My name is Kevin and I am a Pharisee. I mentioned in a previous post that I am a recovering Pharisee! I thank God for that! I used to judge people based on their lifestyle, looks, $$, the way they talked and other ways. God has a way of changing you. I used to condemn “sinners” for all of their mistakes and sins while patting myself on the back for what an awesome man of God I was. After all, I didn’t drink, smoke, have sex or any other of the “big” sins! My dad pointed out to me that I was a spiritual snob. It took me months of thought on his rebuking to realize how right he was.
My best friend in high school who was active in our church with me and we were close. We were discipled together and both had paper routes. We hung out all of the time. He was a great friend. In Febuary of my senior year in high school, he flew into the school parking lot and slammed on the breaks. He told me to get in his car and screamed out of the parking lot. He told me that his girlfriend was pregnant and he wanted me to be the best man in his wedding (2 weeks later). Had this been anyone else I would have looked down on him and pointed fingers at what a sinner he was. But this was Tommy, my best friend. I really cared about him. Sure he had made a mistake, but what he needed was a friend. My parents were very supportive and allowed me to be the best man in his wedding and I stood beside him in more ways than just the wedding. Unfortunately, I was a member of a church full of Pharisees.
Like I said I was the chief of them up until Tommy’s crisis. I could not believe how ugly our church treated Tommy. In his time of need, they, we dropped the ball. We could have reached out to Tommy and Jane but the church turned their back on him. This led to Tommy dropping out of church and 2 years later divorcing Jane (after another child was born). To this day I don’t believe Tommy is living for God. It is because of Pharisees like me.
My name is Kevin and I am a Pharisee. This whole incident changed me! I didn’t change over night. I have a quick tongue and can lash out with the best of them. But, by the power of the Holy Spirit and my wife, I have changed. I look at people as people not numbers. I try to put myself in their shoes and ask, why are they behaving in the manner they are. Why are they sinning? (because I still do!)
Today, I had a great conversation with a young person. They told me they knew they had turned from God. In the past, I might have heaped insults and called them “sinner” and turned my back on them. Believe me, I was told about their exploits by a few people. I had even confronted this person in the past. But, the old saying you can catch more flies with honey applies. I believe the best way to reach people in their sin is not scolding and telling them how bad they are. I believe we are to love them and encourage them. That is what Barnabas did with John Mark. Paul wanted to abandon John Mark and Paul and Barnabas split because of John. But later on because of the encouragement of Barnabas, John Mark became useful to Paul.
We need to confront wayward believers, but not pushing them away so far that we can’t love them. The prodical son’s father didn’t yell and scream at him, he loved him and welcomed him back. That is the legacy I want to leave. I want people to say I am/was an encourager! My name is Kevin and I am a recovering Pharisee
I received the brunt of petty legalism about 3 years ago and am still not over it. Christian Schools are full of rabid non-sensical rules like anti male-hair policies. They drive students away from Christ over hair, which God created. I’ve observed kids leaving Christian school, and become happier at public school. Many of these will probably not have a high interest in church – since God will get the ultimate blame for the evil that churchy people do. What message is being sent: unless you look a certain way, you cannot be a Christian. Personally I never knew there was such a thing as a ‘Christian haircut’. Has anyone realized that forcing hair to remain above the ear, above the shirt collar, and a shaved face is all 100% unnatural? If God wanted us to look that way, He would have created us to look that way in the first place. As it turns out, longer hair is healthier. For one, it shades the head, ears and neck. Head hair (if long enough) protects from insect bites and over-exposure to the sun. Many men now receive skin cancer (even melanoma) on their scalp, ears, and posterior neck: this is due to over-exposure to the sun because the hair is cut off unnaturally short.
Kevin, that’s very very inspiring and I love your picture with the plank in your eye!
It’s a great reminder. lol
Bless you!
Diana
Thanks for stopping by Diana!
What an amazing entry.
I was a “Tommy” and nearly ended my life as a result of the condemnation I experienced.
I thank God that I recovered.
I thank God that He has made a way for us to come back to Him and be restored.
I thank God that just like the Prodigal Son, we can STILL be guest of honour in our Father’s House.
I thank God for people like you who choose to make a change such as this.
I thank God for the recognition that despite my own experiences, in many ways, I have judged other people when I shouldn’t have.
I thank God for the recognition, through your article, that I too am a recovering Pharisee.
Deji,
Thanks for stopping by. What a great testimony you have. Thanks for sharing it here. I like your site. Stop by often!
Thank you, Kevin. That’s a great post.
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for your testimony….I would dare say we are all pharisees in our flesh….when we finally grasp fully how depraved we actually are, and how beautiful and Holy Jesus is, there is no room for judgment….in my flesh, I am still the chiefest of sinners, Christ in me is the only good there is….
With this understanding, I can point others to the Savior….it is not about “my” good or my bad….it is wholly and completely about Jesus alone! He is worthy of my praise continually —my flesh is still being crucified by His amazing Grace!
All of us are individually called to make our calling & election sure….May we all seek to bring Glory to our Father in Heaven!
Love in Him! Marie
Way to go, Kevin. I really like the direction you have taken. I think compassion is one of our greatest virtues.
–WebMaster@AskAnAtheist.org
What a wonderful perspective you have and are sharing! I, too, was a proud and successful pharisee – until I became a “Tommy”. Boy, how that can turn a person’s world upside down. I remember a Christian friend of mine telling me, “I feel so much better knowing you did something like that, now I know you’re like me… not perfect.” Wow. She thought I had a perfect marriage, was a perfect mother, with perfect children… but really, I was just a perfect FAKE and a perfect SNOB.
God has been dealing with me over the last 10 years through that experience, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have grown closer to Him – and to His people by being real. And He’s not finished with me yet…
Great site, and a great ministry!
~ Debi
Thanks for stopping by Debi.
So where does a recovering pharisee go to church?
Mike,
Thanks for stopping by. That is a good question. I think my church is a great place. Where do you live? I might know of a good church in your area.
We live in Oak ridge
Kevin
My name is John Elzinga. I have published a book and video series titled:
Thank God I’m Not a Pharisee…or am I? You may want to check it out on my web site http://www.realitycheckresources.com Go to study series, then next, you will see the “Pharisee” series trailer I’ve created.
God Bless You.
John
Thanks John
Hi Kevin:
I have come across your web site while doing some research.
Saved by Grace is what it’s all about! I am so thankful that God sent Jesus so that all mankind has the opportunity to choose to come to Him and be covered in the Blood that washes away our sins.
You are absolutely right that Mormons (and many many others) believe the devil’s lies — lies that have been spoon fed to them until they can’t recognize the lies. But don’t you think it would be better to be a little gentler with unsaved people, such as Maddie? Just because I know that Bill Clinton is a liar, cheat , etc. doesn’t mean I would walk up to him and boldly tell him that to his face. Once we have shared our faith and someone states their beliefs that we know are totally false we can gently let them know what the Bible says. And let people know that we are praying for them, that God will show them the Truth.
I accidentally bumped into your website/blog. I love your concept of “recovering pharisee.” Very artistic! I have been fond of saying that the first 4 books of the new testament show Jesus arguing with the Pharisees; but the rest of the story (to borrow from commenator Harvey) is that the Pharisees won!
When we keep hearing that the 10 commandments should be posted in every public venue, I keep wondering why not post the Golden Rule, which says it all!
Keep up the good work!
Wow. I had a dream about a year ago. In the dream, in my little town in central Oklahoma, there was some kind of incredible MOVE of the Holy Spirit, and we started seeing signs in people’s yards that said: “Dangerous Christian.” I SO wanted to be a part of that, and in my dream I was. It was marvelous — people all over town knew that if they wanted to talk to someone who would be absolutely honest and not talk “churchy” to them, they could go to one of the houses with those signs in front. And if they really needed something, and they couldn’t go anywhere else, they could go to a “Dangerous Christian” and get it, even if it might cost that Christian a lot.
So tonight I decided to google that phrase and see what it got. And it got a link to your article about a football player whom you called a “dangerous Christian.”
And while reading it, I see that you’re a “recovering Pharisee.” For years, I have been trying to track down sites that could help me with my legalistic, Pharisaical, Church-of-Christ background. I did find Cecil Hook’s http://www.freedomsring.org/fic/preface.html , which I love, but it seems to speak more to folks who are presently enveloped in the Church of Christ, rather than someone like me, who has escaped it.
Your site seems to speak more to me of the here-and-now business of living legalism-free, and what a formidable struggle that is.
I have yet to plumb your entire site, but after reading a few choice tidbits, I am looking forward to more.
Kind regards,
Martine S.
Very nice
Hey man
that’s really encouraging. great piece. myself i think i’m on the other side of the spectrum. i’ve never been a good enough Christian to look down on anyone else, so instead i tend to look down on the pharisees. stupid, since at least most of them are more righteous than i. Thank God for Grace.
I love that verse — It’s Your kindness that leads us to repentance, O Lord.
I too am a recovering Pharisee.
I’m enjoying your blog — here via Stuart’s.
Thanks myderbe,
I was moved by your post last week on children.
Personally I think probably 95%+++ ‘good’ Christians i.e. those who take their faith seriously are probably all Pharisees deep down at one time or another. I know like you, I’ve been continually shocked by my arrogance and pride at being “in the door”, and somehow then judging certain other sinners as “deserving all they get” if/when they run into serious problems as a result of their own deviant lifestyle. I’m continually shocked by my lack of love and compassion for many others who just haven’t yet felt God’s touch on their lives, but whom I could just as easily have become myself had He not shown me His mercy at a young age. I wonder sometimes if it’s actually tougher to be humble, if you were saved before *really* going off the rails big time – sometimes I think those who were truly in the gutter and then saved, know and appreciate just how huge a gift they’ve been given. I’m still sadly somewhat in the ‘addiction’ stage I fear, as I’m still finding myself continually judging others on an almost daily basis sometimes so continually repenting of my attitude, but I know He will deliver me and teach me vital lessons along the way
. Blessings for your honesty and openness, TKR.
It’s wonderful to find people taking a respectful, compassionate position about their own morality vs. the morality of others. Question to Keven and to others who post here: do you feel that this tolerant position should only apply to morality or should it extend to differences of faith as well? For example, do you feel that your personal beliefs are right and therefore conflicting beliefs or wrong, or do you respect conflicting beliefs as (potentially) valid, even if you don’t subscribe to the conflicting beliefs yourself?
And just an observation: I don’t think “phariseeism” is limited to Christians only. Anyone can be authoritarian about whatever beliefs they hold. I think it’s a sign of maturity and honesty to treat others with respect and compassion, even if their beliefs conflict with our own.
AskanAtheist,
Thanks for stopping by again. I do believe that the basic tenants of Christianity should guide society. However, I don’t think that is going to happen. I do believe other people’s beliefs are wrong like atheism yet I respect your right to believe it.
I can’t say I’ve always been that understanding but the more I read the Bible the more I realize that Jesus loved people no matter what. That is what I’m striving to be. At the same time I believe that a relationship with Jesus is the only way for a person to have eternal life.
That’s great! I wish more people felt that way, regardless of their faith in God or lack thereof. When two views are mutually exclusive, then of course the reasonable thing is to believe that the incompatible view is necessarily incorrect. I don’t view that as a problem at all – it isn’t always necessary to agree. If I understand you right, then I agree totally: we should respect others and acknowledge that their views, even if contrary to our own, might be perfectly sound views.
And of course this in no way implies that we have to believe that opposing views are true. Two apposing views may both be valid, even when they can’t both be true. For example, I might predict that the Dow will rise next week and you might predict it will fall. Since neither of us can predict with absolute certainty, each of us has to do our best with the info at hand. It is possible for you to be right (the Dow actually falls), while at the same time, you might agree that my prediction was perfectly reasonable – even though it turned out to be wrong.
Of course I might have been wrong because I am an inept financial analyst too! I’m not suggesting that
all views are equally sound – only that it is possible for opposing views to be equally sound.
I think faith is a lot like that: some people believe what they do for good reasons while others believe what they do without giving it much thought. If anyone knew for sure which view was correct, we would call it knowledge rather than faith.
Your blog title caught my eye as well as this post. I would LOVE to be able to share this testimony on my blog, we’ve been trying to get going.. Great message. How would you describe a pharisee??
Thanks for stopping by Erin,
I sent you an email.
[...] Recovering Pharisee [...]
The question is why did \your church and the “Parents” not help Tom and Jane learn that premarital sex is immoral and scars the soul?
Hmmm.. Rusty, is that what Jesus asked the woman caught in adultery?
Kevin,
You are one of my heroes….
Kevin,
I stumbled upon your web site while doing a search for a Bible study. The title, “Recovering Pharisee”, caught my attention. Sadly, your understanding of the word “pharisee” is a corrupted one. Like most of those who who claim the name of the Lord of the Universe, you are thinking with a Greek or Western mindset, and not Hebraically. You are not or never were a pharisee. You were simply being a legalistic Christian.
Please consider the following quote from an internet site (Yashanet).
Yeshua (Jesus) was a Pharisee
Referring to Yeshua as a Pharisee would sound utterly ridiculous to just about any Christian. Unfortunately, this shows how far removed Christianity is from the historical reality of the Bible, the Messiah and the faith of His earliest followers.
Yeshua did criticize some of the Pharisees for not practicing what they preached, for hypocrisy, and for making the “fences” they placed around the Torah greater than the Torah’s commands themselves. (Though there is nothing inherently wrong with making such “fences” as Yeshua did this Himself.) What Christians don’t understand is that vehement criticism was common between the various factions within Pharisaism, and was considered a normal part of discourse.
For instance, the Pharisees themselves noted that not all among themselves were good, in fact saying there were “seven types of Pharisees.” (49) As for Yeshua calling some of them names such as “sons of Satan,” this was not unfamiliar dialogue among religious Jews at that time. The same term was used by the disciples of Rabbi Hillel to describe a disciple of Rabbi Shammai, just before Yeshua’s time. (50)
It is critical to note that Yeshua never rebuked the Pharisees for teaching Torah correctly, a good example being Matthew 23:23. Here Yeshua says to them, “It’s fine if you want to add things to your lives that you feel bring you closer to God.” (Tithing on dill and cumin were not required by Torah). But He then says, you should keep what the Torah says is required first, then do these optional things.” Yeshua did not tell them to stop doing Torah — He told them to do it right.
Yeshua not only quoted and supported Pharisaic teaching, as seen in the chart above, He also upheld the religious authority of the Pharisees. He told the people to obey the Pharisees, as they “sat in Moses’ seat,” meaning their authority came from God. (Matthew 23:1-3)
When Yeshua spoke, He often was expressing His opinion on an existing interpretation of the Scriptures, supporting someone else’s opinion. Much of Judaism’s doctrine was “worked out” before Yeshua’s time by the Pharisaic schools of Rabbis Hillel and Shammai. For instance, in Matthew 7:12, we find His famous “golden rule”:
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Yeshua is reiterating what Hillel had taught years before:
“What you do not like, do not do to anyone else; this is the whole Torah and everything else is explanation.” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabat 31a)
In most cases, Yeshua upheld the teachings of Hillel (who was the grandfather of Gamliel, who instructed Paul). Hillel’s opinions were actually considered more “liberal.” On rare occasion, such as His ruling on divorce (Matthew 5:31), Yeshua upheld the teachings of Shammai, which taught more to what may be called “the letter of the Law.”
Examples of where Yeshua agreed with Hillel are found in all four of the Gospels (51)
Teaching
Yeshua
Hillel
Critical of tithing of plants grown only for seeds Matthew 23:23 Ma’asrot 4:5-6
Healing by faith on the Sabbath was allowed. Mark 3:2-4 Tosefta Shabat 7:14
Reached out to sinners and taught them Luke, Ch. 15 Avot D’Rebbe Natan 3:1
Allowed the handling of an item on Sabbath for which there was no need John, Ch. 5 Betzah 26b
The evidence is overwhelming. The Talmud, when compared to Scripture, shows that Yeshua upheld its Pharisaic teachings. Scripture shows He also upheld the Pharisaic authority in religious matters. When properly understood, (bias aside) His criticism of the Pharisees was within the framework of Pharisaic discussion with them as they were always critical of themselves. (This could best be called “a family argument” – the Talmud is loaded with such a wide array of opinions — it is known as “arguing for the Kingdom,” or, “arguing for the cause of HaShem [God].)
History and the Bible show that Yeshua identified Himself as a Pharisee. In fact, when the Pharisees went out to question John the Baptist about who John was, he said that one among THEM (the Pharisees) was the Messiah to come (John 1:26-27).
Yeshua was a Jew, a rabbi and a Pharisee, who wore tzitzit (Numbers 15:37-41), always upheld Torah, often quoted Talmud, and was Orthodox in His practices.
Is this the “Jesus” of Christianity?
Sha’ul (Paul) was a Pharisee
Returning to Paul, (properly named Sha’ul), he also read, understood, taught, and wrote about the Hebrew Scriptures and the Hebrew Messiah from a Pharisaic Hebrew mindset. Paul was personally taught by Gamliel — a Pharisee and the head of the Sanhedrin — probably for the purpose of taking over the Sanhedrin’s leadership, which would have made Paul the equivalent of “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”
Paul said he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” a term that means he was not a Hellenistic Jew (Jews that had largely abandoned much of the Torah in order to be “more accepted” in the Greek/Roman culture they lived in). Scripture shows that none of this changed when Paul became a believer — he remained a Torah observant rabbi and a Pharisee until the day he died. Twenty years into his ministry for Yeshua, he still identified himself as a Pharisee. (Acts 23:6, 26:5) Once you shake off the anti-Jewish mindset that “Pharisee = bad,” then the supposed conflict vanishes.
All of this creates a serious problem for those who wish to understand Paul’s epistles today.
How can a Christian, reading Paul’s letters, in the 20th century westernized, anti-Torah culture and religion that he has been raised and taught in, understand the deep meanings of Second Temple-period Jewish religious texts, written by a first century Rabbi, Pharisee and advanced Torah expert?
And you wonder why Paul sounds so confusing, hard to follow, and even contradictory to many people who read him. For instance, in the Christian Bible commentary, “The Daily Study Bible Series; the Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians,” by William Barclay, it says of Galatians 3:19-22:
“This is one of the most difficult passages Paul ever wrote, so difficult that there are almost three hundred different interpretations of it!” (52)
I would suggest that there are 300 interpretations not-grounded-in-Torah.
Make that 301 with Barclays. He goes on to say that God gave the law for the sake of transgressions. True, but then Barclay says what this means is, “… where there is no law there is no sin. A man cannot be condemned for doing wrong if he did not know that it was wrong.” (53) This is a nice sentiment, but not what the Torah, or Yeshua or Paul teaches. God provided sacrifice to make atonement for sins done in ignorance of Torah, thus showing there was sin in ignorance to the Law that needed atoning for. Paul supported Torah when he taught that those ignorant of the Law stand condemned with those aware of it (Romans chapters 1-3).
Oddly enough, in the same Galatians commentary by Barclay, he correctly states that,
“… we have to remember that Paul was a trained Rabbi, an expert in the scholastic methods of the Rabbinic academies. He could, and did, use their methods of argument, which would be completely cogent to a Jew, however difficult it may be for us to understand them.” (54)
Peter warned that Paul was hard to understand. Peter also wrote that there would be those who would twist Paul’s words to mean something wrong. What kind of people would do that? Peter said these are lawless men (2 Peter 3:17). By “lawless,” did Peter mean people who were without Roman law? Of course not. Lawless, in this religious context (understanding Paul’s writings and other Scriptures correctly), refers to being without God’s Law – the Torah. Peter is saying that those who twist Paul’s writings are those who don’t have (know/follow) Torah. They will approach these letters, in (often willful) ignorance, and incorrectly interpret them.
This is the legacy of the Christian church. As early as 187, the Christian Bishop Iraneus counted twenty different varieties of Christianity. By the year 384, Epiphanius counted eighty. (55) The lack of grounding in Torah allowed for every heresy to creep in under the guise of “love” and “liberty.” The “New Testament” Scriptures warn about this in several places. Of course, no group who thinks they are “right with God,” (especially if they are the “dominant voice”) would consider themselves to be the false teachers spoken of in these texts.
I hope this helps and continue to pursue righteousness.
In the Name of Yeshua,
Michael
check out John Fischer’s book;” 12 Steps for Recovering Pharisees (like me)
Way to go Bro! Check out my blog about my conversation with a MySpace Pharisee. Hope you don’t mind that I linked to your site.
http://branchpastor.blogspot.com/2008/02/myspace-pharisee.html
d
hello,
To the other michael who posted back in November. B’H”.
I would be very interested to e-mail you. Please check out my blog.(sorry, hasn’t seen much use)
Shalom,
Michael W.
http://yudorstroke.blogspot.com/
Hey Kevin~
Great name by the way! My hubby’s name is Kevin. :O) Anyhoo~ you are awesome for taking a stand and being real and transparent. I want to read John Fischer’s book as I am a recovering pharisee. I am a pastor’s wife and a stuffer… I have “pretended” to have it all together, but don’t. I am working on issues finally in a Living Free class @ our church and it is totally healing and freeing for me. I want to be real as that is what will win the lost more than anything. Blessings on you!!
Melissa :O)