To Spot a Pharisee – in 2 Parts

Posted by Rush on Apr 30, 2012 in Christian Growth, Featured, News and Updates | 0 comments

I imagine every Christian has heard the exhortation to watch out for the Pharisees. But how many of us know when we’ve spotted one? We can quickly provide the Sunday School answer to What is a Pharisee? All together now: A Pharisee is a person who loves rules. Of course, this is not a reliable way to spot a Pharisee. In a way, God loves rules. He not only dictated them in the Law, He also fulfilled every law in the Person of Christ. But Jesus certainly was not and is not a Pharisee. Again, how do we spot a Pharisee? In Luke 18, Jesus Himself paints a clear portrait of the average Pharisee and by extension we may learn how to spot one. By observing the Pharisee of Luke 18:9-14, we may divide our criteria into two parts.
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Part 1: Look at me, so smart and good.
Jesus frames this parable in terms of two men. The first man is a self-righteous Pharisee and the other man is an unrighteous publican (tax collector). The difference between them is not that one is self-righteous and one is righteous. They are both sinners and have no righteousness of their own. The difference between the two men is their responses to their spiritual bankruptcy. The Pharisee trusts in himself and the other man bows before the righteousness of Another. The Holy Spirit tells us Jesus spoke this parable to people “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked on others with contempt.” Here in the first verse of our passage we find helpful clues for spotting a Pharisee.

First, the Pharisee trusts in himself that he is righteous and this is seen in verse 12. The Pharisee says, Look at me, so smart and good. I do this and I give that. I am righteous! On the one hand, a Pharisee places hope and focus on himself—his works, his knowledge, his ways, his efforts. For this reason, we know a Pharisee to be self-righteous because he magnifies himself. In essence, his heart overflows with the language of self, boasting in himself. Perhaps this is where our own inner Pharisees are most obvious to others,but most hidden to us. We are blinded to our own self-righteous Pharisaism by our own self-righteous Pharisaism.

The Pharisee within each of us is the consummate self-promoter. Look at me, so smart and good. I fast not once, but twice-a-week. I give and give of all I get. If everyone would think what I think and do what I do, all would be right in the world. Look at me. Look at me. I’m so smart and good. We can spot a Pharisee—our inner Pharisee—when our own opinions, accomplishments, and improvements dominate our words. At the same time, let us not overlook the fact that the Pharisee never appears purely godless. In his boasting, the Pharisee of the parable thanks God for his “righteousness.” But his thankfulness is secondary to his self-promotion. It is a mask; a ruse. In essence, proudly proclaims in the secret of his heart, Thank God I’m so smart and good. His humility is false because the point of his boasting is not unto the exaltation of the Giver of righteousness, but unto himself. In this way, even a Christian can be Pharisaical. Look at me, so smart and good.

Part 2: Look at those losers over there.
In part 2, we learn to spot the Pharisee by his contempt of others. Again the parable was told to people who not only trusted in themselves, but also condescended on the failures of others. To look on with contempt is to despise. The Pharisee despises others. He not only says, Look at me, so smart and good. He also says, Look at those losers over there. Again with false humility, He gives the appearance of thanksgiving, but it proves only to be contempt in disguise. The Pharisee is thankful he is good because he could not bear to be like those miserable sinners. We might notice a second time that Pharisaism emerges from within the heart. When Jesus’ Pharisee parable prays, he does so with contempt in his heart, even making reference to the sorry tax-collector who stands next to him in prayer. Blinded to his own ways, he even feels sorry the tax-collector is not more like him. O Lord, how I wish this poor tax-collector was more like me. If he could only think like me and live like me and work like me…and pray like me, all would be right in his world. It is an empty wish. He does not mean it.

Turing back to the routine Sunday School answer—A Pharisee is a person who loves rules—we do find this answer basically true. A central problem for the Pharisee is that he is ruled by the Law and not by love. He uses God’s good Law as an opportunity to elevate himself. You may have heard it said, “People harshly criticize others in order to feel better about themselves.” Not so. The self-righteous are critical because they feel quite good about themselves already and cling to their own merits. Although the Pharisee rightly views the Law as a mirror, given for instruction, he seldom gazes upon himself. Instead he walks about, mirror extended. His intention is to give not a gift, but a curse—to condemn others, not to perfect them in love. His use of the Law is unlawful. He uses the Law for his own end, without any real love for the Lord or his neighbor.
The Pharisee within my own heart tells me it is love that drives my relentless critique of others, but I know this is not true. For when they turn from their ways and align with my “righteous ways,” my inner Pharisee does not rejoice. Like Jonah, he is angry that the light of grace has shined on these sinners. While at once he plants his hope firmly in his own success, he simultaneously plants his hope in the failures of others. When people change, He loses the objects of his disdain. He can no longer say, Look at me. And so he must pull out his unlawful mirror again and resume his contempt. The Pharisee is a slave to the Law, wielding his tiny gavel and thinking himself to be a righteous under-judge. And this Pharisee spirit is still in you and me. Yet…despite all this, there is hope to silence our inner Pharisees by hearing the Gospel again and again and again.

The Gospel
As Christians, each plagued by Pharisaical roots, we too need the Gospel. Thought of rightly as a covenant of promise (not works), the Gospel reminds us that we have been approved, accepted, and adopted on the righteousness of Another. Those who are gifted the Gospel are awakened to their new ability to speak to God sincerely and love others humbly. The more you and I learn of God’s unmerited and free grace to remedy our sin, the more our inner Pharisees will pass away. We will gladly have our tiny gavels of contempt fashioned into instruments of love and change. And like Christ we will become sincerely loving and wise as we set out to sanctify one another with the Gospel of promise.

Have you spotted your inner Pharisee? Here are some beginning steps to deal with him:
1. Preach the Gospel to yourself every day. Our natural tendency is to passively listen to the miserable ramblings of our hearts. The first thing we need to do to silence the inner Pharisee is to stop listening and start talking. To remind ourselves of all the good Christ has done for us through the counsel of the Gospel.
2. Gather with friends who will preach the Gospel to you as well. We were never meant to live alone, but in community with others. Regular time with other Christians who view the Gospel for what it is—the fulfillment of a promise—is invaluable. Without daily encouragement in the Gospel, we will struggle greatly.
3. In addition to hearing the Gospel, you should also look for ways you can comfort others with the Gospel. Every Christian is simultaneously a sinner and a sufferer. To God’s glory, the Gospel speaks all of our sin as well as all of our suffering. As an heir of the Gospel, you and I have immense hope to instill in others. Hope to change and grow by God’s enabling grace. Rather than looking on the failures of others with contempt, through the Gospel you can look on others with real compassion, hope, and help.

All-Aboard: The Phillips Family Joins the Core Team

Posted by Rush on Feb 7, 2012 in Featured, News and Updates | 0 comments

It was not so much the oft-asked question, “What is the will of God for my life?” Instead, it was an affirmation of what God has disclosed of Himself and His will upon this earth, that those who follow after Christ will love Him preeminently and make His name known in all corners of the earth. The question for Meagan and me was, “Given that we know that God desires for us to love Him and spread His fame everywhere, do we actually love Him more than everything else, and if so, how and where can we plug in to what He has already called us to?” The Lord used a handful of Christians in our lives to help us discern this.

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we much be saved” (Acts 4:12). As I write this on the second birthday of our son, Riley, I cannot help but to think of the families by which Meagan and I both were blessed. We grew up with parents who not only had us in churches that preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also rightly understood from the Bible that it was their responsibility to teach us God’s Word and model a Christian life before all people, including their children.

Looking at the city of Columbus as well as the surrounding areas, I am deeply heartbroken for the children growing up without this knowledge of Jesus being our only salvation. There are thousands of students who are learning worldviews that stand in stark contrast to a biblical worldview with little knowledge of the God who created the world they are studying. These are the same students that are then going to college without realizing that there is a loving and gracious God who has already sacrificed His own Son so that they may have real life, everlasting life.

What a task ahead of us! But what a great blessing it is to have the opportunity to offer real, life-changing hope to people who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ! In what is now a city needful of the gospel, God has blessed our family (Ryan, Meagan, Riley – 2 years, Abby Ruth – 3 months) with the opportunity to serve Him and this city in the confident hope that Bexley, OH will be a light for the fame and majesty of our great God.

Update: Jan 31, 2012

Posted by Rush on Jan 31, 2012 in Featured, News and Updates | 0 comments

Dear friends,
We are excited to report what we hope will be the beginning of many advances for Paramount Church: One of the homes we needed to sell is now under contract and awaiting an appraisal Thursday. If all goes well on Thursday, Rush’s family will likely relocate to Bexley at the beginning of March. We are very excited about this important step and expect the rest of our team will relocate soon after. Please continue to remember us in your prayers. For those unsure of how to pray, here are some suggestions.

The Lord has been gracious to us throughout the challenging process of developing the values and plans for Paramount. Now we are approaching the end of our planning phase; ready to plant. Although these four items do not sound overwhelmingly spiritual, they are at the forefront of our minds at this point.

1. Support-raising: Please pray for additional planting partners. We have been very blessed to connect with a number of like-minded individuals and established churches who are supporting us through prayer, manpower, and finances. One area we are still pursuing help in raising unmet portions of our 3-5 year budget, as we are hopeful that Paramount will be self-supporting by the 5th year. Please pray for the Lord to open more and more doors for new and lasting partnerships.

2. Jobs: Please pray for progress in nailing down gainful employment for our team members. We expect that all or some of our 4 team members will either work part-time or full-time in the community until the church can support them. Of course, our hope is to raise our projected budget in order to free up time for all our pastors to spend in building discipling/evangeling/counseling relationships. Please pray for the Lord to provide necessary employment for our team.

3. Houses: Please pray for the sale of the remaining homes represented in our team. Interest rates recently dropped and buyer traffic has increased recently, but we are in need of buyers. Please pray that our houses will sell soon because this is the last obstacle we know of.

4. Families: Please pray for the transition of our four families. Our current team consists of 8 men, 8 women, and 8 children. As for children, we have two 13 year olds, an 11 year old, and five children ranging from infant to 7 years old. The Lord has graciously blessed us with a uniquely unified team. We are all close to each other and growing closer. Nevertheless, we ask you pray for a smooth transition. Children will change schools and leave/make friends. Also our wives are wonderfully faithful, but planting is still a major challenge for all of us. Our plant is part of a strong and experienced network of churches which has been an immeasurable benefit (nacpf.org). Please pray for our families. We are ready to go!

Thank you again and again!

Resting in the Gospel,

-Team Columbus

Paramount Church and the NACPF

Posted by Rush on Jan 18, 2012 in News and Updates | 0 comments

Paramount Church is grateful for the help of the North American Church Planting Foundation (NACPF). As a gospel-centered church plant, we have been greatly encouraged and helped by not only the foundation, but the network of like-minded churches within the NACPF.

Watch this video to learn more about Paramount Church and the NACPF! Maybe you can provide a prayerful and supportive role in the planting of future churches through the NACPF?

Update: Jan 5, 2012

Posted by Rush on Jan 5, 2012 in Featured, News and Updates | 0 comments

Happy New Year! We can’t believe that 2012 is here already. The Paramount team is diligently working to relocate to Columbus soon. There is simply no way to adequately express our eagerness to settle into our new community and begin ministering among our new neighbors!

As we await the sale of houses, we are walking step by step through challenging preparations to plant in Bexley. We are thankful that God’s grace for us in this is sufficient and that He has our plans and days in His hands. All four of our families are doing well and continuing to grow together as a family. Grateful for Skype, both the ladies and the men are able to meet face to face once or twice a week despite living many miles apart. During these times together we share together in prayer and study and in sharpening our plans to make the gospel paramount in 2012!

We want to ask for your prayers on two major items:

1. As mortgage rates have dropped again, showings for our houses have increased exponentially. In fact, the sale of one house just slipped by a week ago. We anticipate that the sales needed will come through soon. Please pray for the sale of Kevin’s and Rush’s homes. We are prepared and ready to hit the cold Ohio ground running.

2. Another part of our progress now is the search for jobs in Columbus. Mike has been looking into a great opportunity. We know the Lord’s timing is all there is, so we are resting in His care and perfect knowledge of our needs and desires to be in Columbus, working and ministering soon. Please pray for everyone to find the work they need.

Of course, at the same time, we are working diligently to raise support which will relieve some of the burden of additional work beyond ministry. Especially in light of our biblical counseling focus, our prayer is that each member of our team will have ample time to spend walking with our members and neighbors for the good of the gospel.

3.As we are completing our planning phase, ready to relocate, our team continues to chip away at raising our 3-5 year ministry budget.* Our prayer is for additional church and individual sponsors who may generously support this important work for the gospel until we are self-supporting within the first few years of planting. Please pray for the Lord to abundantly provide for the financial needs of Paramount, assisting us in making the most of the gospel in the church and in the community.

If Christ is moving you to financially support Paramount Church, giving is easy. Support may be designated “Columbus Plant” and sent to:

NACPF
9801 Durant Road
Raleigh, NC 27614

All support given to us through our church planting foundation (NACPF) is used in the planting of Paramount (dollar for dollar). If you have any additional questions about our foundation or would like to speak with someone at the NACPF about your gift, please contact Nancy Brannagan. Nancy is very helpful and will be glad to share with you more about giving through the NACPF.

Resting in the Gospel,

Team Columbus

*budget information can be found in our ministry plan (prospectus).

Counseling in Community

Posted by Mike on Dec 8, 2011 in News and Updates | 0 comments

There she was, a single mother, recently separated, and struggling with her emotions. She attended care group, which began with a question about how Christ has been working in your life. When the question reached her, she began to pour out her heart. As the group listened and she ceased to talk, the counseling began. Almost the entire group presented advice to fix her and the situation. If I had a legal pad, I would have filled it up with the advice. Much of it was solid counsel, but is this the best type of counseling in community for small group life?

Counseling in community should be gospel centered

When a group member admits their struggling with sin, do we quickly run to the law and tell them how sinful they are, I hope not. An admittance of sin is much different from a denial of sin. If we simply condemn our friends, they will only try harder, fail and be burdened with guilt and shame. We need to counsel from the cross and point them to the gospel. The gospel not only saves us, but also transforms us into the image of Christ. It is the grace of Christ that, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Gal.2:3) and this same grace  transforms us.

Counseling in community should uphold the sovereignty of God

In small group settings our prayers are often “God, change this situation!” Is that really what the Lord wants from our trials? Can there be more to the picture than a quick fix solution to bring us back to our idea of comfort? Prov. 21:1 says “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Have you placed your hand under the kitchen faucet and redirected the water? As easily as you can redirect the water in your sink, the Lord of the universe can redirect the heart of men when he chooses. When we recognize this, we must also recognize nothing slips through the hands of our wise, sovereign and good God. He allows trials to enter our life, not simply to frustrate us, but to transform us into the image of Christ. When we meet in small groups to do life together, we must submit to and embrace the sovereignty of God if our council is to remain biblical. An excellent question to keep before a small group is not just why is this happening, but how is Christ transforming my heart through this situation.

Counseling in community should not be a quick fix solution

Have you ever aspired to run a marathon? It seems like a noble task, but the training is difficult and it takes perseverance. Your Christian life is similar, and bearing the burdens of others is no less. The run is long and the training is hard, this is similar to what Paul says in Gal. 6:2 that we should “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The race is hard and you are called to a lifelong commitment to point people to the cross and not provide quick fix solutions to deeply rooted patterns of sin.

Counseling in community should be both structured and organic

Small groups are certainly structured, and Proverbs provides many principles to help council wisely. Prov. 17:27 says, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” There are times in small groups where a person needs the counsel of more than one person, but there are also times where the many need to hold their tongues. It is much wiser to present few well-crafted words that are gospel centered, than a list of endless advice. This is the difference between wise and foolish counsel, as Prov. 10:13 says, “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” Taming the tongue is sometimes the best council we can give.

The majority of council within the church should take place organically, and overflow from life together. This is when the counsel of many should come into play, as opposed to a single night as a small group (Prov. 15:22). This ongoing casual conversation should be the purposeful, yet natural outcome of counseling in community. We are all providing council, but we must ask, am I providing council that brings glory to Christ?