It is better to allow people to be what they are so we can see the real them and guide them.
When superficial unbiblical rules are made to control the outside of a person, all we do is make them more clever about hiding anything inside that is not acceptable. This is when we see pretense, people who walk around acting superior while raging contempt dwells inside.
Many of these people are in the churches today, they hide all their flaws rather than confessing them to be cleansed. They continue in phony goodness without ever growing past infancy in their spiritual immaturity.
Pretending to be good on the outside does not fool God, all it serves to do is make superficial people feel satisfied with deceiving others, they feel no need for growing in holiness.
These people are often fixated on the flaws of others while ignoring their own. They punish those who don't follow their rules and show contempt when we don't agree about something that has nothing to do with sin.
Unfortunately legalists assign the title of sin to things that are not sin at all, but just their own idea of righteousness. They judge others harshly but never judge themselves.
1 Corinthians 3:30-32 "…30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.…"
Matthew 23:27 "27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. "
The church pretenders have all kinds of judgments for everyone but themselves as they waltz through life feeling superior and worthy of praise.
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
These self righteous types quote scripture out of context often to justify their high opinion of themselves.
Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"
As we can see from the Word, things have not changed very much. Christ set us free from human domination, each one who is born again is worthy to speak freely, act as directed by the Holy Spirit, while being free to ignore those who would attempt to control us through human wisdom and intimidation.
May the Holy Spirit in us remain more powerful than any intimidation of human beings, in these last days of deceit.
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