Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain. “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.” (Isaiah 56:10–12)

Fallen human beings can be given the titles of shepherds or leaders yet still be spiritually blind and self-seeking. A spiritual enterprise being successfully run does not validate its spirituality. God is not necessarily at work just because thousands of people attend a church. The vast size of an audience does not validate the spiritual authenticity of the platform.

“Fallen human beings can be given the titles of shepherd or leader yet still be spiritually blind and self-seeking.” #crossruptionTweet this

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.’” (Ezekiel 34:1–3)

This is what the Lord says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.” (Micah 3:5)

“A spiritual enterprise being successfully run does not validate its spirituality.” #crossruptionTweet this

How can Ezekiel and Micah be asked to prophesy against the shepherds of Israel? The phrase “Woe to you shepherds!” is a paradox. The title does not necessarily reflect the quality of the individual. Fallen human beings can overlook quality and live by designations rather than the authenticity of a spiritual relationship.

God does not care about the spiritual titles people give themselves. Fallen human beings, even those with a prophetic designation, can act for their personal benefit and say what their listeners want to hear to gain financial profit. In fallen creation, designation and office supersede everything else.

“God is not necessarily at work just because thousands of people attend a church.” #crossruptionTweet this

Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” (Micah 3:11)

Jesus encountered this same religious system. The Person of God, for whom all religious ceremonies were created, came to earth and challenged the people. They thought they were running this religious system for God, but He placed it under His judgment.

God had told human beings to create the system according to His guidelines, but they left God out, operating the system for self-centered gain. Most Christian religious systems might be God-originated but are not God-sustained.

“The vast size of an audience does not validate the spiritual authenticity of the platform.” #crossruptionTweet this

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:1*–*3)

Jesus was warning His listeners when He says of the Pharisees, “Do not do what they do. Just do as they say.” He was pointing out that what the Pharisees preach and what they do are opposites. It is not what we say, but who we are, that matters to Jesus.

Like many revival movements, the Pharisee sect among the Jews started with good intent. The name Pharisees in Hebrew means “separatists, or the separated ones.” They were also known as chasidim, which means “loyal to God, or loved of God.”

“God does not care about the spiritual titles people give themselves.” #crossruptionTweet this

Fallen human beings can take all that God creates and make it all they want. Jesus recognized humanity’s fallen identity in dealing with the Pharisees. We will convert God’s spiritual system into a religious system of our own. Spiritual designations, accomplishments, and systems become monuments to human glory. We have perfected the art of making ourselves look good, defining our identity inside and outside the church by what we do, say, and possess, as well as by all that pleases the mind and body.

We must realize that Jesus was not talking to Roman soldiers but to religious leaders. The religious system was at the receiving end of His whip. We are capable of corrupting an incorruptible system, making the counterfeit look like the original.