đ¤ *Pharisee feuds and defilement*âwhat even is that about?! đ
In this weekâs episode of âThe Uncultured Saintsâ Pastors Goodman and Lietzau exploreâŚ
đĽ Why Jesus clashed with the Pharisees
đ
đ˝ââď¸ What it means to be "defiled"
How Jesus redefines clean vs. unclean
## Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman
In Mark 7:24-30, Jesus encounters a Syrophoenician woman.
This interaction, on the surface, might come across as perplexing and confrontational.
When the woman pleads for help for her demon-possessed daughter, Jesus initially responds with what seems like a rebuff:
âLet the little children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.â
The woman, undeterred, responds:
âYes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.â
Her faith and humility are evident in this reply.
Jesus acknowledges her faith and heals her daughter.
But, this interaction isnât just about the woman and her daughter.
It also serves as a vital lesson for Jesusâ disciples and all onlookers (and you and me!).
During Jesusâ time, strict societal and religious boundaries defined who was considered clean and worthy.
The Syrophoenician woman defies these norms, illustrating that faith knows no bounds.
Jesus emphasizes that true defilement isnât about external factors but what comes from within a person.
By healing her daughter, Jesus shows that God's grace and mercy extend beyond the Jewish community to all who have faith.
What is The Uncultured Saints?
Weâre told the same thing over and over. Christianity doesnât fit with todayâs culture. The thing is, it isnât the culture saying it. Itâs the church. Weâve done a great job figuring out what weâre not. Sometimes we forget what we are. Weâre the saints, washed in the blood of the lamb. Weâre sinners Jesus made holy. This defines us. There are places Christianity doesnât fit with todayâs culture because Christianity isnât bound by culture. Weâre free in Christ to be uncultured. Not against it. Not apart from it. Undefined by it, because weâre defined by something greater. Join Pr. Goodman and Pr. Lietzau, the uncultured saints, as we tackle todayâs issues through the lens of the Lutheran Confessions and find answers to todayâs questions rooted in a timeless truth in Christ.