Few revelations are more discouraging than watching a brother who professes to be a Christian – who you accept as a Christian — turn into a Pharisee before your very eyes.
Solomon and I witnessed such a metamorphosis at our table when Joseph, a retiree, met our friend Theo, an office clerk, and refused to shake the younger man’s hand.
Joseph had always been friendly when he stopped at the table, so his rude behavior caught us by surprise. What was it about Theo that could have caused this reaction? Nothing really. He was just a typical middle-aged office worker – no tattoos, no facial piercings, nothing that could make one think he’s some kind of weirdo to be avoided.
So what did Joseph have against Theo? That Theo was wearing a cross around his neck. Pointing at Theo’s cross, Joseph sanctimoniously said “Thing of all the atrocities that have been committed in the name of the cross.”
While Solomon and I tried to explain that it’s OK to wear a cross, Theo took out his cell phone and began reading to us Scriptures that teach against allowing petty differences to cause division among believers.
Once again we were shocked as Joseph pushed Theo’s cell phone away. “I don’t read the scriptures from cell phones, and neither should you.” He then pulled a huge black Bible out of his duffel bag. Holding that big black Bible high above his head, he shouted “Look – everyone can see I’m reading the Bible. When you read from a cell phone, people don’t know what your reading.”
“Your motive is wrong,” Solomon said. “Your reading the good book just to be seen reading it!” Joseph snapped back, “What right have you to judge me?” and stalked off, still holding the huge black Bible above his head.
In a matter of minutes, Joseph’s actions told us louder than his words: “I do things to be seen of men. I feel superior to others and refuse to be judged by them. I am above all criticism. I choose to see the faults in others instead of their good points. I don’t practice what I preach – but you’d better! I’m content to ignore the “weightier matters” of religious life, like love and mercy.”
Lord, may Solomon and I never become Pharisees. Our task (and yours) is to spread the real Gospel of Christ by showing genuine love and encouragement to each other. Thank you, dear friends, for your continued love and support for our efforts in NYC to help build the Kingdom of God, one soul at a time.
Brenda & Solomon Milliner NY, NY bmilliner99@yahoo.com October 2017
Brenda & Solomon Salvation Preaching 