One of the things that happens when we lose our connection and closeness with Jesus and we become Pharisee pastors is that we become very judgmental, and start accusing people. We should not even be accusing people when they have done something wrong.
In John 8.1-11, there is a woman caught in the act of adultery. According to Paul, adultery is the most carnal act you can commit, the most obvious sign of being in the flesh. It breaks one of the big ten commandments. Surely if there is a time to accuse and bring the full weight of truth and holiness on someone, it is an adulterer – someone who is ruining at least one marriage, destroying lives, acting purely selfishly and ignoring the Lord.
But while the Pharisees accused the woman, they picked up stones to hurt her and kill her, they wanted to expose her and ruin her life and reputation. But Jesus never did that. Jesus was not lax on sin, He was very clear “go and sin no more”, but at the same time He never condemned or accused this person.
How much more should we not accuse people who haven’t even done anything wrong? Pharisee Pastors will sit down in a service and look for something to accuse, they will look for a flaw. If you disagree with them on one point, they go crazy over the one point, rather than celebrate the ninety-nine points that bring life and wisdom to them!
Pastor Pharisee does not walk in love. Love expects the best (1 Cor. 13.7 – “ever ready to believe the best of every person”), but Pastor Pharisee expects the worst and is ever ready to believe the worst of every person. When they heard Jesus was casting out devils they presumed it was by the power of the prince of devils. That’s a staggering presumption.
One of the worst things about pastor’s conferences is gossip. People will say things that are utterly not true, but the Pharisee Pastors, so keen to believe the worst, will lap it up, then get offended over it! Jesus managed once to offend every Pharisee that heard him with one sentence once (Matthew 15.12). Some Pharisee pastors will even couch their gossip as prophetic. I once had a prophetic word from a Pharisee pastor that my church was in trouble, but it was not the Spirit of God, it was an accusation against me to ruin my name dressed up in religious clothes. Pharisee Pastors accuse to gain advantage or promotion, for revenge, for power. I don’t really need to let you know that this is not the way of Jesus Christ! If a Pharisee does not know he is righteous, one way to feel righteous is to assault the morality of someone else. It’s an easy thing to do, but it never brings about fruit.
We know in the New Testament that satan is the accuser of the church, Christ is not an accuser, satan is. Choose to be like Christ – speak against sin, but do not condemn. It’s a fine line, but you have the grace to do it. Choose to walk in the spirit not the flesh.
Selah!
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 