How Not To Be A Christian Pharisee

[rwbovee]

If you've ever read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John you know that Jesus Christ had many confrontations with the unbelieving Jewish Pharisees, regardless of what the modern Christian Zionists say. And Jesus Christ didn't hate them, he wasn't an anti-semite. He was just telling them the truth and how they could change. He loved them. He didn't want them to go to hell, so he told them the truth, and some of them changed.

What bothers me is that a lot of modern Christians are just about exactly like the old Pharisees. The Pharisees did a lot of good things. They showed up at the synagogue every week. They tithed. They praised the Lord. Some of them even fasted two days a week. Most modern pastors would be happy to have this kind of Christian in his church, or even as deacons. But all this was external. Jesus Christ could see into the heart and see that these people were actually wicked, and they probably didn't even realize this.

And there's always been a kind of born again, even in the Old Testament. But you're born again by meditating on the word of God day and night, and doing what it says. See Psalm chapter one. So Jesus told them "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me." Good advice for Christians today, too. If you have no faith at all right now start reading some of the King James version Bible every day, and before long you will have some faith.

Then the Pharisees weren't giving any alms to the poor, even though numerous places in the Old Testament tell you to do this. "Give alms of such things as ye have and behold all things are clean unto you," Jesus Christ told them. Luke 11:41. A lot of Christians today are giving nothing at all to the poor, and many churches are even telling them not to.

Then the Pharisees were proud and they seemed to want to be proud. Even though the Bible says in the Old Testament in numerous places that pride is a sin. "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble." Malachi 4:1, for example. Jesus Christ told them that when they pray to smite themselves on the breast, look down, and say, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Luke 18:10-14. Doing these things will help both Jews AND Christians get back on the right track.

 

[sherri2]

I think that one of the best ways down the path of phariseeism is pointing the finger at other christians.

The pharisees underlying problem was pride.

 

[Pard]

I think that one of the best ways down the path of phariseeism is pointing the finger at other christians.

The pharisees underlying problem was pride.

I'd say that it is pointing to the scripture and then not abiding by it themselves. Pride also.

We should point the finger, as it where, at other Christians. We are called to judge our brothers and tell them when they are wrong.

1st Corinthians 5

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

[sherri2]

But not to write them off and stand in judgement which is what I was drawing attention to.

Thank you

 

[Michae1]

Book recommendation:

"I'm Fine With God, It's Christians I Can't Stand" - Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz.

This book would probably cure about 50 percent of the Christian pharisee problem.

 

[stovebolts]

If I were to sum up what I thought was a "Pharisee", I think I'd sum up what Jesus was talking about by juxtaposing rightousness against self rightousness.

Judiasim is based on what you do because what you do is important. I'll even go out on a limb and state that as Christians, what we do is also very important.

But the main issue Jesus is dealing with is a condition of the heart. Two people can do the exact same deed / action, yet have two totally different motives for doing so. Thus, one does it for the sake of rightousness while the other becomes self rightous. In other words, one performs an action / deed for the purpose because simply put, it's the right thing to do while the other person does the exact same deed for purpose of being self rightous, or anther word that comes to mind is justified. In other words, the second does a particular deed / action so that his ego is puffed up inside and he credits himself as rightous because what he has done and not based on the fact that what he did was right. You see, when you do something that is right for the sake of it being right and good, there comes a since of joy that's associated with the deed and that joy is reflected outward. When one does a deed for the purpose of justifiying themselves, the joy is lost as the deed, though done for others, was really done for self...

Doing the right thing is always good and like I said earlier, I think doing right was / is important in the eyes of Jesus and as Christians, we should focus on doing the right things with the emphasis on doing them for the right reasons.

 

[theLords]

You see, when you do something that is right for the sake of it being right and good, there comes a since of joy that's associated with the deed and that joy is reflected outward. When one does a deed for the purpose of justifiying themselves, the joy is lost as the deed, though done for others, was really done for self...

That's exactly why Jesus says such a person obtains his reward immediately. Great post.

While talking about "Phariseeism" I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Spirit of Religion yet? I agree that pride is the underlying problem, but what is the wound that causes pride to spring up in a person? INSECURITY.

The problem the Church is having with Christian Pharisees comes from the church choosing works over grace. Many Christians have no idea that they confess the doctrine of grace with their mouths but believe the doctrine of justification with their hearts. If this issue is dealt with in the Church and God's grace is exposed to the people the Church will be healed of this problem. Many Christians are insecure about God's love for them because of their experience with people (and the Church) on earth. Because of that they begin to try to perform to earn God's love leading them to become a Pharisee at heart, and that leads to all sorts of Self Righteousness in the Church, as we have sadly all experienced.

We must destroy the Spirit of Religion through the Word.

 

[stovebolts]

Good points.

I think, however... that the argument of works vs. grace.. well, it goe's to one extreem or the other and it's like people loose their ability to discern the whole picture.

God, yes even Jesus wants us to do good works. We're commanded to do good works... we were created for good works.

But we're not justified by good works, nor has anyone ever been justified before God by their good works yet an argument always arises that we are not saved by our works, and anyone who does good works, or puts any type of focus on works all of a sudden is somehow trying to earn their salvation. Really, the distortions boggle my mind at times.

So I've found the opposite to be true where the sloth points to the person with rightous deeds as a 'pharisee' as if to say, "I'm saved by grace, and there is nothing I need to do, nor shall I." and is found as guilty as the Levite and the Priest who cross over on the "other" side of the road like the good neighbors they truly are.

 

[theLords]

I agree with what you're saying SB. I believe there is a balance between good works and grace that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish. God can give me the grace to do something, but if I don't get up to do it, I'm still in sin.

The point I was more so trying to get to was "performance orientation." The belief that a Christian needs to earn God's love. Christian Pharisees aren't exactly trying to use good works to get to heaven, but they are trying to use good works to get brownie points with God. "Maybe if I get up at 4 am and pray until 8 am God will be pleased with me" or "Maybe if I read the entire Bible God will be pleased with me." And that "maybe" can spiral into a "when" and all sorts of misconceptions.

The sin issue is not believing the Lord when He said "For I so loved the the world, that I gave my only Begotten Son..." The Christian Pharisee turns it into "For God so loved me, after I became a Christian..." Many Christians have a difficult time accepting that God loves them unconditionally. When they were stewing in their sin, when they chose to abide in Him, when they are disobedient, God never stops loving. I think that insecure "Does God truly love me unconditionally?" question is the root of the problem the fruit being "Phariseeism." Once a Christian experiences God's healing love the wound that caused that insecurity can be cleansed and healed and the fruit die out.

 

[stovebolts]

Amen Brother, I'm hearing ya and I appreciate your insight!

When I think about it though, what your describing in regard to earning brownie points, if it's based on an insecurity, then it's based on self. In other words, the works are focused inward, not outward and perhaps just maybe this desire to earn brownie points is a mere lie to oneself that is used to fill ones insecurity, thus one fells justified about himself due to his works and thus, the urge to be something might cause one to look at others... well... as less than desirable based on merit, not grace.

It reminds me of the story Jesus told in Matthew 7, starting around verse 21 through 23

These are just my random thoughts on the matter, and I'd be interested in hearing more of yours.

BTW, welcome to the forum

 

[theLords]

When I think about it though, what your describing in regard to earning brownie points, if it's based on an insecurity, then it's based on self. In other words, the works are focused inward, not outward and perhaps just maybe this desire to earn brownie points is a mere lie to oneself that is used to fill ones insecurity, thus one fells justified about himself due to his works and thus, the urge to be something might cause one to look at others... well... as less than desirable based on merit, not grace.

Thank you for the warm welcome! But it's Sister, lol, too bad there's no way to distinguish yourself male or female on the form. Maybe I should put something pink in my sig?

You have hit the nail on the head this is exactly what I'm trying to say about becoming a pharisee. It's still sin even if it's turned inward. Anytime we try to meet our own needs we sin against God. The fruits (in this case) will eventually become full on pride, self righteous behavior. Jesus said that if you hate your brother your guilty of murder, and because of that I've always been told that God cares the most about the heart. I remember asking God about good people going to hell. I said "God look at Angelina Jolie she's adopted so many kids and saved their lives, she cares so much about helping people and doing charity work, how can she go to hell?" The Lord quieted my mind when He asked me "Can you see into her heart? Do you know her true intentions? Have you lived inside her home?"

If "No one is good except God" then that means that there is no good deed done outside of the Holy Spirit. Christians can recognize this in their lives. And I think it's safe to say that God's goodness inspires nonbelievers to to good things, and ultimately the glory goes back to Him, but they're not able to recognize it. Even if we take "motivations and intentions" of the heart out of the equation, no unbeliever can stand before God and say "This is my good deed." Because God will say "there is no one good but Me, I take the credit for your good deed, the glory is mine." How can anyone argue God on such ground logic?

Also, do you think it'd be safe to say that if there was no pain that man needed to heal, cover up, or numb, that he would be much less tempted to sin?

 

[sherri2]

Religion leads to phariseeism. It turns nice people into nasueating, repressed and self-righteous recluses.

Pride is the motor that drives it. (Because you're trying much harder to be a good person then someone else, you're better then them arn't you. God obviously things so *whisper - that's why he loves you more....

 

[Strangelove]

Is a Christian Pharisee the same as a Christian Zionist?

 

[lovely]

I think I am a Pharisee sometimes, when I am focused on myself, either being prideful or pitiful, and not practicing the Love commands of God. But, God is so gracious He even forgives my self-centered prideful attitudes.

Faith-works are an outworking of Love, the Love of God that the beliver abides in, and that abides in the believer. His setting apart work is love based...believers are KNOWN by love for one another, they love the brotherhood through charity, love enemies by being a bridge of peace, love neighbors by being a help and a productive part of the community, love widows and orphans by caring for them in times of affliction, love rich and poor alike. Stay undefiled by this world by loving God with all, loving His commands, and loving His path through Jesus. In this way, the law is fulfilled in us.

His powerful love is able to prevent believers from saying prideful prayers, judging unrighteously (Even those 'Pharisees' who are thought to be self-righteously trying to follow His commands.), condemning those who struggle with sin, etc., because there's a sincere reverence for Him and there is an esteem for others more than one's self...there's an honest desire to please God and to edify and build up His body!

Love also fosters a loyalty to God's Truth, and one can stand against evil and sin, as well as teach others to follow God's commands in loving obedience and not be stained by this world. The Love passage in 1 Corinthians lists Love's powerful characteristics, and reveals a need in the body to grow to maturity. So through trials, when prideful hearts are exposed by sin and sincerely repentant, when there's obedience and grace abounding, when there's love for others, the body GROWS!

The natural consequence to a life abiding in Christ and in Love is LIGHT!