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There Are Too Many Pharisees in Today's Church...

There are too many Pharisees in today's American church. If you don't know what a Pharisees is let me explain...

PHAR'ISEE, n. Heb. to separate. One of a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders,and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews.

In today's world that would be a self-righteous person.

See here for a history of their exploits.

Before there was the church as we know it there were Jews and there were Gentiles. In case you are wondering, unless you have Jewish heritage we all qualify as Gentiles. The Pharisees were what we would consider modern day religious folks that think they are above it all. They were very law focused and intent and content to tell you all of the things you were doing wrong and in some cases using that guilt trip for personal gain. Hmmmmm. Sound familiar in present day?

Well, very much like today there are too many people condemning when there own condemnation looms over them like a heavy dark cloud. The Bible says in Matthew 7:3-5 (MSG)

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

When Jesus came his gripe with the Pharisees was their lack of care for the people in light of the fact that they were supposed to be God's representatives. That's why Jesus preached so much about love. Just never preached to condemn but to set free.

It's interesting how the Pharisees were looking for the Savior and because he was packaged as a poor, homeless carpenter who showed compassion for those the world forgot they missed him.

In this racially charged climate many of the evangelicals who claim to love God would easily reject the Savior as the Pharisees did because he is a Jewish man from the Middle East/North Africa.

It is amazing what hate and being self-righteous can cause us to miss out on.

My fellow Saints be careful that you yourself don't miss the Savior in this moment because of the biases you carry and please remember that God will remember how you have treated people in His Name.

Reacquaint yourself with the Pharisees and make sure you aren't one.

The Unlikely Missionary,
DHW
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