Donald Gray Barnhouse (1895-1960) pastored Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for thirty-six years. This Princeton Seminary grad and survivor of WW1 loved his church and city.
When asked what he thought it would look like if Satan controlled a city, Barnhouse answered: “The bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, ‘Yes, sir;’ and ‘No, ma’am.’ Churches would be full every Sunday…where Christ is not preached.”
Surprised?
Although certainly Satan can display his powers in destructive perversion, to corroborate that Satan could pull off the “holy masquerade” described by Barnhouse, blogger Sammy Rhodes – after quoting Barnhouse – went on to say: “Think about those who plotted and worked for the death of Jesus” (sammyrhodes.com, Nov 6, 2013).
As I was reading Sammy, I thought: “Exactly. What a twisted charade. The Pharisees were doing the work of the evil one while thinking they were doing God’s.”
Sammy Rhodes marshaled his argument: “The Pharisees read their Bible and prayed. A lot. They never missed church. They didn’t curse. They were virgins. They didn’t get drunk. They took theology seriously. They took worship seriously. They took holiness seriously. They were moral. Yet they couldn’t stand Jesus. Why? Jesus said that though they honored God with their lips, their hearts were far from Him.”
Sammy could have added that Jesus called the Pharisees “white-washed tombs – full of dead bones.” Jesus and the Holy Spirit-inspired authors of Scripture show us that the Pharisee’s-righteous veneer covered a wicked heart. Using Sammy’s points, let’s shine the light of the Bible on the Pharisees’ attempted cover-up.
Did the Pharisees “read” their Bibles a lot?” Perhaps. At least some knew the minutia of the law. But even Satan can quote Scripture. On the other hand, Jesus, in his debates with the Pharisees, quoted Scripture most often – not the Pharisees. On one occasion, he told them: “You know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Jesus found his authority – his life – in “every word of God.”
Did the Pharisees “pray a lot?” They used many words when they prayed – and they prayed where others would see them pray. Appearance counted – for them. But, we never find them privately spending a night talking with God, as Jesus needed to. Prayer made such a difference to Jesus that his disciples asked him, not the Pharisees, to teach them how to pray.
Did the Pharisees “never miss church?” We don’t know. But when they went, did they go to praise God – or were they satisfied with being seen? We have no such doubts about Jesus. Jesus made it his “custom” (the Greek word in Luke 4:16 is the origin of our word “ethics”) regularly to participate in corporate worship. Why would he worship in a two-bit town like Nazareth? What kind of rabbi could they afford? Still, whatever messiness branded the scruffy synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus made it his custom to be there – knowing that his Father delights in our worshiping together.
Did the Pharisees “never cuss?” They spit on Jesus. They mocked Jesus on the cross – joining the thieves in heaping insults on him. But, the Word made flesh knew how to prize the gift of speech. He challenged: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me.” Others said of him: “No one ever spoke like this man.”
Were they “virgins”? Perhaps and no.
Let’s take “perhaps” first. Perhaps some lacked opportunity or chutzpah. Surrounded by a “culture of purity,” we “can surmise some were motivated externally. But such “purity” can only be skin deep. Jesus, knowing their hearts, used a sexually-explicit term when he called them an “adulterous” generation.
Now, “no.” Some of them participated in the sexual sin they condemned in others – including those who dragged a woman before Jesus. They claimed she had been taken in the “act!” They wanted to put her to death by stoning. Jesus, knowing their personal histories, set up a test whereby only those who had not sinned as this woman had could condemn her. If they would not confess their sins, Jesus would. So, one by one, they all left.
Enough. We’ve applied a little pressure, and the Pharisees’ veneer has cracked.
What now? If we wag our finger at them and charge: “Hypocrites!” – then watch out! We can out-Pharisee the Pharisees. Who or what will keep us from being deceived in our own self-righteousness?
The only answer to that question is: “Jesus.” There is no one like Jesus. So we need to get to him, even if others drag us.
Think with me about the story of this woman who owed Jesus so much. He did not tell her: “You “are not guilty.” He did not say: “Those men had no right to set you up.” When our own heart tempts us, we can capitulate. Here is one, like us, who has complied.
So, Jesus’ words to her startle us: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
How does she get to the place where she sins no more? The way of the Pharisee fails. Her transformation must rest on a Holy Spirit-driven internal heart change. In her core, she must hear and trust Jesus when he says: “I don’t condemn you.”
But how can he say that? Doesn’t he know what the law says?
Of course, he does – he wrote it.
Here we come to the unique essence of Christianity: “You are guilty but – if you are with Jesus – God has no case against you.” In Romans 4, Paul teaches: “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God justifies the wicked.”
“How can that be? There are only two ways to be right with God – obeying the law perfectly – or, most humbling and grand, having Another freely give you his stellar obedience, taking the wretched hell you deserve. Would holy Jesus do that for a sinner like her? Absolutely. There is no one like Jesus.
If we could ask him, “Jesus, was she worth the cost?” – he “would reply: “Absolutely.”
Will you believe he would say the same to you?
What will you do with Jesus?
Don’t say: “I’m too messed up.” Come to your senses – go to Jesus. Jesus is abounding in mercy.
Don’t get the message of Jesus backward. Jesus does not say: “Sin no more, and then I won’t condemn you!” Christian, and those who are yet to trust him, look to Jesus. Trust him believing he died for you. God does not love us because we are good. In Christ, he makes us good because he loves us.
Enough. It’s time for a test of our own. Barnhouse wrote about churches “where Christ is not preached.”
Is that true in Helena or your hometown? Would you try an experiment?
Sunday, go to church. Maybe it’s been a long time since you have attended – maybe never. Still, follow Jesus and pick a church – any church. Listen. Afterward, ask yourself: “Was my soul refreshed by the good news of Jesus?” If not, try again. But, if so, be dazed at the passionate love of holy God in Christ for sinners like us. Let’s revel together: “What a Savior Jesus is!”
Now, we are ready for a new week – for life.
