Neal Pollard
In the ’70s, they were bell-bottoms. Now, they call them flares. Suede jackets, shoulder-pad blazers, leather jackets, and track suits are a few wardrobe options that keep coming back around. In fashion, it could be fascination with the past. In religion, the tendencies of mankind tend to pull us back into mindsets the Bible addressed 2,000 years ago. We may think we’ve come up with it, but we are often reflections of these old philosophies.
A Claim Of Special Knowledge Only Known To A Few. While full-blown gnosticism would not start to emerge until the mid-second century when Marcion attached to Christianity the Middle Platonism from classic Greek philosophy (see what he did there), the Hellenists, Jews, and Christians all drank from these worldly waters in New Testament times. There are too many types and tenets to unpack here, but one strong tendency in gnosticism was the claim of special knowledge available only to the elite and initiated. Paul admonishes Corinth, “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). To Timothy, he warns of the one who “is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth…” (1 Tim. 6:4-5). The elitist spirit claims only those with a certain level of religious education or an education from a particular college or school can truly understand the Scriptures.
Helping God With His Commands And Rules. “The ancient sources variously describe the Pharisees as a political party, a philosophical school and scholarly class, or a sect or voluntary association devoted to ritual purity” (Myers, 823). They were a movement within Judaism that emerged in the time between the Old and New Testaments. They were known for devotion to the exact observance of Judaism, accurate handling of Scripture, and extensive handing down of “extrabiblical customs and traditions” (ibid.). While the New Testament shows how Jesus (Mat. 22:22-33; 23:2-3) and Paul, raised a Pharisee, highlighted some good things taught and shown by these religious leaders, Jesus frequently clashed with them over their putting their rules on a par with the Old Law. They made their ritual cleanliness (Mark 7:1), their Sabbath rules (Mark 3:4ff), and their fasting rules (Mark 2:18) “gospel truth.” They seem to have felt their rules made improvements to God’s law. No wonder Jesus reserved His greatest anger for such audacity (see Mat. 12 and 23). We must be so careful about making our preferences, proclivities, conscience, and convictions the standard others must follow. Otherwise, we’re in dubious company!
Confusing Religion And Politics. The Sadducees and Herodians were two Jewish groups in Jesus’ lifetime that were allies and more alike than different. Where they really intersected was that their “religion” (such as it was) was a means to their real end–politics. They conflated and confused the two. Keeping the Herodian dynasty intact was the chief aim of the latter group, and religion was conveniently called upon when it helped this goal. Some have thought that many of the Herodians were also Sadducees (see Mat. 16:12 and Mark 8:15). Both were inflamed by the apolitical message of Jesus. The gospel was not meant to prop up or empower any earthly, political institution. Jesus did not push for Pharisee Christians or Sadducee Christians. The very idea is repulsive to God (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10-13). Beware of Christian nationalism or Christian patriotism that puts politics or nation before submitted to Jesus as the only Lord and Master.
All of us have our interests and leanings. We can slip into some ancient mindsets, but each of these were schools of thought at odds with Christ. Let us be learners, but also lovers of people and God who practice humility, grace, and patience with others. Let us be convicted and conscientious followers of Christ, but also content to let Him be the sole authority in faith and practice. Let us be lovers of home and heritage, but also cognizant of the fact that our citizenship is in heaven! Otherwise, we could bring some dangerous ideas back in style.
visit our website for books and bookish items
The Preacher Pollard Blog 