Thoughts from a Random Mind

According to a post on www.gotquestions.org, the Pharisees of Jesus day were “self-righteousness and smug in their delusion that they were pleasing to God because they kept the Law—or parts of it, at least.” Are there Pharisees that exist today? To me, some Christians could be classified as modern day Pharisees in that they treat those who don’t agree with their beliefs and teachings as deceived. Some believers feel that they have it right and that others should believe just as they do. THAT is NOT pleasing to God. 

We are all different. Unique. Molded in our mother’s womb by the hand of God. God makes no mistakes. According to Psalm 139:14, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. We accept Christ in a variety of ways, as orchestrated by the Lord. You do NOT have to receive Christ at a church altar, but you can. You can receive Christ sitting on a park bench, or driving in traffic (please keep your eyes open if and when you pray.)

As a personal example, a number of years ago a believer invited me to go to a Nascar race while I was living in Texas. He discussed my salvation on the way to the race and said that a person isn’t saved until they are water baptized by emersion. Well, I had gotten saved some time ago (1979) and got water baptized a few years later. I knew I was saved because everything was different. But he insisted that I may have prayed a sinner’s prayer, but I wasn’t truly saved until I was water baptized. We didn’t speak another word to each other for the rest of the day. I was very uncomfortable. He was being a Pharisee at that particular moment in time. In his mind I HAD to agree with him, or I wasn’t a Christian at all. How incredibly narrow minded. 

There are certain tenets that I whole heartedly agree must be followed. Yes, you must be born again. Jesus made that very clear in the Gospel of John. You DO need to be baptized in water, but I see nowhere in scripture that says what that man had said to me. There are too many Christians who do not ‘walk the talk’, but rather should have a neon sign flashing above them saying, “do what I say, not what I do”. 

I ascribe to the evangelistic method of living out my faith by asking the Lord to help me be a little more like Jesus each day. St. Francis of Assisi said this, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” Friendship evangelism is what I try to do. Not befriend someone with the sole purpose of getting them saved, but treating everyone you meet as if they were a friend and live your life before them while not judging or being critical of their lifestyle. I ask God to use me in this way. We aren’t asked to save everyone. We can’t save anyone. God does the saving, we either plant seeds or water already planted seeds, with the seeds representing the good news of the gospel. What say you?

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries