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Now that I have made you splutter your second cuppa:
This question is inspired by the NT thread wherein the tangent regarding washing one’s face while fasting received attention.

Honesty time: do you catch yourself lecturing, laying unreasonable burdens on others, or otherwise trying to be the biggest fish in the fish bowl?

I confess that during various periods of my life this has been a failing for me and a cause to repent.

MaxPC wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 10:58 am Now that I have made you splutter your second cuppa:
This question is inspired by the NT thread wherein the tangent regarding washing one’s face while fasting received attention.

Honesty time: do you catch yourself lecturing, laying unreasonable burdens on others, or otherwise trying to be the biggest fish in the fish bowl?

I confess that during various periods of my life this has been a failing for me and a cause to repent.

Am I a Pharisee ? I suspect as long as I'm alive there will be ways that I live that can be described as being a Pharisee. But if I'm being judged by another believer, they too could be crossing the line of being a Pharisee.

I thought this is a good, general explanation of a modern day Pharisee - 'a modern day “Pharisee” is someone who follows the impulse to be seen as righteous by obeying certain laws, while ignoring more important matters of the heart.' Jesus pointed out to them that these more important matters involve justice, mercy and faithfulness - Matthew 23:23.

It's a good study on what all Jesus had to say to the Pharisees. What am I treating as an important matter that Jesus would not ? What am I ignoring that Jesus taught to be important ? Are these the right heart matters toward others and God or could they be matters of pride in just how I practise my own religion ?

And I doubt we all would ever agree on what is of high importance and what is not. For some here things like the a headcovering gets put as of high importance. Others may think evangelism is of high importance. Others, may regard foot washing as highly important. Not allowing women pastors as important and on and on it goes. Some of these Jesus spoke about, others He did not. Do we emphasize those He did talk about over those Paul and the apostles wrote about ? Is what I post on a forum have any holier-than-thou attitude behind it ?

Anyway, sounds like a good thread. Thanks Max.

mennonitemom1 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:20 am I’m not anymore… but I definitely used to be

I appreciate your admitting this and would love to hear your testimony your about the change if you wouldn't mind.

mennonitemom1 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:20 am I’m not anymore… but I definitely used to be

How did you overcome this?
When I started covering it was mixed I was getting "legalistic" & I wondered if I was too.

Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:50 pm

mennonitemom1 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:20 am I’m not anymore… but I definitely used to be

How did you overcome this?
When I started covering it was mixed I was getting "legalistic" & I wondered if I was too.

My wife has a very good attitude about those ignorant of the head-covering devotion. She notes that people who engage in sarcasm have a desperate need to be considered funny. She also notes that they also have other struggles with ignorance of the Bible and the secular brainwashing against those who are serious about devotional practices.

She has encountered more sarcasm from other Catholics than nonCatholics. She started replying to these parishioners with: “Children are being murdered in the world and you want to be the fashion police.” They rarely say anything to her about her covering afterwards. A number have apologized as well. Education of those in your own circles can be a difficult process.

Personally, I think that the rituals/ritual purity we are instructed to follow are selfish things. We do them to bring the blessings of the Lord onto ourselves.

Our offerings to God, on the other hand, are the things we do for other people.

Don't take pride in doing the ritual observances for yourself, and thank God for the ability to do things for others.

People may take your urging observance of the ritual things as being "legalistic" or being a "Pharisee", and sometimes that might be the case. But I see it as being concerned with bringing the ignorant to the blessings and power available to believers who do them. As Jesus said, when speaking to the Pharisees about tithing,

Matthew 23:23
New International Version

23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.


BOTH are important. But charity is the greater duty.

Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:50 pm

mennonitemom1 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:20 am I’m not anymore… but I definitely used to be

How did you overcome this?
When I started covering it was mixed I was getting "legalistic" & I wondered if I was too.

I wonder what Paul would think about his instructions being labeled as "legalistic"? Especially over such a simple thing as covering/uncovering your head when you pray or prophesy? What a little thing to do! The very definition of "the least of these commands"!
Matthew 5:19
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Outsider wrote: ↑Thu Jul 25, 2024 10:47 am

Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:50 pm

mennonitemom1 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:20 am I’m not anymore… but I definitely used to be

How did you overcome this?
When I started covering it was mixed I was getting "legalistic" & I wondered if I was too.

I wonder what Paul would think about his instructions being labeled as "legalistic"? Especially over such a simple thing as covering/uncovering your head when you pray or prophesy? What a little thing to do! The very definition of "the least of these commands"!
Matthew 5:19
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

And so men don't feel left out, here is another 'little thing' Paul instructed men to do' - 1 Timothy 2:8 -
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].

Sorry, for those who know my history, I couldn't resist.