Phariseeism in the Modern Church

[Episkopos]

Who are the Pharisees among us in our time? Naturally, no one thinks they are among the many whom Jesus sends away from His presence on Judgement Day. What can be done to ensure that doesn't happen? Wisdom would have us ready to receive instruction in righteousness.

 

[Episkopos]

How many realize that God has set a trap against the proud unmerciful ones among those who have received a sample of His grace? The bible says that GOD will send a great delusion that will catch all who don't love the truth. Those who love the truth are a tiny subset of those who have received grace. God's people perish through lack of knowledge...even as they claim to have knowledge of salvation.

God is so wise and His ways are past our understanding. Don't be caught in the religion trap...repent from self-righteousness and condemnatory attitudes towards those on whom God shows mercy.

 

[Episkopos]

People will use their bibles to contradict any call to work out one's own salvation with fear and trembling (which is in the bible). People prefer to claim a salvation based on assurances and smug self confidence. The bible translations of today reflect the modern watering down of the truth to something that middle-class people are not scandalized about. The revolutionary aspect of the gospel is dumbed down so as to make it seem benign....no drastic challenges....just beliefs and shallow acknowledgment.


The bible translations have been affected by the popular teachings of today that negate the truth at its proper depth. The word for remission or forgiveness of sins is the Greek aphesis...which means freedom. People don't experience freedom from sins anymore because the devil knows his business....shifting the meaning of words to conform to our human nature. The devil tried resisting the church from outside by bringing persecution. That only succeeded in spreading the gospel more and more. So he decided to try something more radical. He joined the church and subverted it from within.

 

[shepherdsword]

There is a popular video on the internet now. It shows two words "green needle" and "brainstorm" When the recording plays you hear only the word you are focusing on. The effect is called "perceptual priming" Everyone...and I mean everyone, reads the bible through their own priming (paradigm)

Brainstorm or Green Needle

Interesting fact, if you listen without looking at any of the words you hear "I am evil" (there is a lesson in that)

 

[Episkopos]

There is a popular video on the internet now. It shows two words "green needle" and "brainstorm" When the recording plays you hear only the word you are focusing on. The effect is called "perceptual priming" Everyone...and I mean everyone, reads the bible through their own priming (paradigm)

Brainstorm or Green Needle

Interesting fact, if you listen without looking at any of the words you hear "I am evil" (there is a lesson in that)

LOL To me it sounds like brain needle.

But you are right about people reading in their own ideas into the bible without any humility or fear at all. Most see the bible as a self-help book...choosing favourite verses...deciding what is useful and what is not.

What is not understood is the way that is in Christ or God's judgments...never mind actually knowing God. For most, the bible has replaced God..and Jesus is the new idol to worship...and disobey.

 

[amigo de christo]

And what was the ONE KEY THING the hyprocritical pharisees FAILED TO DO .
BELIEVE ON JESUS THE CHRIST .
HELLO epi .
And what did they often do that paul had to warn against .
THEY often tried to silence THE PREACHING OF JESUS THE CHRIST
and to get them attached BACK to the law in some way or fashion .
THAT sounds like someone I KNOW epi . And.
I know of a person who actually goes against and tries to silence those WHO REMIND about the DIRE NEED TO BELEIVE ON JESUS .
WELL , that is a pharisee and i suppose its darn sure a MODERN one .
SHOULD have preached BOTH THE DIRE NEED TO BELIEVE ON HIM , AND TO BLEIEVE HIS WORDS and DO What HE taught .
TO do one without the ot her , IS FALSE .
Example . YOU never once try and preach the dire need to believe on JESUS , YET try and teach his walk of holiness .
WHILE others of ten do preach ON beieving on JESUS and YET THEY OMIT HOLINESS .
BOTH camps are DEAD wrong epi . TIME TO DO BOTH EPI . or prepare to wail my friend .

 

[Episkopos]

The world of the Pharisee is a world of pretend. In such a world of pretend, real issues are either soft-pedaled or ignored entirely. Children can play "special forces" without having to undergo any of the rigorous training that would qualify them for such in the real world..

So it is in the church...where the spiritual realm takes on the form of a world of pretend...for those who are outside of eternal reality. It is no wonder that any call to reality spoils the children's game. But the game is real because of evil...and those who seek to bring reality to the game are disturbing evil...and will feel the wrath of the hypocrites (play-actors).

A utopian view of the world always leads to tragedy. Extreme ideologies like Communism or Fascism see through blinded eyes (as in, we are just one murder away from having a perfect society) Or on the religious level...if we just kill this one heretic, we will finally have unity in the church. Jesus was a victim of this kind of ideology...hence the importance of understanding how the world really works. When we try to build the church ourselves, we end up killing Christ, over and over again, inasmuch as we persecute those who come to us with the truth in His Name, with correction, with reproof and rebuke. God once remarked.."They kill all the prophets I send them, but perhaps if I send My Son they will listen". The response by the ones playing the game was...it is better for one man to die than to upset the whole game. So the preachers of truth are hated just like Jesus was hated. The builders have rejected the cornerstone: the pretenders have rejected the truth and eternal reality brought by the spokesmen of truth.. These are spoiling the game, as it were. But the one hosting the game and deciding its rules is the devil himself. That is the truth.

The actual condition of the modern church is a tragic one, and the truth functions as that which quenches the euphoric aspirations of the ones who are fully involved in playing church.

Wisdom is in the house of mourning...more than in the house of rejoicing, and much more than in the house of the pretenders.

 

[amigo de christo]

the condition of many churches have been in trouble now for a long time .
And now in this late and last hour has a powerful and uniting delusion come upon this world , these religions
and much of christendom . It will merge them all as one . And they will all have two things in common basically .
They , as the false religoins already do , will beleive THERE was no need to have had to BELIEVE ON JESUS THE CHRIST
and rather a lie known as inclusvism . One that states ALL religoins are serving the same God a christain does
and working as one for world peace . And its peace BE OF many antichrists indeed .
That is the one common theme , oh there was NO need to have had to BELEIVE on JESUS THE CHRIST .
Kinda seems to me many are now under this spell . Not this sheep .
DIRE to BELIEVE ON JESUS . And if one truly does they had BELIEVED JESUS .
Faith without works is dead , and works without FAITH IN JESUS is just as dead and vain EPI .
The spirit of anti christ will in no way honor the SON . And it will make BELIEF in CHRIST as unnecessary .
And woe unto all who take that path .

 

[amigo de christo]

There is a popular video on the internet now. It shows two words "green needle" and "brainstorm" When the recording plays you hear only the word you are focusing on. The effect is called "perceptual priming" Everyone...and I mean everyone, reads the bible through their own priming (paradigm)

Brainstorm or Green Needle

Interesting fact, if you listen without looking at any of the words you hear "I am evil" (there is a lesson in that)

it do sound like it is saying i am evil . MUCH like the idea that we dont need to be reading bibles is DARN evil .

 

[shepherdsword]

it do sound like it is saying i am evil . MUCH like the idea that we dont need to be reading bibles is DARN evil .

EXACTLY!

Just look at how Jesus defeated Satan during His time of temptation in the wilderness. He did it by saying "it is written, it is written, it is written.

 

[Marvelloustime]

the condition of many churches have been in trouble now for a long time .
And now in this late and last hour has a powerful and uniting delusion come upon this world , these religions
and much of christendom . It will merge them all as one . And they will all have two things in common basically .
They , as the false religoins already do , will beleive THERE was no need to have had to BELIEVE ON JESUS THE CHRIST
and rather a lie known as inclusvism . One that states ALL religoins are serving the same God a christain does
and working as one for world peace . And its peace BE OF many antichrists indeed .
That is the one common theme , oh there was NO need to have had to BELEIVE on JESUS THE CHRIST .
Kinda seems to me many are now under this spell . Not this sheep .
DIRE to BELIEVE ON JESUS . And if one truly does they had BELIEVED JESUS .
Faith without works is dead , and works without FAITH IN JESUS is just as dead and vain EPI .
The spirit of anti christ will in no way honor the SON . And it will make BELIEF in CHRIST as unnecessary .
And woe unto all who take that path .

@amigo de christo

 

[Episkopos]

The Pharisee will improve their doctrinal accuracy over time...at least the theory of it. They will understand that God breaks down before He builds back up., for instance. And yet these will reject any breaking from the Lord. For these it remains a theory. In practice there is no humility or fear of the Lord.

Paul said "always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth...of such turn away." We could say never experiencing the truth in the form of a visitation from God or a translation into the kingdom realm.

Jesus said of the Pharisees...do as they say not as they do. Doing is the righteousness that underpins our walk with God. And unless our DOING lines up with our theories, then our righteousness will not exceed that of the Pharisees.

 

[Episkopos]

I don't know what people are learning from the sunday pulpiteers but it certainly isn't the truth. A novice will read a verse and think that's all there is to it...without realizing that every verse is balanced by another verse that seemingly contradicts it. Only the truth reconciles the seeming contradictions.

There are hundreds of examples but a few will suffice.

In Matt 5 Jesus says : Blessed are the pure in heart....whereas a novice will say that that can't be since the heart is deceitfully wicked. We read the bible AS WE ARE. So then a person who reads the bible and can't see what Jesus is talking about is blinded by their own wicked heart.

The unrighteous will say...there is none righteous, no not one (that doesn't sin)...and say it in a way that negates the overwhelming evidence of many being righteous BEFORE being saved (from sin into a holy walk in Christ). The righteous sin but the saints do not.

Are we to hate our wives as Jesus says in order to be His disciple...or love our wives as Paul says...as Jesus loves His church???

Are we to fear the Lord to be wise, or are we to fear not little flock?


And here is one I wrestle with on the forum...Are we to answer a fool or not answer a fool? Both are suggested in back to back verses.

I invite people to adopt a BALANCED view of the bible. Any novice can declare one aspect of the truth by fully ignoring that an opposite sounding verse ...or many such verses, also exist. Instead of being partisan and unbalanced....why not seek the truth at a depth where all things line up?

 

[Episkopos]

it do sound like it is saying i am evil . MUCH like the idea that we dont need to be reading bibles is DARN evil .

How revealing! We read into it what we need to. Just like the way people read the bible to hijack grace and salvation to serve their own selfish needs.

 

[Rockerduck]

Every cult is a pharisee system of works to get to heaven.

 

[Episkopos]

Every cult is a pharisee system of works to get to heaven.

Every cult is unbalanced and champions either one aspect of truth or another...accepting only half-truths and lies. But these who love the truth seek out the balance.

For example righteousness works by BOTH faith and works. Whereas holiness is only by faith since no one can overcome sin by human means.

Then there is the INCLUSIVITY created by mercy...and the EXCLUSIVITY of glory. No one that I know of can see that. But when these things are presented to the wise and pure of heart..they begin to understand. It is the wicked heart that refuses wisdom and truth.

 

[Rockerduck]

Every cult is unbalanced and champions either one aspect of truth or another...accepting only half-truths and lies. But these who love the truth seek out the balance.

For example righteousness works by BOTH faith and works. Whereas holiness is only by faith since no one can overcome sin by human means.

Then there is the INCLUSIVITY created by mercy...and the EXCLUSIVITY of glory. No one that I know of can see that. But when these things are presented to the wise and pure of heart..they begin to understand. It is the wicked heart that refuses wisdom and truth.

If it's works, its not Grace. Period. Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

 

[Episkopos]

If it's works, its not Grace. Period.

That's what I just said. But you don't understand the truth. Righteousness is about DOING God's will. Jesus said not all will enter the kingdom but those who DO the will of My Father in heaven. So call Jesus a liar. The foundation that Jesus calls for is DOING what He says. Building your house on a rock (of doing) not just hearing (on sand).

Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Holiness is ONLY by grace. It is impossible to walk in Christ's perfection by trying.

 

[amigo de christo]

That's what I just said. But you don't understand the truth. Righteousness is about DOING God's will. Jesus said not all will enter the kingdom but those who DO the will of My Father in heaven. So call Jesus a liar. The foundation that Jesus calls for is DOING what He says. Building your house on a rock (of doing) not just hearing (on sand).

Holiness is ONLY by grace. It is impossible to walk in Christ's perfection by trying.

and no man by THE SPIRIT would have preached inclusivism EPI . For no man by the Spirit calls JESUS accursed .
TWO th ings epi . ONE . Anyone who DOES claim to beleive ON JESUS and yet
walks in darkness , walks contrary , walks in sin , has not works , walks in a lie and t heir faith is dead .
AND Now for the NUMBER TWO that YOU NEED TO KNOW .
NO man who walks in THE HOLINESS OF JESUS would ever have omitted THE FACT ONE MUST FIRST BELEIVE ON HIM .
BUT EPI DO and EPI comes after those who remind others of the dire need TO BELIEVE ON HIM . sorry epi
but you are every bit as much as lost as is the very hyper grace you preach against IS LOST . YA BOTH LOST .
AND you cannot help them . GOTTA PUT HORSE IN FRONT OF CART . NOW WHEN YOU DO
then YOU SHALL see clearly how to HELP this lost hyper grace lip only camp . TILL THEN you are only in deadly danger yourself .

 

[Episkopos]

and no man by THE SPIRIT would have preached inclusivism EPI .

False. And you speak lies. Notice the goodness and severity of God. You are excluded from what you think you are included in. So without God's mercy, that you look down on...you are toast. You just don't know it.

For no man by the Spirit calls JESUS accursed .

The false spirits are in the church as well as outside the church. A religious spirit as you demonstrate drew MORE condemnation than what is outside. But you don't know it.

TWO th ings epi . ONE . Anyone who DOES claim to beleive ON JESUS and yet
walks in darkness , walks contrary , walks in sin , has not works , walks in a lie and t heir faith is dead .
AND Now for the NUMBER TWO that YOU NEED TO KNOW .
NO man who walks in THE HOLINESS OF JESUS would ever have omitted THE FACT ONE MUST FIRST BELEIVE ON HIM .
BUT EPI DO and EPI comes after those who remind others of the dire need TO BELIEVE ON HIM . sorry epi
but you are every bit as much as lost as is the very hyper grace you preach against IS LOST . YA BOTH LOST .
AND you cannot help them . GOTTA PUT HORSE IN FRONT OF CART . NOW WHEN YOU DO
then YOU SHALL see clearly how to HELP this lost hyper grace lip only camp . TILL THEN you are only in deadly danger yourself .

You exclude yourself because you still need to go and learn...I will have mercy, not lip-service.