One of the things we must constantly watch against in our walk with God is that we don't get carried away with religion.
Paul said to examine ourselves if we're in the faith. This examination is necessary because one can be in religion and not be in the faith.
In this post I want to use a simple story from the book of Luke to illustrate some very vital truths that the Spirit of God wants us as believers to imbibe.
Luke 7:37-39 (LOGOS)
37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she found out that He was reclining in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of perfume,
38 and standing by His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and was wiping them with the hair of her head; and she was kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman this is who touches Him, for she is a sinner."
This story is pretty interesting. Who were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were people who had a high standing in the Jewish religion and were respected because they were experts in their religious laws.
Although they taught the laws and strictly required everyone to keep these laws, they themselves were hypocrites and didn't live by what they required of others.
Here are four take home lessons from the story.
True Righteousness is Infectious
Religious hypocrites always feel a righteous person should make no contact with sinners and should not allow sinners make contact with them.
They feel righteousness means you must have nothing to do with the unrighteous but this is a religious error.
If your righteousness can be corrupted because you give room for sinners to relate with you, then you need a different kind of righteousness - the type I have.
When someone with the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ allows sinners relate with him, he doesn't pick up the unrighteousness the sinners have, rather the sinners get infected with the righteousness upon his life.
This is why true believers in Christ don't act like the Pharisees. We allow sinners relate with us closely because we're aware that true righteousness (what we carry in our spirits) is infectious
Seclusion is not Holiness
It's really sad that religious hypocrites brand those who aren't saved as abominable and separate themselves from mingling with them.
We must remember that seclusion is not holiness.
The Pharisees lived secluded lives from sinners, yet they were some of the most unholy and ungodly bunch. Your holiness is no good if you cannot be holy as you freely mix up with people.
No Right to Condemn
Religious hypocrites are quick to judge and condemn others but their own faults they do not see.
Jesus Himself said He didn't come into the world to condemn the world (John 3:17). When a person is prone to pointing out the fault of others, it's an indication that they do not yet know Jesus.
Jesus was perfect and had the right to condemn anyone He chose to but He didn't condemn even the worst sinner.
If Jesus didn't condemn anyone, you have no right to.
Quit Exposing Yourself
In those days, since they walked most of the time, it was customary and a gesture of good reception to offer your visitors water to wash their feet.
As you read on behind verse 40, Jesus reminded the Pharisee that he didn't wash His feet with water when He came into his house or welcome Him (that is, celebrate His arrival) with a kiss (a peck on the face) but the woman he was condemning had done both.
LESSON: Jesus didn't point out the Pharisee's faults until the Pharisee started pointing out the woman's faults.
Those who expose the faults of others also expose their own faults but those who show mercy will have mercy.
Those who condemn will be condemned.