CONFRONTING THE PHARISEE IN THE MIRROR

Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, – Rev 2:5

Would you be offended if you were called a “Pharisee”? Guess what, the lexical meaning of “Pharisee” is “someone who follows the scriptures and wants to live in a constant state of purity”!

The term “Pharisees” literally means “those who are separate”.  However, it has come to mean people who are “self-righteous, hypocritical, or sanctimonious” (Encarta Dictionary).

How is it possible that the Pharisees, a group of common Jews so concerned about the degeneration of the worship of Yahweh that they stirred up a national revival for piety; who were so passionate about the scriptures that they created local centres for its exclusive reading and study, (‘Synagogues’); who were so given to prayer that they punctiliously kept to designated prayer times... could end up being one of the major adversaries of Christ?

The answer is simple. They allowed themselves to slip into self-righteous religiosity.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll see that there’s a ‘Pharisee’ in each of us.

Whenever you hear yourself always complaining about “that sister’s dressing”, “that brother’s hairstyle”, “that chorister’s pride”, “that pastor’s arrogance”...  then it’s time to rush to the nearest bathroom mirror and confront the Pharisee that’s beginning to take shape.

Whenever we start thinking only our church members will go to heaven, or start feeling ‘spiritual’ after reading our Bibles; when we stop feeling uncomfortable telling someone we’re fasting, or don’t mind letting slip how many hours we spend in prayers; then know for sure that the ‘Pharisee thing’ is knocking at the door.

Beloved, the faith-walk is akin to walking on a tight rope. In avoiding one error, we become susceptible to the converse sin. In confronting iniquity, we could become self-righteous; in countering wastefulness we could become stingy, etc.

This is why we need to be always conscious of grace. Whenever we see an iniquitous, prayerless or carnal Christian, before we get sanctimonious, let’s consider that, (as the reformer, John Bradford is attributed to have said), “there – but for the grace of God – go I”

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN