We Are the Phariseesby Kathleen Kern |
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Of all the religious groups in first-century Palestine, the Pharisees were the most concerned about integrating their faith into their everyday lives. They believed ordinary people could live holy lifestyles, not just priests and the religious establishment. The faith of the Pharisees was centered in the Hebrew Scriptures and in pleasing God.
So what went wrong? Why do we think of Pharisees as hypocrites adn legalistic nitpickers?
All Christians throughout history share with the Pharisees a tendency to sin. By identifying with the Pharisees instead of denouncing them, we can address the pride, hypocrisy, and legalism in ourselves and in our churches.
We need to let the gospel free us to pursue justice and mercy, to walk more humbly with God, and to reclaim the Bible from those who have misused it to justify persecution of the Jews. Only then can we begin to confront Christendom's horrible legacy of anti-Semitism.
About the Author
Kathleen Kern has written Bible curriculum material for the Mennonite Publishing House and cooperative publishers, released in the Adult Bible Study Guide, the Builder, and the Foundation Series for youth. Her previous book titles were Getting to Know the Old Testament (1990) and When it Hurts to Live (1994). She received a B.A. from Bluffton (Ohio) College and an M.A. in biblical studies from Colgate Rochester (N.Y.) Divinity School.