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