Monday, August 27, 2007

Insights from a Pharisee

Here I am, studying to lead Bible Study tomorrow, and I am hit with how much of a Pharisee I am. I have spent my life looking down on these guys for being against Jesus and wanting to crucify him, when in actuality, I am one.

These Pharisees where defending their way of life - adding rules to God's law. Sure, I haven't added anything to "Thou shalt not murder," but I have added me own "rules" to the way I believe we should live a godly life.

We should only worship with songs, and those songs have to be off a specific list, take communion a certain way, dress a specific way at church, talk to only with the "right" people, etc. I see now that some of those rules are what non-believers can't stand in today's Christian. Why should i follow Christ when there are all these "extra" things I have to do to stay in his good graces?

Reading through Luke 5:33-6:11 and studying the context, I realized that the Pharisees added rules are like the rules Christians create today in churches. I ask for forgiveness from anyone I may have turned off to Christianity because of my stubborn ideals of how a Christian should act.

What are some of the "added" rules you have? Are your rules turning people away from Christ rather than bringing them closer to His love?