Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Modern Pharisee

Homeschooling or family Bible time alone does not guarantee salvation nor Godly character, your children need to experience the Gospel daily. They need to see you living for the Lord and applying the Gospel to everyday circumstances. All the other things are just means to end, they make it easier for us to teach the Bible to our children. We cannot be like the Pharisees, who simply wore the uniform on the outside. Whether that uniform takes form in homeschooling, Christian private school, or long skirts.

Sometimes a Christian can be like a Pharisee when they try to control what the "uniform" looks like. If you do not have a TV in your home, do not verbalize superiority on those who do. If a women feels called by God to dress more feminine and modest, do not get mad at her for wearing a skirt. On the other side, do not wear a skirt just because everyone else is doing it, and you want to appear the super Christian. If you know someone who homeschools, do not tell them that sending their children to "school" is better for them or that their children will be dangerously unsocialized. Nor if you are a homeschooling mom, do not tell other people homeschooling is the only way for a Christian to properly educate their children and build in them Godly character. If someone admires something about you, praise God for using you.

The point is not to pass judgement on others, we cannot see their heart. As long as it does not go against the orthodoxy of the Bible, just mentally agree to disagree. We do not need to think, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe they are doing that." I always love a good debate, I wish more people could participate in a friendly discussion without being rude or offended. Do not be offended by the way others feel called to live out their Christian lives, if they are acceptable Biblical ways. Thinking the best of people has really helped me in this area, with my strong opinions often come strong judgements! Show grace to other Pharisees because we have all been like a Pharisee at one point or another.

Very thankful to have many friends who do not behave like Pharisees to me. They always leave me feeling encouraged!

No comments:

Post a Comment