I like to have a tote board of "Days Since a Prominent Christian Leader had Their Private Sins in the News", but I fear it would rarely be higher than 0 Days. It's exhausting. But what's the cure?
"In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops." Luke 12:1-3
It's not that surprising really that Jesus warned His disciples of becoming like the Pharisees. Nor is it surprising that He called out the Pharisees' hypocrisy. What's interesting about this passage in Luke is not what Jesus warned about but rather when He warned His followers about these things.
Let's just say that calling out a Pharisee was a daily thing. There was always a reason to confront the religiosity of the day. There was always an opportunity to expose their self-advancement, error and attempts at lording over the people of Israel. There was a perpetually waged war between Jesus and the Pharisees. If Jesus had come today, His war with Pharisees would look much like the typical day on social media between the right and left - an inescapable, ever-simmering, pot being stirred that would eventually boil over in Someone's death.
The battle was not unusual.
The battlefield was.
Jesus chose to address the hypocrisy of the Pharisees against one backdrop - crowds were getting bigger and bigger. More people were curious or following. The One at the core of Creation was finding using that creation for maximum acoustics - the natural amphitheater of a hillside, a lake whose waters would resonate - all leveraged so that the masses attending could hear the truth, The Truth Himself - Jesus Christ. So many people were coming they risked being trampled!
Be careful about that... especially when crowds start to form, when there's a waiting list, when it's stand-room-only. Beware of the pride associated with success. (As one pastor said, 'success is intoxicating, and intoxicated people rarely make good decisions.") Beware of in-authentic faith - one that looks differently behind a closed door than it does behind a pulpit.
We'll explore how to avoid the leaven of the pharisees in the next post. See you there!
