When our Lord began His ministry, there were several groups in Palestine that claimed to have the answer to Israel’s problems. The Pharisees claimed that the nation could experience freedom and blessing only if the people returned to the traditions of the fathers. The Sadducees, on the other hand, urged the people to update their religion and become more liberal. The Essenes taught that salvation would come only through separation from the world, so they established their little communities and remained outside the life of the nation. At the other extreme were the Zealots, a revolutionary group that sought to overthrow Rome by revolt and force. Unwilling to wait for gradual change, the Zealots murdered and destroyed in the name of Jewish patriotism.

If you look deeply enough, you will see that we have similar groups today. We have those who cry, “Go back!” an attempt to return us to “the good old days” of our fathers. Another group cries, “Go ahead!” and urges us to modernize and liberalize our religion and our philosophy of life. The radical extremists shout “Go against!” and try to destroy vital institutions necessary for the strength and progress of society. The separatists say “Go out!” and isolate themselves from the very people who may need their help. The names of the groups will change from generation to generation, but the basic aims are the same.