Jesus and Religious Leaders

We live in an era of Christianity where many things in culture are labeled “ungodly.” For example, transgender people are told they are living in an “ungodly” manner by denying their createdness. For those that know me, and follow me, you will easily know I believe being transgender is divine, and are blossoming into our gender identity is actually intrinsic to who we are but more on that later. Another example of things being “ungodly” to some are drinking, tattoos, voting democrat, being in a gay relationship and more.

Religious systems have always been tied to this idea of merit based salvation. It has become a prevalent theological view of both Catholics and Protestants, and it argues that we earn merit through grace but must also have a certain degree of good works to accompany our salvation. In Jesus’ time there was still a split jury on the after-life with some Jews not believing it existed, and others staunchly in favor of it. This was why the Pharisees were so obsessed with actions, intentions, dress codes, and moral codes. For them they wanted to have a rule system that could check their “sinfulness” and help them measure their own lives so they could inherit blessed salvation, and not eternal punishment. However, it was this group that came the majority. And as leaders they themselves then would also be the judge and jury over other Jews in their community, at the Temple, and while…