Pharisees

The Pharisees of biblical times were the religious elite, thoroughly educated in scripture, and very self-righteous.  They were racially pure, powerful, comfortable and complacent, fully engaged in their self-worth, proud.  They loved to demonstrate in public their ability to pray eloquently, hang out with “good” and “important” people, and appeared to follow to the letter the thousands of rules imposed on top of God’s requirements.

When Jesus encountered them, it was never to their advantage.  He was scathing about their hypocrisy.  He challenged the perception that they loved God and condemned their motivations.  They rarely had a sound scriptural response to his accusations.  Indeed, he was so threatening to them that, in the end, they manipulated the political leadership to execute him.  The fact that they had to incite a mob with lies and exaggerations to accomplish this is evidence of their motives.  In the end, they lost it all.

Let’s look at the white American evangelical church:

Educated?  “Christian” universities have been churning out thoroughly indoctrinated graduates for decades.  My news feed is full of experts debating jargon and minutiae disconnected from the gospel.

Powerful?  They used to be, but that is shrinking and scaring them.  Hence the ranting from pulpits about the decay in American culture without offering real solutions.  Party manifestos become church policy in an attempt to maintain control.

Comfortable and complacent?  Indeed.  Most starkly illustrated by a number of prominent theologians encouraging support for an immoral politician solely because he was good for the economy.  Retirement funds and personal security supersede love.  Racism and fear of the “other” lead to rejection.  At the same time, poverty, loneliness, and suicide rates in the community are skyrocketing, and ignored.

Self-righteous and beset by added rules?  Absolutely. Detailed dress codes for girls, teetotalism, doctrinal minutiae, 3 point sermons, behaving white…  People writing their kids out their wills because they have left the church.  The list is endless.

Hypocritical?  Churches claiming to be a haven for the excluded, are excluding those who would wear masks.  State limits on assembly are ignored to protect their income or make political statements.  Sermons abound about trusting God while arming guards at their doors. Scripture is manipulated to justify the status quo.

Inciting a mob?  The number of “Jesus” posters amid the January 6 insurrection may answer that question.  

People are burning out and leaving.  Those indoctrinated graduates are realizing that much of their church life is more nationalist than scriptural.  The plethora of rules imposed by an institution that fails to provide support is leading to disillusionment.  Being conservative has become more important than being a follower of Christ.  They are realizing that they love their shiny reputations more than God, and that is vapor.  Misappropriated scripture loses its authority.  

The tragic part is that they are also walking away from Jesus – and that has eternal consequences.

Covid has exposed the hollowness of our pharisaical model.  It is time to repent.