Countering the Right’s Pharisaical Approach to Piety and Moral Legalism

The tendency of many leaders of the religious right and Republicans to focus on purity following the letter of the law while ignoring its true purpose is hardly new. As Jesus said to the religious and political leaders of Israel: “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices…but you neglect the more important matters of the Law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness…You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. On the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:23-28–this theme is repeated with vivid imagery and different applications throughout the entire 23rd chapter).

(Part 8 of “The Primer on Scripture and the Budget for 2009“)

The tendency of many leaders of the religious right and Republicans to focus on purity following the letter of the law while ignoring its true purpose is hardly new. As Jesus said to the religious and political leaders of Israel: “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices…but you neglect the more important matters of the Law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness…You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. On the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:23-28–this theme is repeated with vivid imagery and different applications throughout the entire 23rd chapter).

The Apostle Paul’s sarcastic comments to the Corinthians in his first letter to them, especially verses 10-11, could very easily have been written for many of the powerful and wealthy leaders of the religious right and Republican Party who so confidently declare that God is on their side and that God shows his favor by bestowing wealth and power on the faithful: “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings-and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena…10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world” (1 Corinthians 4:8-13).

“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder” (James 2:18-19). Jesus’ brother makes it quite clear that more is expected of Christians than simply believing in God/Christ. Salvation is through faith, but true faith will transform a person and will shine through in a believer’s actions. And the idea repeated by the prophets, Christ, and then throughout the epistles that more is required of us than simply making a statement of faith and believing in God is put particularly well at the very end of this passage.

“I hate and I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your solemn assemblies. 22Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!” (Amos 5:21-24)