I love God's people. My heart is completely commited to serving and loving them. I love using my gift of exhortation to spur them on to grow in Christ. I love lost people. I try to give them grace and love even as I call them to repentance in Jesus' Name. I pray for the heart of the Savior toward them. But there is one type of person that grieves me and I just cannot resist antagonizing. I find that Jesus couldn't either. In fact, it seems like, in the scripture, He purposefully engages them for the purpose of offending them and condemning their hypocrisy. Read Matthew 23. Try reading that and not feel the steam rising off your neck. Whew! The people who frustrate me most in this world are legalists, spiritually prideful, critical spirited Pharisees. I've seen them rush to exclude fellowship with brothers and sisters who don't line up 100% with their particular theological systems. Putting a fine point on their own doctrine but forgetting the mysteries of God. I've seen them make all christians look like hateful crones by their public stances on what they are "against". I've seen them take great delight in comparing themselves with others who don't measure up in their eyes. They seem to relish the opportunity to criticize or look down on or to pity. They can't wait to fire off emails full of self- appointed righteous indignation. I've even heard these characteristics coming from my own mouth at times; revealing the true unloving pride in my very own heart. I have to ask God to purge it from me. I try to guard against it and refuse to be associated with groups who bring this wickedness out in me. For so many it is the default they go to, a knee-jerk reaction of their spirit. They associate "angry" with "holy" without even knowing it.
So how can you spot Pharisaical stronghold or bent? Here are some cardinal signs...But we must look to our own hearts first or we have failed to remove the plank from our own eyes. See Matthew 7:3-5
1. Self- righteousness- feeling as though you are better because of something in you that is superior, not due to the grace of God on your life. Basking in your talents, your position, your heritage, your image, your knowledge, or your lack of worldliness. Looking down on those who can't compete with you in these areas as you take the credit for what God has given as a gift. You use shame as a form of discipline or scripture as a bully club.
2. Spiritual Pride- Thinking better of yourself than God knows you are. Representing yourself to others as more holy than God knows you are. Getting an ego boost from how "deep" you are or how "shallow" others are. Desiring more and more theological knowledge so you can feel superior to others. You love being around others who also are puffed up with knowledge but are short on grace. You think you can know someone else's motives.
3. You are easily offended and quick to rebuke- You are critical of authority in your life. You love to pick apart things others say or do and cast it down. You are harsh. You delight when you are able to "catch" someone in sin, error, or failure. You wear your sensitivity to worldliness as a badge and expect everyone else to measure up or be eliminated from your life. You'd rather bury someone with the truth than to dig them out with grace.
4. You are slow to do the dirty work- You may not say it, but you believe certain ministries to be beneath you. You do very little without the possibility of public exposure. You are big on titles and credit and privilege. You crave association with those you feel are the most spiritually elite.
5. You love the letter of the law- You gravitate toward legalism. You value rules, order, tradition, and rank over people, freedom and redemption. You are quick to expose others faults. You are angered when others extend grace as opposed to consequences. You impose your own preferences or traditions on others as a biblical mandate. You are not teachable, often finding other busy things to do rather than sitting under the teachings of someone you feel is beneath you spiritually. You focus on what's wrong and overlook what's right.
6. You have the spiritual gifts of prophecy, leadership, teaching, knowledge, or wisdom- These gifts are so powerful and needed in the body. Yet, they are so easily counterfeited and harmful if wielded in the flesh. If you have these gifts you must be on alert to the tendencies of pride.
It is no wonder why the Savior deliberately attacked this insidious cancer. It separates us from His grace and mercy. It is counter to the advance of His Kingdom. It makes us tools of harm in the hands of the enemy. It covers those He died for in shame instead redeeming blood. It lifts up man and works and self. I pray God would crush this out of me! I pray He would help me spot it in others and help me distance myself from it and protect me from the hurt of it. I pray He would help me lovingly stand against it and be a purveyor of grace as His ambassador.
Ephesians 2:8-9
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Oy! This is scary stuff! I'm hoping I'm not in any of these categories, but know I have tendencies in a couple of them . Argh! Thanks for always calling us to accountability. Love you! :~)
Posted by: Carrie :~) | 02/16/2012 at 11:06 AM