Chapter Five: The Religious Reprobate

Chapter Five: The Religious Reprobate

1. Bell speaks at length about how Jesus was formed by his religious tradition and was a regular adherent. He speaks about how at all major festivals Jesus and his disciples were observant, practising Jews. Yet at the same time, he runs into trouble with his peers in the synagogues and temples. What were Jesus’ main clashes with the religious establishment and over what issues? What parallels do you see to today’s world?
   
   
2. Luke writes, “This child is destined to be a sign that will be rejected. Many in Israel will stand or fall because of him.”  What are some of the main issues and critical incidents which cause some to seek out Jesus’ assassination especially after his proclamation in the temple that echoes Isaiah’s words that “today, this has been fulfilled in your hearing?”
   
3. In Luke 4.14-30 Jesus makes reference to two incidents as found in 1 Kings 17.9-16 and 2 Kings 5.1-14 in which God acted in favour of those whom Jews did not consider to be part of the chosen people, Israel. So angered was the crowd by Jesus reminding them of this part of their religious history that one of the plots to kill Jesus began. What made them so angry? Are there parts of our history as a church community that we would rather not remember?
   
   
4. John Bell writes, “When sacrosanct customs, conventional respectability and exclusive communities are shown as defective in the light of the gospel, our fondness for what has shaped us has to be made subservient to the summons of the one who alone can redeem us.” Can you think of customs, convention and/or aspects of community which seem to be exclusive need to be made subservient to Christ’s vision? At the same time, how does it feel when traditions which have meant much to us are revised or eliminated when they speak less convincingly to a new time and age?