When We Were Pharisees And Love Was Difficult To Express Beyond Bible Quotes

What the Bible looks like to some;
abstract symbolism and unclear messages.
To others, every shape, color, line, has its clear message.
Because His law is written on our hearts, even the unlearned are able
to express His love and salvation despite their inability to quote Bible verse.
The reverse is also true; Bible scholars may not know Him although always quoting Him.

I think every person who is called heavenward can get a bit religious at times.

I've had my times, and every so often when around certain company (typically conversing with a Pharisee) I can get wrapped up into those manners.

Surely we've seen such examples, and have read about them or heard them... or have been them ourselves.

The well-intentioned effort should be acknowledged, yet sometimes I cringe when I see and hear people doing their best but are simply being a resounding gong.

For those accustomed to such a symphony of noise, they 'believe' they are hearing great preachers and defenders of the faith.

I cringe because the 'becoming all things to all men' teaching is not easy, and leaves many with a nasty taste in their mouths.

Perhaps the message is heard by some, but the messenger is quite arrogant, ill-mannered, and at times downright nasty... they do not reflect Christ while speaking of Him.

They can lack love while being filled with the puffery of Bible knowledge.

The teaching to become all things to all others calls us to empty ourselves and lose our faulty identities.

It calls us to humility, and to be very considerate of our audience of hearers.

The 'Pharisees' (past and present), or religious people who can go overboard with quoting many verses and lose themselves and their hearers, are sometimes not able to reach their audience.

They instigate their audiences instead of inspire them.

They push them away instead of invite them into eternal corridors of the kingdom of God.

Sometimes, a single or a few quoted verses are all that is necessary along with a sharing of one's heart.

Yet in exuberance, either few or many verses are quoted and although someone may seem 'on fire' for God, they can get quite carried away and fail to speak to the very hearts they desire to touch.

Instead of exuberant sharing, hubris is recognized.

This is where simply sharing one's personal life, challenges and triumphs, sometimes goes further.

Make a friend, not a convert.

Make it personal, not a general sermon.

Make it simple, not abstract.

In the believer, is God's Word ever absent when speaking about what He's done in your life?

Only for those who read too literal in terms, while not understanding how God works.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” 

- Luke 12: 11-12

Notice that God's message speaks through the believer in due time, not at the believer's will, but according to what God has to say... and such message are, at times, unknown to the believer.

If you happen to have a conversation about God with someone else, and never quote a Scripture, did you fail or not share the Word of God?

Only if technically quoting Scripture is speaking God's Word.

In an age of consideration, conspiracy, controversy, confusion, cults of personalities, someone may argue that not quoting the Bible would be either denying God or sugarcoating His message.

In reality according to the Spirit, God speaks in a myriad of ways to His creation.

The believer speaking to others about God is one manner God speaks to His creation.

I think this is why Yeshua used parables and spoke of delicate matters, tenders of the heart, in very simple terms.

Those who heard a parable from the Lord, likely 'heard' the rest of the message when they were contemplating the parable's meaning contrasted with their lives.

They 'heard' God speak directly to their conscience... and they carried such a reality with them for the rest of their lives - the Way.

How are your parables in reaching people in unique situations, referencing current issues and relating them to God's kingdom?

This is the beauty of His Word: it defines, clarifies, and addresses all of life's issues quite succinctly.

This is why, I think, people avoid it... because it is unclear for many due to how it may have been handled and used against them by the religious zealots who don't know how to love.

When used properly, spoken through love, the message of God strikes them so soundly on their hearts and minds, it can be overwhelming.

Inspiration, joy, gratitude can be realized, along with fear, anxiety, confusion.

It is truly a sword.

Yet, are parables no longer authored Today through the vessels, our temples of God?

I believe they are, for I have experienced such... you may have also, perhaps at times unwittingly.

When a believer addresses their hearer according to the hearer's background, ideology, identity, their person, the Word within them comes alive.

We are to be all things to all people.

Consider where your hearer is coming from, consider their point of view.

It is through not only our words, their delivery, their kindness, their manners, but more so our actions... that God can be 'heard' and 'seen'.

Since God lives in the believer, He is always speaking through us so long as we speak in love.

Resounding gongs think by simply repeating verse after verse of the Bible, as it is understood in their minds, to others... that the onslaught of messages is going to penetrate stone cold hearts.

This surely does happen, but is only one manner of delivery, not the consistent manner we read in the Gospel by the Perfect Example: Yeshua.

Yeshua addressed the Pharisees according to their Pharisaical ways sparingly, not arguing with them or becoming like them; caveat.

Yeshua's parables were in 'laymen's' terms, and look how they have become Scripture for us.

Why are they now considered Scripture?

Because they concluded previous prophesies and spoke of future events that came to pass.

They spoke to the hearts of those in whom they resonate... even Today.

Consider how the words in the Gospel are not always defined on face value, but speak of unearthly things while using very earthly terms.

Speak to your earthly brothers and sisters in earthly terms they would best understand, while knowing full well what your heart is desiring to convey to theirs.

When speaking to others and reaching them according to where they are coming from, consider why it says this:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 

- Colossians 4: 6

... and this:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

- 1 Peter 3: 15-16

Notice it does not say to simply quote Scripture, or repeat religious arguments.

What does a little bit of salt do to a meal that lacks taste?

What does too much salt do?

Thus, salt is a seasoning to be used sparingly.

Too much salt and no amount of water can make the meal (conversation) palatable.

Too little salt, and the meal (communion) may not be much, but perhaps an easy beginning to a friendship.

In today's climate of increasing sensitivity to facts from the past and present, and individual minds adopting their own truths, I wonder how much does the believer have to resemble a public relations expert?

It could be said that Yeshua was the perfect public relations person, but this would only be agreeable to those who love the Truth.

For others, they desired His death (and still today, some desire the death or silence of the Christians).

In a world where people demand or expect neutral and unoffensive words, empty of meaning, and there is a growing sense of being afraid to clarify things, it can be challenging to speak one's heart.

Some are afraid to take full responsibility or to address difficult things; both believers and non-believers.

Consider, then, how some topics, or conversations, may already have their fill of salt... and one needs to introduce other items on the table into the meal to balance out already-salted things.

All this can be recognized when the believer is loving, humble, listening and considering their hearers.

Speak to hearers according to where they now stand, not in a judgmental form, but speak with them as you would desire them to speak with you if things were reversed.

Consider your weakness, your self's humanity... you may recognize your 'self' in others.

Let us not disparage the clarity of honest and straightforward conversations when we speak from our hearts.

When we speak from our heart is when God is heard very clearly, at times clearer than the quoting of many Scriptures applied in ways unrelated to the hearer.

God speaks despite the quoting of Scripture.

If this sounds ridiculous to the casual reader, perhaps you are too narrowly focused and may not yet understand how God's Spirit speaks Today despite the quoting of His Word evoked many centuries ago.

Some will likely be offended by this, but only because they may not recognize how God's Spirit lives and is active in the believers.

God has not grown silent, nor has His message been locked away in a book.

God's message is not static, but very much alive in the lives of His people; His earthly Temple.

It is still living and active, still piercing between soul and spirit.

This is why speaking to people according to their cultural background and position in life is crucial, for this is what Christ exemplified... as did the Apostles and all disciples since.

It relates our humanity with theirs, as God did when He was found in the form of a man: Yeshua Christ.

God best related His love for us in becoming like us, yet was perfect.

So Today we relate to others the love of God in considering them, reaching them where they are, as God reached way low to touch our hearts.

Consider how Paul spoke with the philosophers.

Paul was an extreme Pharisee.

He used the Greek philosopher's points of view to introduce God to them.

They already had certain concepts of 'who' and 'how' God is, but Paul, carried along by the Holy Spirit, reached them according to their identities and eventually engage their hearts.

Humility before God and mankind.

Thus, by opening discussions according to their points of view, Paul was able to engage those who were quite learned in their own ways.

Since the philosophers were thinkers, Paul went to their minds first.

If Paul simply came repeating Old Testament Scriptures to them, they likely would not have a focal point since they were likely not learned in those Scriptures, but were more familiar with their cultural beliefs.

They had no reference, so when speaking of what Isaiah said about Messiah the philosophers would have no idea who Isaiah was or what Messiah is.

Realize how God has left His fingerprints on all cultures, the narrative of the Gospel being found in certain ways, explained in different ways, thought varied stories.

Why did God do this?

To lay a foundation that can only be completed when the cornerstone was preached and taught to all ancient peoples.

Who is the cornerstone?

Yeshua Christ.

Consider the following when reflecting on what you just read:

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 

- 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23

Consider that Paul was as Jewish as one can be at that time.

However, Paul had already denied his pedigree as a form of pride or prestige or automatic salvation.

Thus why it says Paul 'became' a Jew (again) in order to speak clarity to those in such a mindset.

He had already left his prior identity behind when he 'denied' himself and took up his cross to follow Christ.

Paul stepped into the Christ identity, as defined and clarified in the Gospel and letters and Apostle experience.

Lots of people, calling themselves 'Christians' (like Christ), still resemble identities and ideologies of this world.

They are 'American' Christians, or 'Arab' Christians, or 'Black Hebrews', or 'Russian' Orthodox, or 'Arab Muslims', or 'Syrian Muslim', or some combination from a long list of less-than clear identities short of the perfect identity.

Some are quite far off from following the ideas of men, although being very religious and zealous for their concept of God, yet when looked at closely hold onto an anti-Christ identity in how they justify unloving action towards those outside their group.

The list is quite long regarding these less-than clear identities, some obscure, some false, some poor imitations of the perfect identity.

They may admit or claim to be a child of God, yet at times their minds may still be magnetized when considering political / religious / nationalistic / religious terms attributed to their spiritual lives.

This is where 'religion' and 'religious' comes into a clearer definition.

Some may argue that Yeshua was very religious.

I would argue Yeshua was righteous, and He exemplified the Way of righteousness different from the religious path easily taken.

Some may consider Yeshua was not the perfect man because he didn't fight for justice, but instead was killed (and failed)... a humanistic view of spiritual realities.

Too often people interpret God's work through physical things, and they fail to understand the His Spirit has done and continues to do.

One man's form of justice is to fight over earthly matters and think this is what God wants you to do.

Another man's form of justice is submission to God and placing their fate into God's hand, not fighting, but trusting God will lift your soul from your body after it is killed.

His accusers claimed Yeshua was irreligious, or a 'law breaker' according to their interpretation and understanding of law and righteousness.

The religious of His day loved to quote their Bible (law), but they only spoke through the verses according to their point of view.

They failed to recognize the Author of their Bible; the Word become flesh standing before them.

Eventually, a chasm of difference was revealed between knowing the Bible and living it out when looking at the Christ.

Some consider that only a believer will quote the Bible, yet do we not read how Satan also quoted verses in attempting to trick Christ?

This is why so many people today (as in Yeshua's time) argue about salvation or other topics according to their mind's ideas of words (even quoting the Bible or their favored religious text), yet they are either not saved themselves, or doubt their salvation, or more often simply doubt the salvation of others... and they can be quite vicious.

Where is the love?

The other side of this:

Two people can be quite opposed with certain ideas, but their lives may be judged by God as saved according to Himself, not their perceptions or mind's ideas.

They may be opposed in their minds, but not opposed according to the Spirit.

They are only 'opposed' because they are viewing God and each other through two human points of views ... their religions and religious arguments being argued instead of their hearts speaking to one another and reflecting Christ.