I’ve been thinking a lot about Pharisees and their ways lately – and how we as Evangelicals can slip into those ways (myself included). Although many actions can be attributed to Pharisees, ultimately being a Pharisee is about our attitude.
In terms of an Evangelical type of Pharisee, it is not about doctrine or orthodoxy – it is more about the harsh and militant attitude with which we can claim to preach and defend it.
Here are 8 ways we can be like Pharisees (in no particular order):
1) Elevating non-essentials to become essentials
This is the “essential” form of Pharisaism (excuse the pun). The Pharisees in Jesus’ time were known for adding laws to God’s Law and focusing more on them than on God Himself. When we make a major deal about something that should be minor we often end up in needless arguments – and even separation – from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
As Protestant theologian Rupertus Meldenius (c. 1627) said:
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
2) Becoming too political
Earthly politics surely has a place in the Christian sphere but when we substitute “Conservative” or “Republican” for “Christian” we have made a grave mistake. The Church should never control the State or vice versa – a certain amount of separation is crucial. It is, after all, the Kingdom of God to which we owe our ultimate allegiance.
Pharisees, among others, looked for an earthly kingdom and an earthly saviour – Jesus pointed them (and all) to the Kingdom of God.
3) Being literalistic instead of literal
I’ve already mentioned how the Pharisees often forgot the “spirit” of the Law but focused on the “letter”. This point though can also be applied to poor hermeneutics. As Orthodox Evangelicals, we all view the Bible as “literal” but taking it as “literalistic” means to ignore the basic laws of exegesis which include textual, historical, cultural, and linguistic context.
As one has said, “A text taken out of context becomes a pretext for a proof text” – in other words, take every Bible verse and passage in its rightful context. Jesus had to ask the Pharisees “Have you not read?” 6 times in the Gospel of Matthew!
4) Being Anti-Intellectual
By “Intellectual”, I do not mean agreeing with secular humanistic ideas or drowning ourselves in a sea of apologetics. I simply mean using the minds God gave us, being thoughtful and self-reflective, being open to ideas that may be outside our comfort zone but not outside of the Bible. Truth is what we’re after.
As Galileo once said, “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”
5) Idolizing a specific leader
There is no need to mention specific names here but I imagine most of us can think of a person whose teaching, organization or personality we follow a little too close, love a little too much and, frankly, make an idol out of. Even though Moses and Abraham were men of God, it seems the Pharisees idolized (or took pride in their connection with) them far too much.
6) Refusing to be relevant to the current culture
As the old joke goes: “How many (insert denomination here) does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer - “Change?”.
We so often confuse compromise with compassion. We are to be relevant to our time and place in history (“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” 1 Chronicles 12:32). We can do this without compromising the timeless truths of the Bible.
7) Showing more anger than love
As Evangelicals, we are known for taking a stand on essential issues of the faith which is good. Unfortunately we are also known for berating others in anger instead of counselling in love. We are known more for what we protest than what we believe in. Let’s not be belligerent with the precious Truth entrusted to us.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt (not corrupt, savory), so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6
8) Focusing on one sin to the exclusion of others
We all have our favourite sin that we like to pick on and put on a pedestal as the “worst”. Remember the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8) and Jesus’ reaction? As they say, we shouldn’t judge others for sinning differently than we do!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” Jesus, Matthew 5:23-24
