HOW TO BE A PHARISEE

ARMINIAN MAGAZINE | SPRING, 1994 | VICTOR REASONER

[The Grammarian]

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is NONE OF HIS. (Romans 8:9)

That being the case, and seeing how the disciples at Ephesus were only "baptized unto John's baptism," they were very likely John's disciples rather than Jesus', and either way, they were unregenerate up until they received the Spirit.

[The Grammarian]

how could any of this happen without the Holy Spirit intervening first?

Without going into an argument, I can say that I believe the Spirit intervenes first. I'm a believer in Free Grace, not Free Will. "And if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me" (Jn. 12:32).

[The Grammarian]

Wouldn't the UMC do better just going straight back to John Wesley's sermons and writings and Charles Wesley's hymns -- and rebuild from there? My small experience of the UMC is that they don't know who they are any more.

You see, the Wesleys' doctrines ARE the theology of Cartwright, Dow, Thomas, Steele and Asbury. You're absolutely right, though. The UMC needs to figure out again what it means to be Wesleyan.

[vmatt]

That being the case, and seeing how the disciples at Ephesus were only "baptized unto John's baptism," they were very likely John's disciples rather than Jesus', and either way, they were unregenerate up until they received the Spirit.

Shall I take that as a yes or no?

[fortheDeclaration]

And you know this how? It certainly not mentioned in scripture. Its called "history". Perhaps you've heard of it?

I've heard a lot about 'history' being added to Scripture. Not unlike what the Pharisees did to the Scriptures, added their own opinions

The issue of adding up the 600 plus laws was to avoid the two greatest ones, Loving God and man. FYI, I am a Jew. And this comment is blatantly false. You quote the line where Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, but you fail to mention:

You fail to give my whole statement which was have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith, these ye ought to have done and not to leave the other undone (Mat.23:23). Thus, the Lord was very clear on what the Pharisees were doing, your protestations not withstanding.

For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:18-19)

What has that to do with the Pharisee's? Matt. 23:3 states

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not

In other words they were hypocrites.

The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you (Matthew 23:2-3) Well, the Pharisees were not to obervant then. They got angry at the Lord for healing on the Sabbath-twice Once again, it was the Shammaites who held to this rigid interpretation of absolute rest on the Sabbath. Hillelite teaching accepted the idea that healing was a good deed and was thus permitted on the Sabbath.

Once, again Scripture does not differente between the two groups. There is a spirit that goes with being a Pharisee and that is emphasis on the external (letter of the law) while denying or ignoring the internal the purpose of the Law, which was to do good not harm.(Rom.7:10-12)

[fortheDeclaration]

You may also want to read Marching to Glory by Edward H. McKinley, historian for the S.A. which tells of the rise of the Salvation Army in the United States. Granted, the general public sees the strong social emphasis the Army has, but the message of the gospel goes hand in hand.

Well, this may be something that you might want to address with your friends in the Salvation Army. I know they started out as strong advocates of the Gospel, but it seems that the social Gospel i.e. doing good to change the world, is more of a priority then actual winning souls.

Do they have a website I can look at?

Thanks for explaining their real purpose.

[Ward Smythe]

Salvation Army Doctrines

You can get back to their home page from there.

[fortheDeclaration]

This can be readily found in some very good commentaries, and I've heard this before.

Any actual Scripture ?

The teachings of the various branches of the Pharisaical school of Judaism are a matter of historical record: their writings are preserved for any interested scholar.

Yes, but the Lord did not differente between the two groups.

But, more importantly, this squares with Scripture. Otherwise, it would make no sense for Paul to call himself a Pharisee in the present tense: Acts 26:5 -- But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

He did that to get the Pharaisees on his side against the Sadducees. In Acts.26, he uses the past tense after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee (vs.5)

Similarly, this explains some of the attempted entrapment of Christ by the Pharisees. They tried to get him to declare allegiance to one of the two branches by choosing sides on contraversial matters (e.g. divorce).

No, they wanted Christ to contradict himself between the Law as they interpreted it and as it should be applied. Hence, the woman caught in adultery in John.8, and their own hypocrisy in not bringing the man who was involved with her as well (Deut.22:22)

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered; and many such things do ye (Mk.7:13)

[The Grammarian]

Shall I take that as a yes or no?

You may take it as a "Yes," although not in a Pentecostalist or Charismatic sense.

[The Grammarian]

Well, this may be something that you might want to address with your friends in the Salvation Army. I know they started out as strong advocates of the Gospel, but it seems that the social Gospel i.e. doing good to change the world, is more of a priority then actual winning souls.

They still are strong advocates of the Gospel. The only reason people think otherwise is because the only contact most people have with the Salvation Army is at Christmas when the S.A. has their famous "red kettle" fund-raising. The S.A.'s greatest work for the cause of Christ is in preaching the Gospel to people that the world at large never even sees--the homeless and destitute.

Also, quite honestly, the "social" gospel and the "evangelical" gospel go hand in hand. They're inseperable, really. If the love of God is shed abroad in your heart, then not only will you want to show the world God's redeeming love in hope of their salvation, but you will want to transform this world to the glory of God as well.

But then, such a transformation fits the Postmillenialist's optimistic eschatology far more than that of Premillenial Dispensationalism.

[vmatt]

You may take it as a "Yes," although not in a Pentecostalist or Charismatic sense.

There is only one sense and that is the biblical word of God sense. I tell you now by simply believing you can have a gift of God that you do not possess. I will help in any way I can.

[The Grammarian]

There is only one sense and that is the biblical word of God sense. I tell you now by simply believing you can have a gift of God that you do not possess. I will help in any way I can.

Which gift would that be?

[TBP]

I've sometimes thought that the worst thing that happened to Christianity was when it became the state religion. The second worst may have been the exclusionary Council of Nicea, which basically threw out any writings that didn't agree with their elitist, hierarchical views.

[malakhi]

I've heard a lot about 'history' being added to Scripture. Not unlike what the Pharisees did to the Scriptures, added their own opinions

History is history. Your denial of same does not make it any less of a fact. You might as well deny the Reformation. Look it up. BTW, what did Jesus say about the authority of the Pharisees to interpret the Law? Hint: I gave you the cite earlier.

have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith, these ye ought to have done and not to leave the other undone (Mat.23:23). Thus, the Lord was very clear on what the Pharisees were doing

Jesus was very clear that not a "jot or tittle" will pass from the Law. In other words, even the least of the commandments was still expected to be kept.

In other words they were hypocrites.

Did, or did not, Jesus say that the scribes and Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses, and tell the people to practice or observe whatever they told them? The fact that some of the Pharisees were hypocrites did not take away their authority to interpret the Law.

Once, again Scripture does not differente between the two groups. There is a spirit that goes with being a Pharisee and that is emphasis on the external (letter of the law) while denying or ignoring the internal the purpose of the Law, which was to do good not harm.

Nor does it state that every statement Jesus made about Pharisees was meant to refer to all the Pharisees. Unless you yourself personally knew every Pharisee, and could see into their hearts, how could you possibly make such a judgment about them? That is stereotypical in the same way as saying that all Jews are greedy.

[DouglasKC]

Sorry, but this sounds like something from the herbert armstrong school of law.Which one of the splinter groups do you belong to?

I fellowship with members of the United Church of God. Information about the church and literature is available at Good News Magazine.

However I'm curious...do you disagree that if the ten commandments could be kept perfectly that the result would be perfect love toward God and toward your neighbor?

[The Grammarian]

[D]o you disagree that if the ten commandments could be kept perfectly that the result would be perfect love toward God and toward your neighbor?

No, I believe that when God perfects us in love, the result is that we keep the ten commandments perfectly.

[fortheDeclaration]

I've heard a lot about 'history' being added to Scripture. Not unlike what the Pharisees did to the Scriptures, added their own opinions History is history. Your denial of same does not make it any less of a fact. You might as well deny the Reformation. Look it up. BTW, what did Jesus say about the authority of the Pharisees to interpret the Law? Hint: I gave you the cite earlier.

The history of the two schools of Pharisee's is totally irrevelant to the issue. Christ did not make any distinction between the two. Your assumption is that He did is based on what?

have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith, these ye ought to have done and not to leave the other undone (Mat.23:23). Thus, the Lord was very clear on what the Pharisees were doing Jesus was very clear that not a "jot or tittle" will pass from the Law. In other words, even the least of the commandments was still expected to be kept. In other words they were hypocrites. Did, or did not, Jesus say that the scribes and Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses, and tell the people to practice or observe whatever they told them? The fact that some of the Pharisees were hypocrites did not take away their authority to interpret the Law.

Why is it you never quote the entire passage?

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their works for they and do not. (Matt.23:2-3)

Sounds like hypocrisy to me!

As for their authority to interpret law, Christ's entire approach undercut their authority, that is why they hated Him

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matt.7:29)

Once, again Scripture does not differente between the two groups. There is a spirit that goes with being a Pharisee and that is emphasis on the external (letter of the law) while denying or ignoring the internal the purpose of the Law, which was to do good not harm. Nor does it state that every statement Jesus made about Pharisees was meant to refer to all the Pharisees. Unless you yourself personally knew every Pharisee, and could see into their hearts, how could you possibly make such a judgment about them? That is stereotypical in the same way as saying that all Jews are greedy.

That is totally missing the point of what being a pharisee entailed.

Christ described the Pharisee's as being Vipers (Matt.12:24,34) Blind (Matt.15:12-14), Hypocrites (Matt. 23:13-19), Serpents (Matt. 23:33) and Children of the Devil (Jn.8:13,44)

Now, I am sure there were some 'nice' people in the Nazi Party also, but I think we can safety say that by and large it was a wicked group of people. Nicodemus was a Pharisee but that did not stop the Lord from attacking Pharisiasm as being wicked.

[fortheDeclaration]

Well, this may be something that you might want to address with your friends in the Salvation Army. I know they started out as strong advocates of the Gospel, but it seems that the social Gospel i.e. doing good to change the world, is more of a priority then actual winning souls. They still are strong advocates of the Gospel. The only reason people think otherwise is because the only contact most people have with the Salvation Army is at Christmas when the S.A. has their famous "red kettle" fund-raising.

Amen

The S.A.'s greatest work for the cause of Christ is in preaching the Gospel to people that the world at large never even sees--the homeless and destitute.

A very worthwhile endeavor. I did not know they were still doing it. Is the Gospel the correct one, faith in the shed blood of Christ?

Also, quite honestly, the "social" gospel and the "evangelical" gospel go hand in hand. They're inseperable, really. If the love of God is shed abroad in your heart, then not only will you want to show the world God's redeeming love in hope of their salvation, but you will want to transform this world to the glory of God as well. But then, such a transformation fits the Postmillenialist's optimistic eschatology far more than that of Premillenial Dispensationalism

Amen, as long as the social gospel doesn't cease to preach the saving Gospel, Faith in Christ.

[fortheDeclaration]

I've sometimes thought that the worst thing that happened to Christianity was when it became the state religion. The second worst may have been the exclusionary Council of Nicea, which basically threw out any writings that didn't agree with their elitist, hierarchical views

Amen!

[DouglasKC]

D]o you disagree that if the ten commandments could be kept perfectly that the result would be perfect love toward God and toward your neighbor?
No, I believe that when God perfects us in love, the result is that we keep the ten commandments perfectly.

I would agree with that. Would you agree that the goal of Christians should be to allow themselves to be perfected as far as it's possible by God during their physical lifetime?