Further thoughts on the Pharisee's method of spreading the message.

If you looked up the following verse from my last blog, Lev. 15: 31

"Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them."., you would have noticed that this verse is set in a chapter dealing with sexual impurity.  This was a major concern for the Pharisees of Jesus' day as well as for churches today. The question that arises from this line of thought is how do you accomplish this task.  The first thing that you do is to make sure that when others see you, they see a picture of someone who lives up to the standards that they proclaim.  The second thing that is needed is to be in a high position so others will be influenced by you.  The Pharisees accomplished both of these things. One problem that comes from this is this; what happens when you can't live up to the standards that you have set for everyone to follow.  The only way past this problem is either to make loopholes, so that you can do it correctly while others will still be condemned (This is what Jesus dealt with in Matthew 23: 16-22.), or to cover it up (see Matthew 23:23-33).  This is what happens today when church leadership tries to proclaim themselves to be perfect. Another problem comes from having influence.  In order to influence people you must be lifted up so that others can see you.  A servant has little influence on changing the mass of society.  So, how do you get this influence?  For the Pharisees, it started with education.  This is what Paul was talking about when he said that he was  "educated with strictness   under   Gamaliel   according to the law of our ancestors".  After this  you start building a resume' (like Paul had in Philippians 3:5-6 &  Acts 22:3-5).   These two things will allow someone to elevate themselves over others because they can use them to show that they are closer to God than others (Matthew 23:1-7).  If the Pharisees were going to be able to turn a nation back to following God, then they needed to be able to  legislate their ways onto everyone else (Moses' Seat) and to be in front of everyone so they can be the center of attention.  The problem with this is that while changing peoples actions, it does not change their hearts. It also goes against what Jesus said and practiced.  A lot of churches and church leaders today lead Christianity the same way that the Pharisees did in Jesus day with good intentions and not realizing that they have become the stars of a tragedy that is worthy of Shakespeare. The way that I now see it is that God and God alone is the only ones that are to be lifted up.  Changed actions can really take place as Jesus works in the hearts of people.  Jesus seeks to have a family relationship with everyone and not a military chain of command.  We are not to exclude people because they do not practice, act and/or believe the same way we do.  Jesus was a friend to traitors (tax collectors) and sinners and if we truly love Jesus, then that action will flow naturally through us.  And instead of proclaiming ourselves sinless, we are to be open with our struggles and how God is working in our lives.  It is all about love.