Evangelical Pharisees and Pharisaic, Self-Righteousness.

If we are honest every Christian is prone to falling back into the ditch of "self-righteousness." Any good bible study or related book on pharisaic, self-righteousness calls for humble self-examination and corresponding confession. May our common prayer be, "Lord have mercy on us!" "And "Father, forgive me for I have fallen short of your glory. Shower us with your grace and help us to grow in true love and true piety."

Christian author Michael Reeves calls pharisaical hypocrisy “the hidden cancer” (12) of the church. Few things tempt believers to pull away from, or even abandon Christ's church more than pharisaic, self-righteousness.  Many sheep roam without a flock, in part, because of this hidden cancer.

Churches that are (more) sound in doctrine can easily become breeding grounds for "holier than thou art" Christianity. Sadly, it took me far too many years of ministry before I really understood this grave danger. Some lessons in life are learned the hard way.  For example, I learned that identifying one's congregation (or allowing members to refer to their own congregation) as a "remnant church" fuels pride that often unintentionally creates an abundance of self-righteous (evangelical) pharisees.  

Fundamental Baptists are certainly not the only churches and graduates that struggle with this "hidden cancer."  “For the Pharisee, it all begins with a basic posture of the heart: looking down. They look down on others as they compare themselves to them. (21)"  Bringing others down while silently elevating self. This sin of comparison and judgement begins in the mind before expressing itself with the mouth (or gavel).  Pharisees strain gnats while swallowing camels under the guise of law-keeping and holiness.

Reeves wisely notes that “There are a number of telltales when Christians fall into the self-reliant mindset of the Pharisee” (48). First among these pharisaical tendencies is the sign of hypocrisy. Quoting C. S. Lewis, Reeves shows that arrogant condemnation is a first cousin to hypocrisy.  The evangelical church has hurt many sheep and damaged its Christian testimony with arrogant condemnations more times than one can count.  Hypocrisy on the other hand seeks to conceal my sin (and/or sin struggles) by seeking to widely broadcast your (supposed) sin(s). “The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing, and spoiling sport, and back-biting, the pleasures of power and hatred” (13).

Evangelical Pharisees are often pitiless to those they deem outside their group, but merciful to themselves and those of their own sect (tribe). Thus they violate the heart and soul of Ephesians 4 and the core teaching of Christ in Matthew 7:1-5. They may call themselves trained "peacemakers" but selectively apply the biblical principles of peacemaking (see Ken Sande's 4 G's).  Jesus taught that if one does not, first, remove any and all logs/specks out of their own eye they will not see clearly or judge properly.

Pharisees are also guilty of partiality.  Sinful partiality lies hidden beneath the surface of self-righteous scrutiny. Magnifying the perceived weaknesses and/or real sins of others, while covering up and/or minimizing, their own. Gossip, gluttony, bitterness, pornography, unforgiveness, anger, rebellious children, self-righteousness, and other vices are quietly swept under the rug while demanding others humble themselves via humiliating public confessions.  In the rare event that an evangelical pharisees confesses sin in private they declare their protected tribe as being "blameless" when back in the public spotlight.  Instead of celebrating evidences of grace in the life of fellow redeemed sinners they cast stones.

Additionally, evangelical pharisees proudly judge the apparent humility and genuineness of another's private confession or public repentance while rationalizing away their own logs and excusing their besetting sins!  The Spirit of God reminds us in Scripture, "Who among you is without sin?" Let him who is without sin cast the first stone? Who do we think we are?  

Modern-day Evangelical Pharisees are “not only pitiless but partisan, they eye others with suspicion for the minor defenses that they deem to represent a different gospel” (51).  Evangelical Pharisees “treat those not of their sect with a merciless lack of love” (64).  “Their high sense of self make them equate the gospel with their own particular style; their buzzwords; and their particular culture/group” (51).

Pharisees are legalistic often in the name of wanting to protect God's Law and God's Name.  “In just the same way, evangelicals today can fool themselves that they are being truly biblical. Scripture can be used only to confirm what they have come to believe on other grounds” (35).Reeves then explores “how tradition helps tribes” (35). “Tribalism is the inevitable consequence of allowing tradition—or anything else—parity with the word of God. As soon as we adopt any rallying banner other than the gospel, we sacrifice evangelical unity” (36).“Each silo subtly develops its own particular slang, peculiar dialect, shibboleths, and buzzwords. Its members learn the ‘in’ patter and dress code, talking and walking in specific ways that ape the inner ring of their party leaders. They become, as C. S. Lewis put it, like the country bumpkin, full of ‘the cocksure conviction of an ignorant adolescent that his own village (which is the only one he knows) is the hub of the universe and does everything in the Only Right Way.’ Out of sheer ignorance as much as anything else, the inhabitants of other villages seem increasingly alien and wrong. Out of sight and understanding, they grow horns” (36).

Modern-day Pharisees easily and mercilessly criticize others, but they are quickly and easily offended by others.  Evangelical pharisees love to find fault in other pastors, churches, and seminaries in order to elevate themselves.  In my own experience, certain "mentors" warped my understanding of judging others under the alleged banner of exercising Christian discernment.

“Vigorous in constant and prickly defense of their own dignity, they are swift to lash out in judgment of others” (51).

(Other) Telltale Signs of a Pharisaical Mindset: Maximizing the Law; Minimizing Grace

Reeves explains how the law may break the heart, but grace melts the heart.

Overreacting to a perceived lack of confrontation, the Evangelical Pharisee “concentrates mainly on hammering home an awareness of sin” (78), but forgets that where sin abounds, grace superabounds (Romans 5:20).

Quoting Richard Sibbes, Reeves writes: “It is not enough to have the heart broken; for a pot may be broken in pieces, and yet be good for nothing, so may a heart be, through terrors, and a sense of judgment, and yet not be like wax, pliable” (78-79).“Tenderness of heart is wrought by an apprehension of tenderness and love in Christ. A soft heart is made soft by the blood of Christ” (79).

Jesus warned the Pharisees, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).  Thankfully, in the presence of perfect Holiness (personified) these self-righteous shepherds were forced to halt an unjust, merciless, public execution; (in reality the pharisees waited for a more opportune time to try and hook the Kingfish and crucify the Only Holy Man to ever live).  

Lord have mercy!