Your Pharisaical Slip Is Showing

I haven’t written in a couple of weeks. I have had a lot going on and just could not think of a thing to write about. No inspiration whatsoever. This week is a little different; I had a light bulb explode over my head. There is a problem with this one though – it might offend a few people. I apologize in advance if that happens. This is one of those things that just needs to be hit on every once in a while.

We Christians seem to forget that we were once in the world and were once of the world. If we do not remember that, we will continually make the mistake of being a pharisee. The pharisees in the Bible were those who believed that they were living right and no one else was. If we go to people with such an attitude, if we live before the world with such and attitude – we will never point anyone to Christ. We should be approaching people with a kind heart and a kind attitude. Christ approached people with tenderness – “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

         The only time in scripture that Christ became angry was when the money-changers (pharisees) were making a mockery of the temple and selling and buying goods inside the temple. The temple had become a place of buying because of the watered down attitudes of the leaders of the temple – they had, because of all their traditions decided the way that they wanted to run the temple was better and turned more of a profit than the way the of the patriarchs. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money- changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” – Matthew 21:12-13

          In other words, after generations had passed, everything had gotten convoluted so much that the temple was no longer a temple – it was just a meeting place. (Sound familiar?)

         What happens over generations is things get watered down, and then some of us try to over-compensate and become, you guessed it – pharisees! We know what is right and we do not mind telling others that they are wrong and should look to us for an example! If you are not doing it exactly like we are – heaven help you!

         Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying sin is acceptable, but I am also saying criticism, delivered in a haughty and holier than thou attitude is also a sin. We criticize this person and that person, this congregation and that congregation. It has become a second nature to some of us. 

         We, as Christians, at the end of all things, will sit with Christ as he judges the world. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” 

(1 Corinthians 6:2a).We are not the judges, Christ is. In the meantime, stop not only trying to judge the world prematurely, stop trying to judge other Christians as they go about their lives. If the world sees us arguing (watch out, Facebookers) That is another deterrent for them to see the love of Christ!        If someone is speaking for Christ, don’t start arguing about your way is the only way. Christ himself said in Luke 9:50 – “Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.”

Don’t be deceived by “religion” that doesn’t stand up to scripture. Do not go against your principles, don’t water down your convictions or standards. Keep your theology intact, your doctrine. “Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them:” – 1 Timothy 4:16a. Go to a brother in secret if there is an issue, but for Heaven’s sake, don’t publish it for the world to see!

AE