When we discover Jesus as Savior, we are transformed and filled with love, joy and peace – remember? Then organized religion insists we study the scriptures and we lose the simplicity of our child-like faith.
This is Part 2 of “Are You A Pharisee?”
One of the last words Jesus gave His disciples was that although He was leaving them, He was not leaving them alone. He would send the Holy Spirit which would teach them ALL things. He also said that He was giving gifts to all men (people). These gifts, together with the Holy Spirit, are His plan to empower and meet the needs of His Body. He does not mention the scriptures (New or Old Testament) nor does He talk about building the organization we call the “church”.
If we look at the purpose of Jesus’ ministry from 10,000 feet, we would first see His role as redeemer which brings reconciliation between men and God, and second, the introduction of the Kingdom of God to earth. Jesus’ Kingdom is unlike anything on Earth – in fact, it’s the opposite of the way humans operate. I suspect that Jesus’ opposition to the Pharisees was rooted in their self-righteousness. They did “religion” from their own effort and strength. It appeared they were doing well, but God looks on the ‘heart’. Though their actions were righteous, their hearts were unclean. Real salvation is rooted in surrender to God. It comes out of defeat not strength. When we discover that we are among the “unable”, we are enabled by the grace of God. The scriptures tend to be a stumbling block to salvation by grace because it doesn’t appear to make sense. Christianity, by the scriptures, does not require relationship or surrender to God and it makes complete sense; and for that reason, it has crept into the church.
We are reconciled to God for relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit is not only our teacher – He is the one through whom we connect with God. Our guidance, understanding, safety, provision, and purpose (everything) is “hidden” in our surrender and following of the Holy Spirit. No law is necessary (as Paul said) if we are walking in the Holy Spirit. That’s the Gospel in a big-picture. If you get that, you’ve got all you need. The Holy Spirit will teach and provide for you everything to enjoy, love and fulfill your destiny in God. The scriptures can add understanding, but they should never supersede the authority or role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
So if the Pharisees of today subtly corrupt the Gospel with legalism (scripture idolatry) which IS self-righteousness, then Jesus came for not. Relationship with God is lost and the Holy Spirit’s role in a believer’s life is quenched because everything has to go through a filter of intellectual knowledge of scripture and biblical understanding before the believer is “safe” to obey the Holy Spirit. That’s not faith – that’s fear. Imagine Jesus saying to God, “I see no example of rubbing dirt in a blind man’s eyes in scripture – sorry I can’t do that – it’s not scriptural”. That would be idolatry, yet many groups have elevated scripture to a place above even God.
What is at question here is: Do His sheep know His voice or not? Theologians would argue that seasoned believers have learned this skill but “children in the Lord” need to be taught principles (rules) as a safe-guard to the reputation of the church. Ironically, it’s been the leaders of religion who have dragged the Lord’s name through the mud far more than young believers. Furthermore, Jesus isn’t into ‘a reputation’. He didn’t plan on winning people to God by being hip or cool and having a great reputation as a messiah. He just healed and delivered and disarmed fearful people with love – something few churches do today.
Organized religion has elevated scripture to a place above God Himself. They say that even He (God) can not break His own rules. That’s untrue – Jesus completely violated the Law and that’s why they killed Him. He did not condemn the woman caught in adultery as the law required. He healed on the Sabbath. He worshiped outside the temple. Jesus fulfilled the law and was, therefore, no longer subject to it. He was free from it and so are we. Even more importantly, God is free from the law. He is free to give grace to those He chooses and that is good news!
Interestingly, Jesus approached the scriptures in an unexpected way. He seemed to distance himself from the old testament by calling them “the scriptures”, or “you say…..but I say…..”. This is an odd way of speaking about scripture if they are His own words. Even more ‘interesting’ is that He also never called the scriptures the “word of God” – since that is His (Jesus’) name – that is something we have done. There is only one “word of God”, and it’s Jesus.
Are the new testament scriptures the law for today’s Christians? Have the scriptures replaced our call to intimate fellowship and unquestioned obedience to the Holy Spirit? In the 300 years prior to the establishment of the Bible, the church was more effective in ministry than any other time in its 2000+ year history. Have we made the scripture more than it was ever intended to be? Has scripture replaced the role of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives? Have we become stubborn with God like goats rather than sheep, rejecting anything we don’t understand in Scripture as “not God”?
We’re told to read scripture daily – but rarely are we encouraged to hang out with and talk to the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. He knows what we need. Has the purity and joy of a simple faith been stolen by the weight of theological understanding? Have we elevated the scriptures above God and do they now occupy the name (Word of God) and the place (Lord) that only Jesus rightfully should possess? If so, then we are Pharisees.
To be continued…..
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