Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
11 4 2024

Audio Version

A Convenient Christianity. The indignation of Christians, old and new

Mary Magdalene was a broken woman who anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume,
and anger rose up among his disciples. “What is the waste of pouring out that expensive oil?”
Even Simon, a Pharisee who had been a leper,
but had been healed. They thought, how could you allow HER to touch you or not use the money
that could be better spent on the poor? Luke 7:36 They were still seeing through the eyes of the world and the filter of numbers, profits, and enterprise even though they were Christians…right?

Who was this woman? She was so overcome by what Jesus had done for her that she didn’t care what the others thought. How bold was she to invite herself to a private affair, especially considering
who she was!   Isn’t that amazing all by itself?  

We have to be aware that too many within our churches are just like the people at this dinner gathering. They had heard the gospel, been healed or touched, and called themselves Christians…, but the numbers…the money still mattered more than who Jesus is.

True, Pentecost had not come yet, but by the spirit, Mary was sobbing uncontrollably and pouring oil over his feet, and Jesus even called them out. You did not offer to even clean my feet.  Even they did not see what she saw. 

I see so many of us who attend church. Serve in a ministry, but too easily are distracted by money, our jobs. time for recreation, and they miss what Mary had.  How easy is it to get caught in the same carnal mindset of his disciples…both then and today? 

Dear lord, open our eyes to see what she saw. Help us to be unyielding in our boldness to show our love for Christ without regard to what others may say or judge us by. Remove the scales from our eyes to truly walk by the spirit. 

We have what they didn’t have then. Jesus said greater things than I have done… you will do. How is that possible?  He raised the dead. Gave sight to the blind, healed the lepers. He did it all. What did he mean by that? 

I have pondered that for years, and honestly, I do not understand how that could be.  But I believe I was thinking too much with my carnal mind. I have spent a lifetime living in a physical world of understanding. 

How often have we heard?  My ways are not your ways. I am as far as the east is from the west. Ps 103:12  Jesus became flesh, became a man to show us his way, his truth, and his life, and what is that?  It is the Holy Spirit!  it is a Spirit world!  Even though most of us struggle wrapping out heads and hearts what that means or looks like.. 

We cannot commune with Jesus in the world.  And the churches are full of people who know his story, they know about the blood and his sacrifice but are just like the disciples around that dinner gathering, they are caught up in carnal thinking. They still care not to offend others with their beliefs,  they are still driven and directed by the cares of this world.  Our houses, our kids,  jobs, new cars, clothes, football, shopping… you name it.  They still care what others think way too much!.  

Mary had crossed over. Her self awareness of her prior sins and way of life was so stark she didn’t care that she was uninvited. She came in and washed his feet with her tears of repentance and appreciation and praise for what he did and who he was… And who he was to her. 

Can I circle back to the “waste of pouring out that small alabaster box”? Let’s look at it more practically… in modern-day thinking. What purpose is this waste of saying “love your neighbor”?
What purpose is this waste of clinging to the doctrine of Jesus Christ? You can listen and do some of them, do some good, but let’s not go overboard.  The fact is, most of the world does not like to see you honoring Jesus Christ… or “Talking about it.  Ok, have Him into your house for dinner, but don’t do everything He says!   Let’s not get extreme.  People are going to look at you as a fool because you put your thoughts and affections on Christ instead of on things on this earth.

Bottom line. Simone and the disciples said what is the purpose of wasting that oil and they missed it, Honestly Peter and the rest didn’t have the Holy Spirit until Jesus went away so He could send the helper. Encourager and teacher.   But what is our excuse?  What is the reason we aren’t embracing everything Mary did…we have the indwelling of the power of the Holy Spirit.   Bottom line?  We care what others think about Jesus and our faith and our rhetoric.  

If you do not have your heart on the things above… If you are compromised…If you are not all in…  the world will see it…that is how, not only the world will look at you but also too many in the church too.  It is the message we send to our children and friends. Gal 6:7 says ” Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”.  He sees…He hears…He cares…He died for everyone, but he will not take home a lukewarm follower.

The truth is his message IS an offense to the world.  When we align with him…WE become an offense even to some of our inner circle…our family and church.

(Matthew 7:21-23) states that Jesus warns that not everyone who claims to be a follower will actually enter heaven.  “I never knew you” signifies that despite outward appearances of faith, their actions did not reflect a true relationship with Him. This verse serves as a clear caution against merely claiming to be Christian without living a life that aligns with God’s will in both our spoken words and deeds.

Who is this woman whose love and commitment were so great she didn’t care what others thought of her or what they might do to her?  Do you wonder at all what she stands for?  She is certainly one of the virgins who had oil in their lamps and was invited to the banquet of the King.  She stands for what the bride of Christ is supposed to look like.  Both forgiven, reborn, and redeemed in the truest sense of the word.

Those of us who are looking at the numbers will not see Jesus Christ because he is a person, not a number.   All of us…each of us… need to see that the God/man you read about in the bible is too often not the Christ you hear preached or shadowed by many so-called Christians who are living a convenient Christianity.  I pray I have got you thinking because I am not accusing.  I am looking in the mirror very seriously at myself.  I pray that you are too. 

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El Shaddai  Amy Grant