TUFA CAVE CHURCH, GOREME, CAPPODOCIA Cappodocia, in Central Turkey, is famous in Christian history for the so-called Cappodocian fathers who played a key role in the formulation of Christian doctrines in the 3rd century after Christ. In our more secular age, perhaps more attention is paid to the ancient churches of Goreme, carved from the caves that developed by a process of erosion of the soft tufa ash that covered the ground as a result of repeated volcanic erosions. Some of these are 1000 years old or more. For more churches, click HERE |
Photograph by Linde Nijland
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| PhariseeChurch.com The Pharisee Principle . . . THEN and NOW |
THEN, meaning in the time of Jesus and of the early church.
We find two groups, two religions if you like.
Both sincere, committed, self-sacrificing. Preaching the truth as they under stood it. Both trying
to serve God the best way they knew how.
And yet . . . diametrically opposite to one another in almost every respect.
Different priorities, different values. And both at total enmity with the other.
WHO WERE THEY?
Both sincere, committed, self-sacrificing. Preaching the truth as they under stood it. Both trying
to serve God the best way they knew how.
And yet . . . diametrically opposite to one another in almost every respect.
Different priorities, different values. And both at total enmity with the other.
WHO WERE THEY?
They didn't fast. They didn't tithe, as far as we know. A little bit casual. A bit sporadic about the
Sabbath and that sort of stuff.
What did God make of it? "Fear not little flock, for it is my Father's good pleasure to give you the
Kingdom", so said Jesus.
Weak on religion, but strong on relationship. Who were they? These were the disciples and
followers of Jesus.
One group . . .
Zealous for their faith. In the house of God regularly without fail every Sabbath. Fasting.
Tithing. Praying ostentatiously. Setting an example to the others.
Surely God would commend their zeal and commitment! But did He? NO!
Jesus criticized them constantly, fought them tooth and nail.
Strong on religion, but weak on relationship. Who were they? These were the scribes, and
the Pharisees.
Zealous for their faith. In the house of God regularly without fail every Sabbath. Fasting.
Tithing. Praying ostentatiously. Setting an example to the others.
Surely God would commend their zeal and commitment! But did He? NO!
Jesus criticized them constantly, fought them tooth and nail.
Strong on religion, but weak on relationship. Who were they? These were the scribes, and
the Pharisees.
Click HERE to move on
Forwards to today.
Is it any different?
More to the point, COULD IT EVER BE ANY DIFFERENT?
To put more starkly, HAS HUMAN NATURE CHANGED SINCE THE TIME OF JESUS?
Can the answers to these three questions be anything other than No, No, and No?
That's why it can't NOT be out there!
Either we're seeing it
Or we're missing it!
(or human nature has changed!)
Which is it? 113 hits on Google for "Pharisee Church" seems to be saying we're missing it!
And if we want to have the complete truth of God's revelation for the world, we need to find it again,
identify it, and react accordingly.
Is it any different?
More to the point, COULD IT EVER BE ANY DIFFERENT?
To put more starkly, HAS HUMAN NATURE CHANGED SINCE THE TIME OF JESUS?
Can the answers to these three questions be anything other than No, No, and No?
That's why it can't NOT be out there!
Either we're seeing it
Or we're missing it!
(or human nature has changed!)
Which is it? 113 hits on Google for "Pharisee Church" seems to be saying we're missing it!
And if we want to have the complete truth of God's revelation for the world, we need to find it again,
identify it, and react accordingly.