The Pharisaic spirit still exists. And it's the chief reason why so many non-Christians want nothing to do with Jesus
8 Signs of a Modern Day Pharisee ~ Frank Viola
Growing up in the mainstream church, I learned early on that there was one and only one narrative of the bible and that was the one which the pastor spoke to each Sunday morning. I was told that I needed to listen to the padre in order that I might "Be fed" from the word of God. Not only that, I was expected to take his words and bring them into the community outside of the church walls. In this way I was seen as walking in the steps of Jesus, evangelizing those who needed to hear the word of God. This was all fine and good, until I came across someone who either didn't adhere to Christianity or had a different interpretation than what I had been taught. To me, these people were to be seen as lost and in need of saving. I spent no time in contemplating why it was that they felt this way, only that I needed to bring correction to them no matter what. After all, I was doing Gods work. I never really saw myself as a Pharisee until recently when a good friend shared with me an article penned by author Frank Viola titled "8 Signs of a Modern Day Pharisee." As I read the article, I thought back to all of those whom I had bullied into my way of thinking about God. How vehemently I had defended my faith from those who needed to be "Taught about God." Some know this as apologetics, the vigorous defense of their faith in the arena of any debate or discussion. I this is one of the signs of a modern day Pharisee, I was indeed among that crowd. It was my job to defend the word of God from those who disagreed with it. However, over time I began to wonder to myself just why the creator of this universe would need my help defending Him. Wasn't God more than capable of defending Himself? Did He really need to defend Himself? My "Aha moment" came as I was reading through the epistle of John and came across an interesting passage where the apostle calls on us to "Test the spirits to see if they are of God" {First Epistle of John 4:1}. Test the spirits? Whatever did this mean? Was I being asked to go against what I had been taught about God? As it turned out, I soon came to realize the truth of the love of the Father, and it hadn't come from any Sunday sermon.
I have come to see the passage we find in the First Epistle of John as one of the core verses of my coming to know the truth of my life in the Father. As John states, "For many false prophets have come out into the world." This is not a call for people to ignore the bible, but to seek His revelation through the word. For Jesus Himself has declared our union life in the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. The Author J Preston Eby has gone as far as to describe the modern church as a "Harlot" {The Savior Of The World ~ J Preston Eby}. As I began to see the scriptures through a different lens of understanding, I began to know a God not of guilt and punishment but of His one true nature, which is love {First Epistle of John 4:8}. Recently I have been reminded through a friend of what I must have been like back in my Pharisee days. I have a friend who seemingly has a mind set that the scripture as taught by the church is the be all end all word of God. There is even no room for debate in this. Believe me, I've tried. My friends defense of a God who loves His children yet hates sin and wickedness is often very...robust. When I listen to him I hear the centuries old church doctrine that the good will be rewarded and the wicked punished. Of course, he backs up these claims with plenty of his interpretation of the bible. I've asked myself, was I ever this bad? Although I am grateful for the revelation of my life in Christ, my prayers continue to be with my friend that he might enjoy the same love of the Father that I have experienced in my life. I don't condemn him for his unbelief. My Pharisee days are over.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world
First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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