God does not distinguish between levels of sin, all sin leads to death. As all sin is equal in the eyes of God if you are condemning your neighbor for committing adultery while you are lying it matters not that the sin is not the same. You have a board that needs removing.
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The real problem of the Pharisees were that they were self righteous. And I bet if you could look at their hearts and minds you would find that they thought they were doing what was right. Just as the self righteous of this generation feel they are doing what is right.

But all to often those who are self righteous try to justify the acts of the Pharisees and in doing so, they can justify their own acts. Or, they twist their acts to make it look as if they are not really being a Pharisee.

Bob made a valid point, and I would like to hear your reply, as this is something that is prolific in the church community today. He citedyour assertion that “Churches that are smaller have to be even more creative, because their success depends on it”. Where does scripture back this up?

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CS

And the partial passage you sited goes like this:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

this was a passage dealing with “hypocritical judgment” as it goes on to say “take the plank out of your own eye”…etc.

This would be well directed at me if I had said or done something similar to what somebody had done then i went ahead and judged them without examining myself for the very same sin!

The fact is that all I did was point out to Anthony that calling someone a Pharisee when all they have done is to disagree with you is inaccurate.

Helen, your responsibility as a believer is to judge my words by scripture. Is what I said about the issue with the Pharisees true or not? Hint: Matthew 15:1-9.

That’s the question.

My book says Judge not or you will be judged… it says “as you judge so will you be judged… it says DON’T be like the pharisees…

I could be wrong, but I thought it also said something about love your neighbor, etc. etc.

BTW Anthony, you’re doing something really right when folks can’t eat or sleep for dissing you on your blog. Way to Go!

We are called to not judge hypocritically.

The Pharisees were certainly judgmental, but that’s not the definition of Pharisee; they twisted the word of God into their own “traditions”.

Pharisee’s aren’t “judgmental” people who spend their time trying to “catch” people who screw up and miss the fact that these people might do good.

And while I’m thinking about it…you’re use of the word “judgmental” is interesting given the fact that you just judged another person and their motives, having no idea how these people actually “spend their time.” It would seem that you are now guilty of being “judgmental” yourself.

These people did one thing: challenged your assertion that “Churches that are smaller have to be even more creative, because their success depends on it”.

If you disagree and can back up your assertion with scripture, then by all means, do it and close their mouths…but pulling out the old “Pharisee” accusation does nothing to enlighten these folks.
You are the Executive Pastor of a large church…you can do much better than name calling.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/1756/Audio/