The Modern Day Pharisee
Yesterday I had an encounter with a modern day American Pharisee. (There are more of them than you might expect, in some areas they abound!) He went onto my wife's page a day or two ago to tell her that people she loves aren't good enough to be called Christian, just because of their political party. When I went to speak with him, as the Bible says I should, he defended his position up and down that only people who live by a certain political creed are Christians.
Funny, I thought what you needed to have, in order to be a Christian, was a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. One where you came to the Cross in humility, admitting your sins and repenting of them, accepting the love and grace of Christ in return, and holding onto Him with trust. I don't recall anything in the Bible stating you have to be of a certain political affiliation, race, location, economic class or anything else.
There are so many people in this life who want to put up legalistic barriers to others coming to Christ. They forget that they are sinners in mud as well, without Christ, and that none of us who are saved have the right to go around telling other people they're not good enough believers because we disagree with an ancillary point in their lives. The people this man was decrying are good family people, devoted to God, active in their church, praying people, loving people....who just happen to disagree with him politically. So he says they're not Bible believing Christians and thus are damned. I thought of Christ railing against the Pharisees as he went on and on, and was sad to see that the modern Pharisee is still alive and working. Not working for Christ, but for legalism.
If you've been hurt by one of this people, take heart. They don't control your salvation, Jesus Christ does. He loves you and treasures you, He knew before you were born what kind of person you'd grow to be, what faults you would have, what sins you would commit. He cherishes you anyway, and calls you to a closer walk with Him. If you can come to the Cross, and admit you are a sinful man or woman, who needs God's grace, if you will turn from sin and embrace God, declaring your faith openly, and loving your neighbor as best you can, then God throws open the banquet doors and invites you in. He wants you there! You have no idea how precious you are to Him, and God is more concerned with your heart than your politics, your location, your age, your money, your race or any other insignificant factor. He just wants you.
May God's grace be upon you,
Fr. Charles
Yesterday I had an encounter with a modern day American Pharisee. (There are more of them than you might expect, in some areas they abound!) He went onto my wife's page a day or two ago to tell her that people she loves aren't good enough to be called Christian, just because of their political party. When I went to speak with him, as the Bible says I should, he defended his position up and down that only people who live by a certain political creed are Christians.
Funny, I thought what you needed to have, in order to be a Christian, was a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. One where you came to the Cross in humility, admitting your sins and repenting of them, accepting the love and grace of Christ in return, and holding onto Him with trust. I don't recall anything in the Bible stating you have to be of a certain political affiliation, race, location, economic class or anything else.
There are so many people in this life who want to put up legalistic barriers to others coming to Christ. They forget that they are sinners in mud as well, without Christ, and that none of us who are saved have the right to go around telling other people they're not good enough believers because we disagree with an ancillary point in their lives. The people this man was decrying are good family people, devoted to God, active in their church, praying people, loving people....who just happen to disagree with him politically. So he says they're not Bible believing Christians and thus are damned. I thought of Christ railing against the Pharisees as he went on and on, and was sad to see that the modern Pharisee is still alive and working. Not working for Christ, but for legalism.
If you've been hurt by one of this people, take heart. They don't control your salvation, Jesus Christ does. He loves you and treasures you, He knew before you were born what kind of person you'd grow to be, what faults you would have, what sins you would commit. He cherishes you anyway, and calls you to a closer walk with Him. If you can come to the Cross, and admit you are a sinful man or woman, who needs God's grace, if you will turn from sin and embrace God, declaring your faith openly, and loving your neighbor as best you can, then God throws open the banquet doors and invites you in. He wants you there! You have no idea how precious you are to Him, and God is more concerned with your heart than your politics, your location, your age, your money, your race or any other insignificant factor. He just wants you.
May God's grace be upon you,
Fr. Charles
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