The Wisdom Of The Pharisees (cont.)

We will now continue with this article, which has been edited for brevity. The Wisdom of the Pharisees By Chip Brogden @ Watchman     However, I suggest that the sect of the Pharisees is alive and well today, only it is no longer a sect within Judaism, it is a sect within Churchianity that continues to differentiate people based on external religious rules and customs. The names and customs have changed, but the same old "wisdom" prevails: "You cannot be a Christian if you don't go to church." "God will not bless you unless you pay your tithes." "You cannot know the truth unless you get it from the 1611 King James Version." "If you leave the church you lose your spiritual covering." "If you don't submit to authority you have a Jezebel spirit." "Submission means never asking questions." "A true prophet always encourages and never judges." "Women be quiet." "Jesus' real name is Y'shua." "God's real name is God." "Saturday, not Sunday." "Sunday, not Saturday."     When you take all these things and add them up, what do you get? What is the result? Pride, spiritual elitism, narrow-mindedness, dullness, and darkness. In a word, I describe these people as DISTRACTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST! Religion is the result of becoming consumed, absorbed, vexed, and stressed out over the "many things" while completely overlooking that only One Thing is needed (cf. Luke 10:41,42). It is the scrupulous, agonizing work of straining out gnats and swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24). Taken to its absurd conclusion, it actually feeds that Spirit of Antichrist that is always fighting against the Testimony of Jesus. In Acts 18 we find Paul preaching Jesus in Corinth. As is always the case, whenever you decide to preach JESUS AS HE IN FACT IS, it will attract the ire of the local religious establishment: "When Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose in concerted action against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of "persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law" (Acts 18:12,13, NLT). You see? There it is again - the Law of Moses, Torah, the traditions and customs of the elders. Paul was always ready to debate the Jews. Being a Jew and a Pharisee for many years, Paul enjoyed the arguments and usually won them. Yet something different happened that day... "Just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul's accusers and said, 'Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would be obliged to listen to you. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish laws, you take care of it. I refuse to judge such matters.' And he drove them out of the courtroom" (Acts 18:14-16, NLT). Hallelujah! Thank God for Gallio! If an unbelieving Roman judge has enough discernment to confound the wisdom of the Pharisees, what about us? I pray God will give us the gift of single-mindedness in our pursuit of Christ and Christ alone. May God give us the courage to say, "If it is a question of Christ and His Kingdom I would be obliged to look at the issue more closely. But since it is merely a question of words and names, Sabbath days and holidays, religious rules about outward things, Bible versions and denominations, you take care of it yourself. I refuse to argue over such matters." His yoke is easy! His burden is light! Come to Him and learn of Him. Repudiate the wisdom of the Pharisees and embrace this Man Who does not keep the Sabbath, because this Man is the Son of the Most High God, and there is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus! ©2004 Watchman.Net. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.     This site does not necessarily endorse all of the views that appear here.As with all things, the reader is encouraged to search the Scriptures and make his/her own conclusion based on prayer, conscience and study of the Word of God.