are the accusers of pharisees being pharisees?

[1still_waters]

How often we hear people pelting others in the church with the label PHARISEE!!!

I'm not saying the label never applies, but I have a feeling that some folks have such a negative attitude toward 'the church' in general, that they've gone way beyond using it as a legit label and it's become just as much a negative, emotional ax grinding grudge, that they are in the same spiritual state as the actual Pharisees when they use it!

Making them, actually a 'pharisee' too.

Thoughts?

 

[Jullianna]

I learned yesterday that there are those who clearly choose to make all christians their personal punching bags because of things others who may have called themselves christians (and were probably not) may have done to them in the past or because they are angry with God and His expectations of them. They have personal axes to grind and/or accountability issues, and we serve as living reminders of those things. Perhaps the more quickly we recognize this for what it is and pray for the healing of their bitterness, the better off we would all be.

 

[Liamson]

Yeah, Stilly is right. People who sling the word "Religion" around as if its some kind of fantasy role playing game, really bother me.

I used to be that person with the axe grind. But I found out that the best thing I could do is become the very thing I sought most to find within the Church. I wanted to be Real and not in an overly sensitive spiritual quiet way. I wanted to be Real in a way that people can connect with, wherever they are.

I wanted to be intense and to draw lines, because when I was off making mistakes, I didn't have any lines, everything was ok, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Jesus actually told people to follow the pharisee's instructions because even though the pharisees themselves are evil, they sit in Moses's seat, and are the still ones who were ordained to carry on the tradition of leading God's people!

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."

Matthew 23:1-3 NIV