http://www.noelbagwell.com/blog/?p=5143
Dealing with Modern-Day Pharisees
Who Is A Pharisee?
The first thing we should do is identify who qualifies as a “Modern-day Pharisee” (“modern Pharisee”). I believe we can extrapolate from the discussion above a fair definition. A modern Pharisee is one who:
Puts rules – particularly spiritual or religious rules or “laws” – before principles;
Demonstrates, through their words or behavior, an attitude that indicates a belief that people should follow rules regardless of their effects (a “rules are rules” attitude);
Demonstrates, through their words or behavior, a failure to understand that rules exist for people, not vice versa;
Places undue importance on specific religious doctrine(s), Scriptural interpretations, religious customs, etc., rather than simply following a rational, common-sense approach to understanding the teachings of the Bible (or whatever other religious text to which you want to apply this… it doesn’t have to be the Bible); and
Equivocates between Scriptural truth and their (or anyone else’s) interpretation of Scripture, religious doctrine(s), religious customs, etc., etc.
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