Who are the Pharisees in Your Neighborhood?

It's occasionally been said that comparing someone to Hitler is one of the most cliche forms of ad hominem attack in politics. All you need to do is say your opponent is like Hitler - the really bad guy in history - and hope that it sticks.

Sometimes, in Christian circles, we have similar favorite bad guys...since Jesus pointed out how evil the Pharisees were in his day, Christians can often throw around the "pharisee" line quite a bit. I've seen it used to describe Christians who would be perceived as theologically, socially or culturally conservative - regardless to any actual observed character traits. For example, some Christians could use the "pharisee" label to describe a local "KJV Only" congregation or one that observes odd dietary or social rules. This could be nothing more than slander, though - as one's theological idiosyncrasies do not necessarily indicate that one is like a pharisee.

I think one of the best passages to narrow down what Pharisaical behavior looks like, is the end of Luke 11.

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.

Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹But give what is inside the dish ^j]">[j] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it."

One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also." Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. (NIV)

This passage indicates that personal hypocrisy, largely for personal gain, along with a lack of justice and love were indicators of the Pharisees' sin. Similarly, I think the last verse contains a key point - the experts in the law, load people down with the law and give them no grace to remove it. Or, the heap on the condemnation, without gospel grace.

The Pharisees were obsessed with the details of the law of Moses and ensuring that people followed it. However, no one can see the heart, so their following of the law was primarily in keeping the outward details of it that would win favor with people, while not pursuing justice and love - those parts of the law that might not be as popular or outwardly visible.

For example, for more socially liberal Christians, this could play out as trying to always be on public front of what issues are currently popular to deal with. For example, a popular Christian author or musician might protest genocide or hold an AIDS benefit concert - because those are "cool" ways to care. The same person might not really talk about "controversial" issues like abortion or homosexuality; where a Christian worldview would be viewed as narrow-minded or less "progressive" than acceptable in some cultural circles. It would be concerning when Christians become so ecumenical that they cease to be "Christian" and drift into essentially a Universalism where all religion and spirituality are all just fine.

Similarly, more conservative Christians might be in a position where they are heaping on condemnation with little grace, putting burdens on people's backs without helping them. In recent days, a pastor has been encouraging people to burn Korans....I haven't heard this man mention the gospel once in all of his televised interviews. Similarly, most readers are likely aware of the church which frequently pickets with anti-gay propaganda, especially at soldier's funerals and gay pride celebrations. Similarly, I've yet to hear this preacher proclaim the hope of the gospel. It's all condemnation, all the time.

I think most of us tend towards one side of the fence or the other, or we bump back and forth. I've found myself serving for self-glorification at times and I've found myself proclaiming the law with little grace or hope. We were all damned under the law, if not for the grace of God.

In both of the cases where Christians can be tempted to Pharisaical behavior, it's interesting to see that self-righteousness is right there. In one case, it's behaving in a publicly acceptable way to get popular accolades. In Jesus' day it might have been acting pious to get the seat of public honor...today it might be to get on Oprah. In the other case, it's pointing out a sin and making the sinner aware of it, condemned by it; then cruelly withholding the hope of Christ. It makes the "Pharisee" feel good about their level of holiness, because they aren't dealing with that sin (or may be, but out of the public eye).

It's important to note, in closing, that these were just two examples where we might see this type of behavior. We certainly will see culturally conservative Christians doing things that will get them approval of their peers (such as disapproving of certain styles of music, out of hand) and culturally liberal Christians heaping on the condemnation (such as making blanket statements about how people don't care about the poor, without indicating the hope of the Gospel to those sinning with their selfishness).

Regardless of one's particular bent and opinions, it is essential that we are aware of the sinful tendency for self-glorification and depreciation of others. We are always looking for ways to make ourselves look good, give our opinions as the most important ones and see our views as somehow straight from the throne of God himself; consequently, we thrive on tearing others down, snottily dealing those we disagree with and acting as if we alone deserve the Gospel

The Silent Planet Reboot...

Well, it started back in the day...

Sunday, November 26, 2006....man, that was almost four years ago.

I began "The Silent Planet" my experiment in blogging. It was fun, as I enjoyed the writing outlet quite a bit. But, then I started grad school...where I was writing for credit. Then, I moved to Philadelphia. Then, I started dating Anna, who is now my fiance. So, frankly, I got a life.

As I browsed through the back pages of the Planet, it did remind me of God's faithfulness. It recorded some really great experiences, such as my Bolivia missions trip, the decision to move back up north - but also some really dark times where I was holding onto my sanity and faith by a thread.

There were other reasons why my blogging became more of a rarity. One of the primary reasons was increased conviction from God about how people relate in the blogosphere. Proverbs 18:2 ("A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.") began to resonate with me. Similarly, there was an op-ed piece by Dick Polman in the Philadelphia Inquirer, called, "The Incivility Death Spiral." It talked about the behavior in the internet media world, particularly in relation to the deaths of Senator Ted Kennedy and journalist Tony Snow. Polman talked about how political opponents of these men gleefully gloated about their sickness and expressed joy about their deaths. Polman observed how the anonymity of the internet (or I could argue, the distance and impersonal nature of it), makes public discourse particularly nasty.

To compound this, a long held trick in the blogging world is to be as controversial as possible in order to get readership up. I discovered this trick while editing my college paper, which frankly was a journalistic equivalent of a Victorian Penny Dreadful. If people weren't reading, be a jerk - then watch the fire burn as you see people tear each other up. Not very edifying, particularly when addressing theological issues. Christians often seem to enjoy vilifying each other more than they like doing what they are supposed to. I enjoy theology, but good theology is supposed to result in a Godly life. The more time I spent in the blogsphere, the more I got annoyed by watching Christians engage in trolling. Trolling, would be defined as posting inflammatory articles or making snotty or insulting comments just start an argument. Frankly, I'm rather over that stuff....I'm a bit tired of the broad stereotypes and blatant misinformation: "Evangelicals don't care about the poor," "Obama is a secret Muslim," "9/11 was an inside job"....and other utter nonsense. It's not that people don't have a right to express themselves, but I'm really tired of people doing so in an arrogant and condescending manner. It gets really, really old and doesn't do anything to solve problems or edify anyone.

To repeat myself, this is especially awful when Christians do this to each other. Seriously, there are heretics out there, real heretics. If you want to turn your guns and fire, point at Spong, McClaren, Tillich and others who have a Christian label but have completely turned from orthodoxy and gospel - they are pied pipers on the road to hellfire. Posting rude and insulting comments about fellow believers who you might disagree with is sinful. Making snide comments about denominations or traditions you may disagree with on finer points of doctrine is uncharitable. Gloating in the downfall of church leaders that you might disagree with is perverse.

Unfortunately, I did most, if not all, of these during the early years of The Silent Planet. I was convicted about how I was stirring up dissension and engaging in all sorts of sinful, proud behavior. There is much to be said in scripture about such things:

• Proverbs 6 describes one who stirs up dissent as a villain, it continues to say that God hates it when people stir up dissension between brothers.
• Proverbs 10 states how hatred is the root of stirring up dissension.
• Proverbs 16 says that stirring up dissension is perverse.
• Lastly, Proverbs 29 says that stirring up dissension is a display of anger.

I hope that as The Silent Planet makes a comeback, this will be true of me:

" ⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12, NIV)

I have archived all the old entries in case I need to resurrect something. I've also left a few of my favorite entries up, although some of them might be not as charitable as I'd like.