Modern day Christian “Phariseesâ€

[elijah23]

I think the purpose of religion is to develop a relationship with the Lord. The Pharisees, and I am no expert on the Pharisees, seemed to me to make the mistake of devoting themselves not to developing a relationship with the Lord, but to following a long list of useless rules. If so, are there Christians today that make the same mistake?

 

[Danus]

I think the purpose of religion is to develop a relationship with the Lord. The Pharisees, and I am no expert on the Pharisees, seemed to me to make the mistake of devoting themselves not to developing a relationship with the Lord, but to following a long list of useless rules. If so, are there Christians today that make the same mistake?

Oh yes I think there are. We have plenty of well meaning Christians ready to tell us all how to live sin free and call us out for our inequities. Some seem to have neat little equations for us all to follow.

Religion is a word to me that suggest an organized thought. I prefer the word relationship. In terms of Christianity a relationship suggest that God meets us where we are as individuals. It's a one on one relationship and while we may all believe in the salvation of Christ, it is important to understand and respect that we are all in different relationships with Christ based on where we are in our individual journey. As brothers and sisters in Christ that does not mean that my journey is any more or less than yours.

Don't get me wrong, there are essential Christian doctrines, but beyond that we are all on different personal journeys for Gods grater purpose.

 

[glorydaz]

I think the purpose of religion is to develop a relationship with the Lord. The Pharisees, and I am no expert on the Pharisees, seemed to me to make the mistake of devoting themselves not to developing a relationship with the Lord, but to following a long list of useless rules. If so, are there Christians today that make the same mistake?

Oh yes I think there are. We have plenty of well meaning Christians ready to tell us all how to live sin free and call us out for our inequities. Some seem to have neat little equations for us all to follow.

Religion is a word to me that suggest an organized thought. I prefer the word relationship. In terms of Christianity a relationship suggest that God meets us where we are as individuals. It's a one on one relationship and while we may all believe in the salvation of Christ, it is important to understand and respect that we are all in different relationships with Christ based on where we are in our individual journey. As brothers and sisters in Christ that does not mean that my journey is any more or less than yours.

Don't get me wrong, there are essential Christian doctrines, but beyond that we are all on different personal journeys for Gods grater purpose.

Yes, there are modern day pharisees.

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

As opposed to this....

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

There are many things that could be said on pharasees.

I think one of the things that was their big downfall- and that we see today- is that they believed the traditions of men and repsected them more than the powerful true word of God.They each had their sect( denomination) that was built upon mens ideas instead of the word of God and they wanted toprotect that at all costs.

This is largely true today, most mainline denom's do not believe in the power of God, and teach a powerless gospel. They believe men who did not believe the word of God instead of sticking to the word, then they encourage people to go to a school and pay for the word of men calling it the word of God and put out more people who werent called by God to preach the words and doctrines of men.

 

[D4Christ]

This is largely true today, most mainline denom's do not believe in the power of God,.....

denom's....creepy, looks like a play on the word demons :o . Since Christ founded the Church maybe it makes sense that demons (led by Satan) founded demoninations? Interesting.

 

[elijah23]

denom's....creepy, looks like a play on the word demons :o . Since Christ founded the Church maybe it makes sense that demons (led by Satan) founded demoninations? Interesting.

Had the Roman Catholic Church been perfect, then maybe an argument could be made that Satan founded denominations. However, I think denominations were mainly the result of imperfections in the Roman Catholic Church, weren’t they?

 

[glorydaz]

There are many things that could be said on pharasees.

I think one of the things that was their big downfall- and that we see today- is that they believed the traditions of men and repsected them more than the powerful true word of God.They each had their sect( denomination) that was built upon mens ideas instead of the word of God and they wanted toprotect that at all costs.

This is largely true today, most mainline denom's do not believe in the power of God, and teach a powerless gospel. They believe men who did not believe the word of God instead of sticking to the word, then they encourage people to go to a school and pay for the word of men calling it the word of God and put out more people who werent called by God to preach the words and doctrines of men.

Religion is ever the enemy of faith.
Man has to start making all kinds of rules and regulations and a relationship with Jesus takes the backseat. It doesn't matter if they teach a powerless gospel or a gospel giving men more power than they should have. Either way, they're too often man-centered.

 

[Free]

Christianity is a religion and anything that happens in denominational churches happens in non-denominational ones. None have a monopoly on the truth.

 

[Cornelius]

Christianity is a religion and anything that happens in denominational churches happens in non-denominational ones. None have a monopoly on the truth.

Actually Christians should have the monopoly on truth.

Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

So if you are not free, you do not have the truth. Freedom from sin, freedom from sickness, freedom from the curse , freedom from bondage. To say the opposite is religion indeed.

 

[francisdesales]

Actually Christians should have the monopoly on truth.

Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

So if you are not free, you do not have the truth. Freedom from sin, freedom from sickness, freedom from the curse , freedom from bondage. To say the opposite is religion indeed.

All religions have some truth. Even Catholics don't "own" the truth. God reveals Himself in various levels of understanding to ALL men, everywhere throughout the world. There is no monopoly of the truth, God desires ALL men to be saved AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. Each and every one of us has some level of truth available to us.

Regards

 

[francisdesales]

Had the Roman Catholic Church been perfect, then maybe an argument could be made that Satan founded denominations. However, I think denominations were mainly the result of imperfections in the Roman Catholic Church, weren’t they?

Being Catholic, I'd agree that there is a lot of truth there...

The Church will always need reform, and some men found it easier to "reform" from the outside by causing schism. Interestingly, such schism was often the cause of "counter-reformation", when the Catholic Church took real steps to trim some of the dead wood.

We all need to have more faith in God and His promises, and not try to take matters into our own hands...

Regards

 

[Cornelius]

Actually Christians should have the monopoly on truth.

Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

So if you are not free, you do not have the truth. Freedom from sin, freedom from sickness, freedom from the curse , freedom from bondage. To say the opposite is religion indeed.

All religions have some truth. Even Catholics don't "own" the truth. God reveals Himself in various levels of understanding to ALL men, everywhere throughout the world. There is no monopoly of the truth, God desires ALL men to be saved AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. Each and every one of us has some level of truth available to us.

Regards

Amen. And its their "some truth" that keep the schism going. We have to give up our love for our denominations so that we can be free to receive all truth without our denomination telling us we are not allowed to believe something. Denominations are idols to some people and they will defend them rather than the Word. That we can see on all forums, such as these. What the denomination teaches, is what we teach.

Come out and be free. As you said, we all need to COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, but each and all of us have ALL knowledge available to us. Why on earth would God not give us the truth if we sincerely ask for it. Ask and ye shall receive. Surely that is true ? Ye have not for ye ask not ! The Holy Spirit shall lead you into truth and it shall make you free.

Its such a terrible lie that is keeping God's people in bondage that one person cannot know the whole truth. That is idiotic to say the least and we are told the opposite in the Bible.

 

[Free]

We have to give up our love for our denominations so that we can be free to receive all truth without our denomination telling us we are not allowed to believe something. Denominations are idols to some people and they will defend them rather than the Word. That we can see on all forums, such as these. What the denomination teaches, is what we teach.

And the same applies to "non-denominations."

but each and all of us have ALL knowledge available to us.

I would like to see Scriptural proof of such a statement. Do you think we can become like God?

Its such a terrible lie that is keeping God's people in bondage that one person cannot know the whole truth. That is idiotic to say the least and we are told the opposite in the Bible.

I would really like to see where the Bible says that during this life we can come to know the whole truth.

 

[VertigoAge]

I would really like to see where the Bible says that during this life we can come to know the whole truth.

Agree... I think it's a very dangerous reach to maintain that any person can know the "whole truth", which would include details about Heaven, the future, the hearts and minds of others, etc. The closer we think we are to knowing it all, the farther away we are because we are clouded by our own pride and narrow-mindedness.

 

[francisdesales]

Amen. And its their "some truth" that keep the schism going.

I think schism comes more from people "inside" a community who think they have MORE access to the truth than others within the community. Thus, they leave because they think they have more truth, or they tear apart from within.

We have to give up our love for our denominations so that we can be free to receive all truth without our denomination telling us we are not allowed to believe something. Denominations are idols to some people and they will defend them rather than the Word. That we can see on all forums, such as these. What the denomination teaches, is what we teach.

I don't think that being "free from denominations" necessarily grants us access to more truth and freedom. Quite the opposite, in some cases, as we focus on our own pride and ability to figure out God.

People "within" denominations have found people of like thinking, and so they gather together.

Come out and be free.

"Free" to worship your own opinion without others telling you that you might be wrong...

As you said, we all need to COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, but each and all of us have ALL knowledge available to us. Why on earth would God not give us the truth if we sincerely ask for it. Ask and ye shall receive. Surely that is true ? Ye have not for ye ask not ! The Holy Spirit shall lead you into truth and it shall make you free.

the pillar and foundation of this truth is not found "outside the camp"...

Its such a terrible lie that is keeping God's people in bondage that one person cannot know the whole truth. That is idiotic to say the least and we are told the opposite in the Bible.

No one can know "the whole truth", that is nowhere testified to in Scriptures or in Christian Tradition. We are talking about GOD, even Paul sang out in praise on the depths of God and how we don't have a clue!

Regards

 

[elijah23]

Being Catholic, I'd agree that there is a lot of truth there...

The Church will always need reform, and some men found it easier to "reform" from the outside by causing schism. Interestingly, such schism was often the cause of "counter-reformation", when the Catholic Church took real steps to trim some of the dead wood.

We all need to have more faith in God and His promises, and not try to take matters into our own hands...

Regards

I was raised to be a United Methodist and am a United Methodist today, at the age of 57. I see imperfections in my church and I believe the Roman Catholic Church is also imperfect. I don’t think it bothers the Lord that there are more than one denomination.

 

[shad]

I was raised to be a United Methodist and am a United Methodist today, at the age of 57. I see imperfections in my church and I believe the Roman Catholic Church is also imperfect. I don’t think it bothers the Lord that there are more than one denomination.

What I experinced in organizations is that they ostracize christians who dont agree with their practices and theologies without any exception.

 

[francisdesales]

I was raised to be a United Methodist and am a United Methodist today, at the age of 57. I see imperfections in my church and I believe the Roman Catholic Church is also imperfect. I don’t think it bothers the Lord that there are more than one denomination.

I think the Lord prayed that WE be all as one. If He didn't care, such a prayer was pointless. I think He accepts us where we are in Him. As we abide in Him, He abides in us. I think some have Christ abiding in them to a greater degree, and part of that is dependent upon the truth available and how they walk in it.

Regards

 

[elijah23]

What I experinced in organizations is that they ostracize christians who dont agree with their practices and theologies without any exception.

Which organizations?

My experience is that conservatives tend not to be very tolerant of people who disagree with them. However, they seem to be people of a certain degree of discipline.

Meanwhile, liberals seem to be quite tolerant, but they don’t seem to realize that sin destroys.

 

[elijah23]

I think the Lord prayed that WE be all as one. If He didn't care, such a prayer was pointless. I think He accepts us where we are in Him. As we abide in Him, He abides in us. I think some have Christ abiding in them to a greater degree, and part of that is dependent upon the truth available and how they walk in it.

Regards

I don’t have Jesus—Jesus has me. I belong to him.

You can all join the United Methodist Church if you want, but I suspect you are happy in your own church, and that is good.

Being “one†doesn’t mean we all have to be Roman Catholic, does it? If we all believe in Jesus, then we are one. Right?