Sanctuary for saints or hospital for sinners

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Opinion

Steven L. Shields

Sanctuary for saints or hospital for sinners

Posted : 2023-07-06 17:38

Updated : 2023-07-06 17:38

By Steven L. Shields

Pharisees abound. As I do my daily business in the city, I often run into Pharisees, especially in places with high pedestrian traffic.

One of several sects among the Jewish people in the Roman Empire, the Pharisees were noted for their literalistic application of the Mosaic Law. They were part of a larger social conflict in which some parties favored modernization (or finding ways to adapt to a changing cultural setting). The Pharisees resisted change and set the foundation for modern Rabbinic Judaism.

The Pharisees dominate the narrative found in the Gospel writings of the Christian bible (New Testament). Each time they challenged Jesus, though, he is depicted by the Gospel writers as having put them in their place, always arguing for humanity over literalism and legalism.

On one occasion, Jesus and his disciples walked through the fields on the Sabbath day. Being hungry, some of the disciples plucked an ear of corn to eat. The Pharisees declared they had broken the Law of Moses, which forbade labor on the holy day. Jesus responded in his classic manner of rehearsing well-known incidents in Hebrew scripture. We find this narrative in the 12th chapter of Matthew. Jesus questions his critics. Do you not remember, he said, the story of David (the honored and much-loved ancient king of Judea) when he and his companions were hungry? They entered the "house of God" (known as the Tabernacle in David's time since the temple had not yet been built) and were given the "bread of Presence" (a holy offering) by the priest.

Jesus continued that priests in the temple (which was the functional, ritual focus of Judaism) are permitted to break the Sabbath each week and are guiltless. He then makes a messianic claim about himself that "something greater than the temple" stands before them. He quotes an ancient Hebrew prophet, which they would have known well, which portrays God as declaring, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." He then declares that he (Jesus, as the son of God) is lord of the Sabbath.

A few years ago, a man entered the church on Sunday morning. The regular members of the congregation cautiously greeted him. But after the service, he wanted to ask some questions. His questions were about deeper, philosophical and spiritual matters about life and the meaning of humanity. After he left, the "old guard" cautioned me. "Why did you invite him to come back? We don't want people like that in church."

More recently, a young man showed up at church. He had dozens of questions about the denomination's history and theology. The young man's personality was a bit quirky. His social skills were on the extremely shy side. Again, many regular attendees were suspicious of a walk-in and hesitant to engage with him. After many months and hours of conversation, he continues to travel across the vastness of Seoul to come to our small church. People have gradually become more accustomed to him. More people are engaging him in conversation. I hope he has found a place where his soul finds peace, even if only for a few hours a week ― an outpost of grace.

When I have suggested that the church is not a sanctuary for saints but rather a hospital for sinners, I have received replies ranging from gasps of surprise to outright hostility. On the city streets, I see dozens of single preachers and small groups, each pointing fingers at passers-by and condemning their sinful nature. They are unaware or ignore that three fingers point back at you when you point one finger at another. Pharisees abound.

Matthew's gospel (plucking grains on the Sabbath) lays out the simple teaching of Jesus: justice and mercy are more important. Later in Matthew's testimony of Jesus, he has Jesus telling his disciples that when he was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick or impaired, they assisted. But the disciples had never done this personally for Jesus. He taught them the essence of the lesson of the corn on the Sabbath. He said whenever one of his followers, or a group of his followers, does those things for the most insignificant member of society, it is the same as having done it for Jesus personally.

Modern Christian practice does not need Pharisees. We do not need sanctuaries for saints. Shall we stop pointing fingers and get on with the work Jesus wants his disciples to do?

Rev. Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s. He is the president of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea. He served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect The Korea Times' editorial stance.