Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
-Matthew 12:14, NLT
For many years, I struggled with the idea of standing up for myself with medical professionals. The idea of “firing” one’s doctor did not seem like a real possibility for me. You see, I had grown up in a medical town where doctors were revered as great, unquestionable authorities.
But as I grew into manhood, I learned that pushing back against such medical authorities is sometimes necessary. It is about having healthy boundaries and not accepting abuse from anyone–including even a doctor–when it is present. This was and is a hard lesson for me to internalize.
The same learning experience applies to the religious realm and human authorities.
I think too many of us accept the word of ministers–especially well-educated ones with counseling degrees–over what we know to be true from the Bible and the Holy Spirit at work in us (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
The quote I shared at the start of this post is to make a point:
It was the most learned and prestigious religious leaders who plotted Jesus’ death. This stands as a stark warning to us not to blindly trust an educated religious leader for that leader clearly may not be operating with the mind of God.
