In our scripture readings for this second Sunday after Epiphany, Jesus rampages through the temple, driving out the salesmen. He chastises Nicodemus and explains his own role in salvation. And John the Baptist exhibits the correct response to the plan of salvation – Jesus must increase, and I must decrease....
Do you remember in the golden past, when being a member of the church came with earthly perks? Employers would see “serves on church council” on your resume, and you would instantly have a leg up on the other candidates, not because of the valuable skills you develop serving on church council, just for being attached to the church. Coffee time after service was networking time, as all the influential businessmen and leaders were there, chatting about their upcoming projects. There was a prestige around town – as a church member, you were assumed trustworthy and of good intent, until proven otherwise. And your voice had more than its fair share of clout in local politics. The problem of a church with perks, however, is that people join it in order to increase themselves, rather than receive Jesus, so maybe it's for the best that these perks have dried up. Except for the valuable skills you develop serving on church council, just saying....
The money-changers and the livestock salesmen in the temple had it good. Thanks to the law of Moses and its schedule of festivals, where people were expected to bring sacrificial animals and temple shekels, the merchants had a captive market. Who is going to drag their own cow thirty or forty miles on foot to Jerusalem, when you can purchase one at the temple? And if it is two or three or five times the going rate, who is going to refuse to pay it, when the festival is the only reason people are in Jerusalem in the first place. The temple merchants were thoroughly enjoying the earthly perks of their religion – until Jesus showed up.
Nicodemus had it good. As a Pharisee and teacher and leader of his people, he had an immense amount of prestige. He was so famous, the only way he could visit Jesus without attracting attention, was at night. And he was so powerful, he could build up or tear down anyone in the synagogue, interpret any law, be the last word on any subject. Nicodemus was thoroughly enjoying the earthly perks of his religion – until Jesus showed up.
What earthly perks do we want MOST from our religion? Are we hoping that our religion will deliver us material wealth, either from direct divine intervention or the exercise of worldly power? Are we hoping that our religion will bring us self-improvement, so that we have fewer destructive habits and additional productive habits? Are we hoping that our religion will enable us to FEEL better about ourselves, increase our self-worth and tackle mental health issues for us? Are we hoping that our religion will give US the position of saviour for our friends and family, the marginalized groups around us, our community, our nation, our Western civilization, or our planet? Are we hoping that through our religion, WE will increase?....