Friday, December 19, 2025
Modern Day Pharisees
Paul persecuted the church before he was born again. He thought he was doing God a favor, even defending God, because of his view that claiming Jesus Christ was God was blasphemy. He was a zealous Pharisee.
Galatians 1:13 "For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it."
On the road to Damascus, God blinded Paul so that he would see with Spiritual eyes. He had a vision of the resurrected Christ, which caused him to stop his persecution. Annanias restored his sight through a miracle, and he had a radical change of heart and began preaching in Damascus.
This account of Paul and his conversion resonated with me this morning as I pondered what Christians encounter in our day within the church.
Those who are persecuted by those who say they are believers are the ones who proclaim the Word of God and expect it to be followed.
The worst persecutors of authentic believers are those who do not want to obey the scriptures. The believers hearts have been changed by Christ when they trusted in Him, and the pretenders, the modern Pharisees, attempt to silence them for disrupting their man-made traditions, which come in many forms.
There are modern-day Pharisees within the church who make up their own rules, do not seek God, but rather seek the education of men to learn how to manipulate and control the people.
The Pharisees in Jesus day were the religious leaders who counted themselves as superior to the believers, hating the dedication to Christ they saw in those who had been transformed by Christ.
Matthew 23:1-33 "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. [14]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
Today's Pharisees add to God's Word to fit their culture, and they detract from God's Word to fit that same culture. If God's word doesn't say what fits their fleshly desire, they change His Word, and instead of repenting from their sinful nature, they enhance and defend it through their own deception..
These modern Pharisees pretend to have authority over the believers, resist correction from them and refuse to allow them to speak unless they have permission from them.
And worse, they punish and demean those who do not accept their views and even call out their false doctrines and human rules.
The very people who preach against the Pharisees of Jesus' day are the ones who act just like they did, only claiming to love Christ while at the same time denying His Word!!!
Galatians 1:13 "For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it."
On the road to Damascus, God blinded Paul so that he would see with Spiritual eyes. He had a vision of the resurrected Christ, which caused him to stop his persecution. Annanias restored his sight through a miracle, and he had a radical change of heart and began preaching in Damascus.
This account of Paul and his conversion resonated with me this morning as I pondered what Christians encounter in our day within the church.
Those who are persecuted by those who say they are believers are the ones who proclaim the Word of God and expect it to be followed.
The worst persecutors of authentic believers are those who do not want to obey the scriptures. The believers hearts have been changed by Christ when they trusted in Him, and the pretenders, the modern Pharisees, attempt to silence them for disrupting their man-made traditions, which come in many forms.
There are modern-day Pharisees within the church who make up their own rules, do not seek God, but rather seek the education of men to learn how to manipulate and control the people.
The Pharisees in Jesus day were the religious leaders who counted themselves as superior to the believers, hating the dedication to Christ they saw in those who had been transformed by Christ.
Matthew 23:1-33 "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. [14]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
Today's Pharisees add to God's Word to fit their culture, and they detract from God's Word to fit that same culture. If God's word doesn't say what fits their fleshly desire, they change His Word, and instead of repenting from their sinful nature, they enhance and defend it through their own deception..
These modern Pharisees pretend to have authority over the believers, resist correction from them and refuse to allow them to speak unless they have permission from them.
And worse, they punish and demean those who do not accept their views and even call out their false doctrines and human rules.
The very people who preach against the Pharisees of Jesus' day are the ones who act just like they did, only claiming to love Christ while at the same time denying His Word!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Fit to Serve God or Not
"You and I cannot be useful if we want to be sweet as honey in the mouths of men. God will never bless us if we wish to please men, that they may think well of us. Are you willing to tell them what will break your own heart in the telling and break theirs in the hearing? If not, you are not fit to serve the Lord. You must be willing to go and speak for God, though you will be rejected."
~ Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892
~ Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Part of an article by Kris Reece on Christian Narcissists
Part of an article by Kris Reece:
The concept of "narcissists hating Christians" is more accurately described in numerous articles and resources as the conflict between the core traits of narcissism (self-love, pride, lack of empathy) and the core tenets of Christianity (humility, selfless love, repentance). Narcissists do not necessarily "hate" Christians as a group, but their inherent behaviors and worldview put them in direct opposition to authentic Christian principles.
Key dynamics explored in articles on this topic include:
Inability to Repent: Narcissism is characterized by an unwillingness to admit fault, failure, or sin to protect their self-image. This makes the fundamental Christian act of repentance and seeking forgiveness incredibly difficult, if not impossible.
A "Form of Godliness": Narcissists in Christian settings often appear devout and spiritually mature in public, but are controlling and abusive in private. They use a "form of godliness" to manipulate others and gain a high profile, power, and admiration within the church community, which serves as a prime "hunting ground" for them.
Weaponizing Scripture and Forgiveness: They may use biblical concepts like forgiveness to bypass accountability, pressuring victims to forgive them quickly without genuine repentance. If a victim hesitates, the narcissist might frame them as unforgiving or "unchristian".
Intolerance of Rebukes: Narcissists hate being told they are wrong or being held accountable. Any attempt to expose their true nature or call them to repent is often met with rage, dismissal, or labeling the other person as disobedient or an enemy of the faith.
Self-Focus vs. God-Focus: The narcissistic self-preoccupation constantly draws attention inward to one's own wisdom and accomplishments, rather than outward toward God and serving others, which is the Christian ideal."
Kris Reece
The concept of "narcissists hating Christians" is more accurately described in numerous articles and resources as the conflict between the core traits of narcissism (self-love, pride, lack of empathy) and the core tenets of Christianity (humility, selfless love, repentance). Narcissists do not necessarily "hate" Christians as a group, but their inherent behaviors and worldview put them in direct opposition to authentic Christian principles.
Key dynamics explored in articles on this topic include:
Inability to Repent: Narcissism is characterized by an unwillingness to admit fault, failure, or sin to protect their self-image. This makes the fundamental Christian act of repentance and seeking forgiveness incredibly difficult, if not impossible.
A "Form of Godliness": Narcissists in Christian settings often appear devout and spiritually mature in public, but are controlling and abusive in private. They use a "form of godliness" to manipulate others and gain a high profile, power, and admiration within the church community, which serves as a prime "hunting ground" for them.
Weaponizing Scripture and Forgiveness: They may use biblical concepts like forgiveness to bypass accountability, pressuring victims to forgive them quickly without genuine repentance. If a victim hesitates, the narcissist might frame them as unforgiving or "unchristian".
Intolerance of Rebukes: Narcissists hate being told they are wrong or being held accountable. Any attempt to expose their true nature or call them to repent is often met with rage, dismissal, or labeling the other person as disobedient or an enemy of the faith.
Self-Focus vs. God-Focus: The narcissistic self-preoccupation constantly draws attention inward to one's own wisdom and accomplishments, rather than outward toward God and serving others, which is the Christian ideal."
Kris Reece
So Much Was Wrong in the Church
So many things we were taught in the churches today, based on the English translation, were incorrec,t leading to abuses through cultural thinking rather than what God actually said.
This is why it is so important that we ask God to show us only the truth. There is so much wrong thinking that our entire lives have been based on man's thinking but few are willing to evaluate them because most people are dedicated to their traditions. Fear of men has caused people to retain beliefs that are not from God.
Mark 7:13 "13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ."
1 Timothy 4:1-3 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
Isaiah 29:13 "Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men."
This is why it is so important that we ask God to show us only the truth. There is so much wrong thinking that our entire lives have been based on man's thinking but few are willing to evaluate them because most people are dedicated to their traditions. Fear of men has caused people to retain beliefs that are not from God.
Mark 7:13 "13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ."
1 Timothy 4:1-3 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
Isaiah 29:13 "Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men."
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