I found the original post on this thread to have some things in common with chapter 23 of Matthew where Jesus levels numerous harsh criticisms of the religious leaders of his time. However, there are at least two important differences.
Jesus begins his criticisms with the admonition to his disciples
“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you…”
and he ends his criticisms of their practices with the following:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!”
I believe that most, if not all, of the criticisms Jesus leveled at the scribes and Pharisees have been true of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic church in various times and places. I believe Jesus would state these criticisms freely today but I also believe he would stress the importance of appropriate respect for the chair of (in this case) Peter.
I believe he would also give the criticisms in a spirit of frustated love like a mother trying to correct her obstinate wayward children - as he did to the scribes and Pharisees in his day.
Anyone who is for Jesus should see this is the way God would have us respond to the errors, great and small, that church leaders have made throughout the centuries.
-Jim
