Niels Prip – Blog

In this age of political upheaval and divisive politics, the church has lost its uniqueness. The modern church is splintered, and it is difficult to even talk about the unity of the brethren. What we see in the church today is a mirror of what we see in the country. Our politics have bled into all areas of church life. The church divides over all sorts of issues including not only politics, but also over different ministries and beliefs.

There is a vast number of teachers, prophets, apostles and evangelists online that you can follow.  I once saw a sign in front of a church that said “We have three kinds of worship- contemporary, traditional and blended. One Just right for you!”. There you have it! You can pick and choose who to follow online, there is “one just right for you”. What a twisted thing we have made the church.

When we look in the scriptures at the ‘last supper’, we see men who were radically changed by Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about it, you have Simon the Zealot and Matthew the traitor sitting at table with Jesus. Can you wrap your head around that?

The Zealots were a political movement in 1st-century Second Temple Judaism that sought to incite the people of Judea Providence to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Holy Land by force of arms, most notably during the First Jewish-Roman war(66–70).

The Tax Collector in the Roman world was an official that was often greedy, and usually took the position from love of money. They would frequently extort unjust dues, especially from the poor. Such tax-collectors were infamous among the Jews. As Cornelius a Lapide points out, the Jews “maintained that they, as a people dedicated to God, ought not to pay tribute to the Romans, who were Gentiles and idolaters: for this was contrary to the liberty and dignity of the children of God.” To associate with tax-collectors and sinners was considered sinful behavior for Jews. Tradition stated: “Let not a man associate with the wicked, not even to bring him to the Torah” (Mechilta).

The natural tension between Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector would be obvious! Matthew would have been considered a traitor and Simon would despise him. What happened to them that they were now sitting at table together in fellowship? Jesus happened!! Jesus and the Holy Spirit had a profound effect on them and changed them forever.

Jesus is the great leveler! The things of this world do grow strangely dim when we experience His love and forgiveness. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we become part of the ‘Kingdom of God’! This world loses its glitter! We have a greater inheritance, and Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. Let us live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, preferring one another in love. And may God grant us a unity that is based on His love for us. We are to be unique in the world, not like the world! We are to be holy, that is- set apart, different, showing forth His attributes.