A ll of you know that a blind person cannot lead another blind person. They would both fall into the first ditch. Similarly, while a student is not above his teacher, it is likely that he will be like his teacher for the simple reason that you can’t follow someone without being led where he is going.

I thought about that for a moment. What was his point? Blind leading blind? Teachers leading students? It would seem that one should be careful in choosing whom one should follow. Yet how, if one were ignorant and seeking to be taught, would one know the integrity or value of a teacher without significant exposure to him? How does one predispose himself to authentic enlightenment?

“Be aware of fraudulent spiritual leaders. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, or maybe a peacock’s. They seek money and merchandise silly trinkets, but inwardly they are hungry wolves. They often seek to control by imposing religious law. They may be terribly misled themselves; yet think they have the truth. You will know them by what they produce. Do they relieve pain or cause it? You cannot pick grapes from a thorn bush. Likewise good trees bear good fruit, bad trees bad fruit. Trees that do not bear good fruit are cut down and burned. You will recognize them when you examine their fruit.

“Do they relieve pain or cause it?” This doesn’t seem a particularly complex question. Does a leader relieve the suffering of others, or dispense it? Perhaps the picture does at times seem gray. If a teacher lies yet seems to bring benefit, should he be followed? And how am I to know truth if I am predispositioned by ignorance? If I in my heart seek the Father, does not the Father look upon my heart and respond lovingly to such seeking? While these things may be confusing, I may yet be led astray by whatever degree my leader befouls the Truth. Therefore, this one thing I do: I follow Jesus as best my poor discernment can perceive him. If I go wrongly, I go. But in following Jesus, I maximize the possibility that his magnetism may bring me back, and keep me in his Truth.

“Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to religious pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Don’t waste your intimacy with the Father on such people. Probably the last place in the world you will find true righteousness is in church; for true righteousness is found in the heart, not in an institution.

I am intrigued by the stunning reality that people come to Jesus, not the other way around. He does not go chasing after people to listen to him, to hear him out. He especially doesn’t seek the company of those who oppose him or who are critical of him and his message. Obviously, from his comment here, he does not view them warmly. Religious pigs? I am often surprised at his insulting vehemence. He is, however, a realist. He knows what his enemies will do with what he offers. These words then, are well spoken. It is a waste of energy to engage the enemy in a battle of words. It is certain that no matter how noble and holy his thoughts, his critics can easily turn them into vomit. Why waste your time on such people? What is doubly surprising is that his critics are those of the community of faith, those who should be his closest intimates. But he has chosen as friends those who do not walk in lock step with institutionalized religion. Is there something about religious form that is intrinsically evil?

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