Avoid the Yeast of the Pharisees

No doubt, you will have read a plethora of articles today which discussed last night’s Super Bowl. Media correspondents everywhere will have a litany of videos about what went wrong, what went right, the best and worst commercials, and statistical analysis about ratings and demographics. Fans will be talking about and posting their opinions of their team’s disastrous/victorious performance. And the world abroad is either confused, amused, or doesn’t care.

In addition to this, over the past week, you’ve probably seen one or two articles from Christian websites. These articles often lament the fervor which Americans have for sports and not the Lord. They will no doubt call football an idol, perhaps even bloodlust given the nature of hard-hitting tackles and concussions. They’re right, to a point.

Yes, I do think the visceral, unfettered devotion to teams in American football should raise eyebrows. The tribalistic patriotism on display staggers me. I can’t imagine that level of fixation on something completely and utterly out of my control. Fantasy football befuddles me. It’s like being the GM in a wrestling video game except people bet real money on it. Mindboggling.

But I think these articles overstep in their judgment. They’re so focused on what people aren’t doing that they rarely bother to remember what the true nature of the gospel is. They fail to account for the sinful nature of man and his inability to be saved by his own free will. They’re fixated on law and regulations, neglecting the character of God and His grace. Further, they perhaps wrongly attribute their personal feelings about athletics to equating to such things.

I don’t think watching sports constitutes idolatry. Consuming entertainment is not inherently sinful. Nor do I think there’s anything wrong with having passionate hobbies. We forget that God made us in His image. He formed us in the womb. If we were not to have a drive for play, I daresay it wouldn’t exist at all.

Look, I don’t know how much play is too much. I can’t begin to make the claim that those sports fans are idolaters. I don’t know their hearts; only the Lord does. But I can express my concern, as these articles do, that we perhaps become too enamored with that which visually stimulates us. Being a proponent of video games, movies, and television, I’m equally as guilty in that respect.

Yet at the same time, I can’t help but think such concerns spring from the pharisaic legalist that exists in many zealous Christians. We do indeed strain out gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24). We’re quick to point out the eye-catching sins and point to a board of rigid doctrine (often unscriptural) yet we neglect, as the Lord says, the matters of mercy, justice, and faith (Matthew 23:23).

To put it simply, we criticize others harsher than we do ourselves. We don’t remember that we’re all fallible, fallen people. We’re all short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Our kind is a fickle one, persistent in ridicule, often unable to remove the veil from our own eyes. We’ll obey commands, but not the ones that matter.

“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Hey, it’s this Scripture again! Amazing how it’s applicable in more than one discussion or situation. It’s almost like Scripture is Truth or something… Anyway, the point I’m making is that we all too often leap to conclusions about others that we wouldn’t want them to make about us. “Everyone’s a sinner except me!” exclaims the fool.

Should we tolerate sin? No. We should, as born-again believers, want to be rid of our fleshly nature. We should regret the stain on our souls which is washed away by the blood of Christ (Romans 3:24-26). We should be grateful that where there was once darkness, there is now light (Ephesians 5:8-10). And we should remember the Lord’s instruction, oft neglected, to love one’s neighbor as one’s self.

We shouldn’t be lackadaisical. It’s unwise to pass over sins as merely minor flaws in a person. But we forget the character of God, His unequaled grace, and are too quick to cast eternal hellfire and brimstone as the inevitable fate of those around us. We become embroiled in pointless battles and arguments, unwilling or unable to show the world the fruits of salvation.

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave* must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:22-26)

Don’t get bogged down in frivolous arguments with each other or the unsaved. Treat your friend or your enemy with the same gentleness, the same quality of love expected by the Lord your God. You don’t know that the Lord might use you to reach this person, that by your demonstration of the fruits of the Spirit in faith, the Lord may prick the consciousness of this person and set them on the path of salvation.

Remember the greatest commands of the Lord. Love your God. Be good to your neighbor and do good to his (or her) person. Will this (your works) save you? No, but you can know Christ’s righteousness by your fruits. You can know that you have His Spirit by walking in faith, by believing on Him as Lord and Savior.

Avoid the yeast of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6). Focus on loving the Lord. Worship Him by trusting in Christ as your Savior. Care for others as you would care for yourself, not pigeonholing them into a category and being ungenerous. Live in the Spirit and the fruits will follow.

Thanks and praise be to the Lord. May His grace and blessings be upon you who believe on Him. Thank you for reading, peace be with you, and have a great week.

*I have no objection to the usage of this word in this context, but others may wish to know that this is usually translated as servant or bond-servant.