Accidental Pharisees

1. Accidental Pharisees: The Danger of Overzealous Faith

Passionate faith can have a dark side — a really dark side.

Overzealous faith misleads. When spiritual passion becomes misaligned with Scripture, it can lead believers down a dangerous path. This misalignment often manifests as:

• Judging others harshly
• Elevating personal convictions to universal standards
• Dismissing those who don't meet arbitrary spiritual benchmarks

Historical context matters. The Pharisees of Jesus' time were initially respected religious leaders, not the villains we often perceive them as today. Their zeal for God and Scripture was admirable, but their focus on external adherence and additional rules ultimately led them astray.

Self-awareness is crucial. Recognizing our own potential to become accidental Pharisees requires humility and constant self-examination. It's easy to spot spiritual arrogance in others but much harder to see it in ourselves.

2. Pride: The Subtle Poison of Spiritual Comparison

Pride and a lack of love nullifies our knowledge, even if it's a full and complete understanding of all the mysteries in the Bible.

Comparison breeds arrogance. When we measure our spiritual growth against others, we often fall into the trap of pride. This manifests in several ways:

• Log-eye disease: Seeing others' faults while ignoring our own
• Self-deception: Overestimating our own spiritual maturity
• Unhealthy competition: Viewing faith as a contest to be won

God's perspective differs from ours. While we tend to focus on outward appearances and measurable achievements, God looks at the heart. Our spiritual growth is not a linear progression that can be easily compared to others.

Humility is the antidote. Recognizing that all spiritual growth comes from God's grace, not our own efforts, helps combat pride. Focusing on our own journey and celebrating others' growth instead of comparing ourselves to them fosters a healthier spiritual environment.

3. Exclusivity: When Thinning the Herd Hurts the Kingdom

Jesus didn't come to thin the herd. He didn't come to recruit "special ops" Christians. His goal was to expand the kingdom, to bring salvation to people who previously were excluded.

Inclusivity reflects Christ's heart. Jesus consistently reached out to those on the margins of society, including those deemed unworthy by religious leaders. His ministry was characterized by:

• Welcoming sinners and tax collectors
• Healing the sick and outcast
• Teaching in accessible ways to reach the masses

Beware of spiritual elitism. The desire to create an exclusive, "pure" church often stems from good intentions but can lead to harmful outcomes:

• Alienating new or struggling believers
• Creating unnecessary barriers to faith
• Misrepresenting God's grace and mercy

Balance is key. While maintaining doctrinal integrity is important, it should not come at the expense of Christ-like love and inclusivity. The church should strive to be both welcoming to all and faithful to Scripture.

4. Legalism: The Peril of Adding to God's Word

The moment we allow our personal passion and calling to become the litmus test and shibboleth by which we decide who is and who isn't a genuine disciple, we've taken a step too far.

Legalism distorts God's Word. Adding extra rules and requirements to Scripture, even with good intentions, can lead to serious spiritual problems:

• Burdening believers with unnecessary guilt
• Misrepresenting God's character and expectations
• Creating a works-based mentality that undermines grace

Context is crucial. Understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical passages helps prevent misapplication and legalistic interpretations. This is especially important when dealing with Jesus' teachings and Old Testament laws.

Freedom in Christ is a biblical principle. The New Testament emphasizes the freedom we have in Christ, particularly in areas not explicitly addressed in Scripture. Imposing personal convictions as universal standards goes against this principle and can damage unity within the church.

5. Idolizing the Past: The Pitfall of Rose-Colored Memories

These are the good old days. Or they will be before long.

Nostalgia distorts reality. Idealizing the past, especially in church history, can lead to several problems:

• Overlooking current blessings and opportunities
• Becoming overly critical of present-day ministry efforts
• Misunderstanding historical context and challenges

Every era has strengths and weaknesses. The early church, often held up as the ideal, had its own significant issues:

• Doctrinal disputes
• Moral failings among leaders
• Cultural blind spots

Learn from history without idolizing it. While we can gain valuable insights from studying church history, we must resist the temptation to view any particular era as perfect or superior to our own. God is at work in every generation, including ours.

6. Unity vs. Uniformity: Embracing Diversity in the Body of Christ

To correctly understand what Jesus wants from us, we must include all of his sayings and all of his actions. In addition, we can't leave out the writings of the apostles.

Unity is not uniformity. Biblical unity allows for diversity in non-essential matters while maintaining core doctrinal agreement. This unity is characterized by:

• Love and respect for fellow believers despite differences
• Focus on shared faith in Christ rather than peripheral issues
• Willingness to learn from and appreciate diverse perspectives

Boundary markers can divide unnecessarily. While some doctrinal boundaries are essential, creating too many litmus tests for "true" Christianity can fragment the body of Christ. We must distinguish between:

• Core doctrines necessary for salvation
• Important but non-essential theological positions
• Personal preferences and cultural expressions of faith

Unity requires effort and grace. Maintaining unity in the midst of diversity is challenging but crucial for the church's witness to the world. It involves:

• Practicing humility and forbearance
• Seeking to understand different viewpoints
• Focusing on common ground in Christ

7. Gift Projection: The Trap of Universal Expectations

If you're the type who's scared to death by risk, don't sweat it. There's no reason to feel guilty because you don't want to go stop sex trafficking in Bangkok, wade your way through the Amazon jungle, or spend your summer digging wells in Africa. Stick with what you've been called to do.

Diverse gifts serve diverse purposes. The body of Christ is designed to function with a variety of gifts and callings, not a one-size-fits-all approach. This diversity includes:

• Different ministry focuses (e.g., evangelism, teaching, mercy)
• Varied personality types (e.g., introverts and extroverts)
• Unique life circumstances and opportunities

Avoid guilt-based motivation. Pressuring all believers to conform to a particular expression of faith or ministry often leads to:

• Burnout and disillusionment
• Neglect of one's true calling and gifts
• Ineffective ministry efforts

Embrace your unique role. Understanding and operating within your God-given gifts and calling leads to:

• Greater effectiveness in ministry
• Increased joy and fulfillment in serving
• A healthier, more balanced approach to faith and life

Remember that all believers are in "full-time ministry," regardless of their occupation or specific role within the church. Faithfulness in your unique calling is what truly matters to God.

Last updated: November 19, 2024