am Eastern Time.
Speaker A:Please join me.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:And bring a friend this time.
Speaker A:When you do, please remember that.
Speaker A:Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.
Speaker A:Every morning Sa.
