At the beginning of the first century, two types of religious leaders emerged. The lesser known Sadducees were members of the ruling class of Jewish priests. Meanwhile, the Pharisees were a strict sect of law abiding individuals who stringently observed rites and ceremonies of the Torah. This group’s legalistic mentality added rules and regulations not mentioned in the Bible. Thus, it wasn’t uncommon for these elite members to play a gotcha style religion.
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation,” Luke 20:46-47.
Two thousand years later, a new type of Pharisee have arrived on to the scene. Fueled by the gospel of political correctness, new talking points are introduced daily. Controlling the airways, anyone who attempts to challenge, deviate or question progressive views are reprimanded. Anyone who does not apologize by retracting previous statements are attacked, defamed and smeared by the media. Those who cave to these threats become enslaved by this manmade religion.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction, 2 Peter 2:1.
One of Jesus’ disciples receives a vision about the end of days. According to Peter, false prophets will introduce various heresies. A heresy is defined as any belief or opinion which is contrary to biblical doctrine. Unfortunately. if the media controls and defines the narrative, absolute truth is suppressed. This is the danger of these times as the influence of this new age of Pharisee intensifies. In view of this cultural climate, follow the advice of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 by testing everything you hear with the Word of God; then cling to that which is good. May you endure these trying times as a New Age of Pharisees emerges.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 