Sometimes Religious Leaders Don't Have Access to God

Often we think of religious leaders as speaking for God. Often we look for their approval or ask them for advice. And so many times they’ve given it (sometimes without us asking!).

It’s easy for us to grant religious leaders a special status. Sometimes we might do that because it absolves us of having to do the work to connect with God ourselves - we just figure they’ll do it for our church so I don’t have to.

Jesus, however, saw it differently. Jesus praised the poor in spirit, lifted up sexual minorities as spiritual examples, and pointed to a poor old lady as the one teaching us all about generosity. And when it came to the official religious leaders, well, he didn’t hold back:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. -Matthew 23:15

Who are the religious leaders who ‘rent space’ so to speak in your mind? Are there some religious leaders you’ve known who are indeed trustworthy and helpful? Some who have misused that role? Should they have that authority? Are there ways you grant it to them so you don’t have to do the hard work yourself of trying to hear from God?