The New Sanhedrin: Religion-ism in Modern Christianity
Introduction
That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended - civilizations are built up - excellent institutions devised;
but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and the cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin.
--C.S. Lewis
Just like the battered child that grows up to become a batterer himself, so too have we christian become like that corrupted counsel: the Sanhedrin. As such, I often think that if Jesus came today and preached the same doctrine he preached 2,000 years ago, the christian fundamentalists and extremists of america would likewise want him dead.
As we know,there were two main groups of Jews at the time of Jesus. They were called the Pharisees and the Sadducees . The Pharisees said that they believed the whole Old Testament . They tried to obey all God's laws. But often they pretended to be holier than they really were. They obeyed many unimportant rules. But often they failed to obey God's most important rules. And they refused to listen to Jesus. They cared more about their religion than about God. Not all Pharisees behaved in this way. Their leaders opposed Jesus.
To worship a religion instead of God. There are many spiritual people out there in the world abiding by and practicing their authentic religious beliefs, but there are many, many others out there (sometimes even in the same churches) that are not worshipping God. However, to the outside observer, both appear very much the same. Both go to church on Sunday, both read their bibles, buth appear to pray, both may memorize and quote scripture. However, only one worships GOD; The other actually worships the religion, Christianity. In attempt to make clear and accurate distinction, I would say that we need to define that behavior and thinking with a new word: RELIGIONISM
What is Religion-ism?
One may well ask, "How can we make that distinction?" "How can we identify the religionist from the religious?"
By their fruits you shall know them.
Religionism comes from a core intention to juice and energize the ego. It stems from psychological pathology I like to refer to as "Hyper-Religiousity" - a mental disorder designed to induge in the ego's natural proclavities such as specialness, exclusivity, self-righteousness and moral superiority.
Operationally, it is used as a justification for prejudice and hatred based in fear. Examples of this can be seen in the Westboro Bapist Church, a hate group in Topeka, KS that has even been denouced by the Ku Klux Klan. The domain name for their church is www.GodHatesFags.com.
It is very simple to discern religionism from spirituality. When we simple look at the 4 Gospels and study the traits or qualities of the sanhedrin. The resembles is unmistakable.
Traits of the Sanhedrin
Pharisees glory in their connection to godly men
Do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'" (Matthew 3:9).
Pharisees glory in external righteousness
Jesus said, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
Pharisees do not mingle with sinful people
The Pharisees said to Jesus disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with sinners?" (Matthew 9:11).
Pharisees are very critical of others in small matters
"The Pharisees said to Jesus, 'Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.'" (Matthew 12:2)
Live by rules
"And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" - so that they might accuse Him" (Matthew 12:10).
Motivated by jealousy and hatred
"The Pharisees went out and conspired against Jesus, as to how they might destroy Him" (Matthew 12:14).
Suspicious and assume the worst about other people
"The Pharisees said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons." (Matthew 12:24).
very careless in their speech
The Pharisees said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24).
neglect their family responsibilities in the name of religion
"Why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother'....But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother'" (Matthew 15:1-9).
Easily offended
"The disciples came and said to Jesus, 'Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?' Jesus said, 'Leave them alone.'" (Matthew 15:12-14).
Spiritually blind
Jesus said, "They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit" (Matthew 15:14).
hypocrites
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1).
hard-hearted
"This people honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me." (Matthew 15:8).
bind heavy burdens on others
"They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger" (Matthew 23:4).
seek honour from men
"The Pharisees do all their deeds to be noticed by men" (Matthew 23:5).
take advantage of poor people
"Woe to you, Pharisees, because you devour widows' houses" (Matthew 23:14).
Pray long, impressive prayers in public
"Woe to you, Pharisees, because for a pretence you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation" (Matthew 23:14).
do missionary work and make people twofold children of hell
"Woe to you, Pharisees, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).
interpret Scripture without revelation from God
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, `Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.' You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, `Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.' You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it." (Matthew 23:16-22).
sticklers for the letter of the law (old testament)
"You Pharisees tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law" (Matthew 23:23).
say they would never have done the evil that others did
"You Pharisees build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'" (Matthew 23:29, 30).
imagine that they are better than others
"Jesus spoke this parable to some people who viewed others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee....ho prayed to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people" (Luke 18:9-11).
trust in their own righteousness
"He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous" (Luke 18:9).
exalt themselves over others
"This tax-collector went to his house justified rather than the Pharisee - for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled" (Luke 18:14).
accuse others
"The Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him" (John 8:3-6).
persecute those who don't listen to them
"The Pharisees told him (the blind man who was healed), "You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?" So they put him out (of the synagogue). (John 9:34).
have no concern for lost sinners
"The Pharisees said, 'This crowd which does not know the Law is accursed'" (John 7:49).
value their traditions more than God and Truth
"Jesus said to the Pharisees, 'You are experts at setting aside the truth of God in order to keep your tradition'" (Mark 7:9).