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What would they look like? What would some of their charachteristics be like? Are they still around?
I would imagine they would look very religious and righteous. They would seem to do it all perfectly. Perfect attendance on Sundays. Very reliable. They would hide their shortcomings very well.
They would probably be in leadership roles and have all kinds of degrees and possibly phds in theology. Looking at them would lead us to think that to get closer to God you needed such a degree. That to get closer to God you had to move up the church latter of success. The message is given to us by the reality of the kingdom today and how it currently operates. Look at all the elders and leaders of the church. Do they look anything like this picture? Do they confess their weaknesses to you. They are just like us. They are not any better. The bible says we all sin and anyone who says he doesn't is a liar. There is no justification except through Jesus and we are all the same.
The message coming out of many churches today is, though not intentional, become a pharisee. Do your best to look your best. Wear the masks. Be self righteous. Be like me.
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
They would appear fine and upstanding. You would think they never did anything wrong. They would look like they had it all together. In our eyes they would seem like good guys. We would want to be like them. They seem to have figured it all out. They would definitely smell of success and way above the "nominal christians" to use a terrible and judgmental term.
Matthew 12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
Matthew 23:13-33
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16 "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! 33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
I should know I am a former pharisee and I coveted all the things a pharisee would. Position, success, respect, admiration. I suffer from religious pride and ambition. I would love to be a famous teacher of the faith. I would love to be known for really knowing the truth.
I am in recovery every day and hope that if you see your self in any of this you will also look to God for help.
Original content by: http://phariseesanonymous.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-pharisees-of-today-might-look-like.html.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.