Fear.

So what is it that corrupts the tenants of God's House?

By making Jesus the Christ they created an absolute which gave them absolute power.

And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

But I believe that the major problem is fear.

Fear of God, fear of sin, fear of sex, fear of women, fear of homosexuals, fear of punishment, fear of judgement, fear of humanity, fear of hell.....

These are the things which cause all the trouble.

But, you ask, why doesn't God tell them?

The answer is that He does.

Periodically God sends a messenger who has developed a better understanding to prophesy to them.

But they won't listen.

They attack the messenger and kill him.

"'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!'"  Matthew 23:37 (NRSV)

This is what Jesus meant when he said: "'For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."'"  Matthew 23:39 (NRSV)

So, if we are to instigate an improvement, we must address their fears.

One of which is fear of criticism.

We must proceed gently with constructive criticism which does not trigger their fear of challenges to their authority.

This is itself based in fear - the fear of being wrong or of displeasing God which would result in hell.

Which is fear itself.

But there is no Hell.

God does not punish our mistakes.

God forgives our errors.

God shows infinite mercy.

God is All-Good.

He is our loving Father.

And we are His Children.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission,  All rights reserved.]

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