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Who Are The
Pharisees Today?
by Doug Perry, www.FellowshipOfTheMartyrs.com
Click here for
printable PDF version - Read
it in POLISH!
(Reprinted with
permission from Christian Family Journal, 2004)
By Doug Perry
You know the Seven
Woes that Jesus calls down on the Pharisees in Matthew 23? It's
clear he doesn't think much of them as a group. They were showy
and extravagant, they loved the places of honor and the feeling that
they knew more than anyone else, they would work hard to make a new
convert and then corrupt them into their own twisted image, they put
their faith in the material rather than the spiritual, they gave
money instead of giving of their mercy and time and faithfulness,
they were full of greed and self-indulgence, they looked shiny and
new on the outside but were hollow on the inside.
Did you ever know
someone like that? Have you seen religious leaders act that
way? I'm sure we all have someone that we could point to and
say meets at least some of the characteristics Jesus ascribed to the
Pharisees. Have you known people like the Rich Young Ruler that
loved God but couldn't take that final step of obedience?
Through my own
experiences growing up overseas as a missionary kid and as we
continue to grow this ministry we've had a great opportunity to get a
little glimpse of how Christians in America are viewed from the outside.
A really terrible
thought has been gnawing at me lately. In our local circle of
influence we can usually point to someone that we can describe as a
“Pharisee.” But if you got the Christians from all
over the world in one bunch and asked them to point out who was most
like the Pharisees as Jesus described them – WE'RE the ones at
whom they would all be pointing!
Only six percent
of the Christians in the world live in North America, yet 95 percent
of available Christian resources are spent here. Only eight
percent of the world speaks English, yet more than 90 percent of all
Christian ministry (spoken, radio, television, print) is conducted in
English. Half of the world has never seen even a single page of
the Bible! When we send missionaries over there and convert
someone, the first thing we do is impose our denominational
distinctives and enmesh them in our theological squabblings over
issues that aren't central to the true faith.
There are
Christian Brothers and Sisters starving to death and still being
faithful, finding a way to give to their church even in poverty.
Their commitment and joy in the Lord is awesome and should shame all
of us. They go and preach in the most dangerous places, knowing they
could be killed (and frequently are) - while we are unwilling to talk
to our neighbors for fear of looking like a “Jesus freak.”
Previously I've
mentioned that the United States gross domestic product (GDP) is
about $10 Trillion per year. Regular church-going Christians control
as much as $3 Trillion per year of that through our personal income
(roughly equivalent to the ENTIRE annual spending of the U.S.
Government). We control many, MANY times that when you
calculate the value of our stocks, savings, real estate, life
insurance, businesses and other assets. So, what are we
accomplishing with it? From the perspective of Christians in
other countries, we're just gorging ourselves while others stand and
wait to be fed – both physically and spiritually.
I can't find any
Biblical justification for some Christians having assets worth tens
of trillions of dollars while other Christians (on an income of $1 or
$2 per day) survive and build churches and minister to others around
them. In fact, it seems to me there are some very specific
scriptures to which we should probably pay more attention. For example:
1 Timothy 6:17-19;
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but
to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for
our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and
to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up
treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Or maybe Mark
10:23; “Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How
hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (See
also: I Timothy 6:8-10, Luke 16, Mark 12:41-44)
You think you're
not rich? Compared to what? Compared to your boss or the
guy in that giant house down the street or someone on TV?
You think Jesus is talking about someone else? I've got news
for you, in today's world, He is talking about YOU – and
me. And if He's talking about churches, it's OUR churches that
will have the hardest time at the final Judgement, not those in India
or China or Ethopia. The VAST percentage of all Christian
resources are in the Western countries. In our bank accounts
and those of our churches. BILLIONS live on less than $2 per day.
I'm not telling
you what to do with your wealth. I just ask that you will pray
and listen to God and ask him to guide you. If you decide you
want to make a commitment to help, feel free to contact us or at
least read more about what is happening out there. We also
recommend Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) as a great way to find out
more and get connected.
Copyright Doug
Perry 2004. Use freely
- without charge and without changes. Link to:
www.FellowshipOfTheMartyrs.com
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