Infected by the yeast of Jesus?

Reflecting on Mark 8:14-21

“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 7:34)

As a Jesus follower, I am aware of how invisible spirits can infect and shape me.
Jesus uses the symbol of yeast to describe this subtle yet strong power.
Yeast is a microscopic fungus that feeds on other organic material.
It is very small – twenty billion yeast cells weigh one gram.
Though it is not visible, its influence is gradual, hidden and pervasive.

Jesus warns His disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.
According to Matthew, this refers to what they teach (Matthew 16:12).
According to Luke, this refers to their hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).
Matthew and Luke refer to the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Here in Mark Jesus refers to the Pharisees and Herod.
Taken together, Jesus warns about the bad influence of leaders.

To be a leader, religious, political or business, is a serious responsibility.
What you say and do impacts and influences others, for good or for bad.
A good leader, like Jesus, influences people towards goodness.
A bad leader, like the Pharisees and Herod, mislead, abuse or neglect people.

The Pharisees were religious leaders, seen as representing God.
Herod was a political leader, who used religion to control people.
He helped build the temple for the Jews, but not from personal faith.
He used religion to control and manipulate the nation for personal gain.
Both held up their bibles in public, but it was for show.
Both claimed to be serving God, but they were serving themselves.

Sometimes their influence is obvious, other times it is invisible.
It looks good and sounds good, but something if off about it.
But how do we know when our leaders are good or bad influences?
The test is by comparing what they say and do to Jesus.
They are shepherds, but are they good shepherds like Jesus (John 10)?
Are they elevating themselves, or are they humbling themselves.
Are they lifting up others, or demeaning and belittling others?
Are they sacrificing themselves for others, or making themselves great.

The Spirit or yeast of Jesus is very different from how leaders usually work.
His influence is love, joy, peace, patience and kindness.
His impact is goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This is how I discern good leadership – religious or political – by its fruit.

As a Jesus follower, I encounter many christians and churches.
What they teach and what they do produces fruit, but what kind of fruit?
Too often I sense arrogant certainty and not humble graciousness.
Too many church leaders seem to me more like the Pharisees.
I say this as one who was a Pharisee leader, claiming to be right.
I was all about orthodoxy and defending the ‘truth’.
But my teaching was hollow, and my piety was hypocritical.
My seminary training did not make me more loving, joyful, peaceful, etc.
The spirit of the Pharisees is alive and well in the church today.

As far as political leaders, I only know a few that hold up bibles.
Jesus does not warn against Caesar, who did not pretend to serve Judaism.
He warned against Herod, who pretended to be serving the Jews.
And this is what I see playing out in American politics right now.
Herod is still in bed with the Pharisees today, and its fermenting badly.

But it does me no good to criticize the church or government.
I see the yeast of their teaching and hypocrisy in me.
I’ve got a log in my own eye, never mind their own splinters.
I don’t become better by pointing out the weaknesses in others.
I don’t protect myself from badness by attacking the badness in others.
My focus – our focus – needs to be on the leaven of Jesus.
We need to stay close to Jesus so His Spirit will infect and shape us.

“Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” (Romans 8:5)

My focus is on Jesus, and on the Way of Jesus.
The fruit of Jesus is the fruit of the Spirit, what I want to see in me.
Where God calls me to lead, I want to lead in this Jesus Way.
This is how I protect myself from the bad leaven at work in the world.
This is how I resist the influence of hypocritical religion and teaching.

Beware the subtle, non-Jesus-like yeast in me, and in the church today.
It is still at work, hidden and pervasive, undermining Jesus and the Jesus Way.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I cannot accuse others of the yeast at work in them, because it is working in me too. The more I consider Your influence and character, the more I sense the bad yeast at work in me still. Infect me with Your Spirit, ferment and multiply in me Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Wherever You call me to lead and teach, may I lead and teach like You.