Pharisees Among Us

I’m a fairly easy going, even tempered guy most of the time, but every once in a while something comes along that gripes me to the core. Case in point: the on-going controversy over the mentioning of God’s name in public places. For years, of course, Bible reading and overt prayer have been removed from our schools. Personally, I don’t have too much trouble with that as in my opinion both should be practiced primarily in the home. However, I realize that’s controversial also. But what really puts a burr under my saddle is the hypocrisy running rampant in high places in our judicial system.

In the book of Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus derides the Hebrew higherarchy for their hypocrisy. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, you are like whited sepulchers…beautiful outwardly but within are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.” He called them a generation of vipers and blind guides. They were the exalted, respected leaders of that day and were feared for their ability to cast questioners out of the synagogue. They demanded people to do what they were unable to do. Indeed, “hypocrisy” was the sin of the Pharisees, and rightly so.

In the last several days, much hand-wringing and nail biting has been done among many of our present day Pharisees over the display of the Ten Commandments on a wooden plaque on the wall of the Alabama Supreme Court in Montgomery, and engraved on a concrete monument in the rotunda of the judicial building. The American Civil Liberties Union has been wagging the tail of the liberal element in our country for a long time now and it occurs to this writer that the line of decency has been crossed where good is deemed evil and evil good.

As I recall, a survey was conducted some time ago to determine how many of our citizens believed in God. Remarkably, something around 85% professed a belief in a Higher Power. Now, I realize not all were practicing Christians, but most honor the Ten Commandments as oracles of God and even though none of us obeys all ten all the time, they are the foundation for the creation of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Hey, take a look at our currency – bills and coins. “In God We Trust” is prominently displayed; on the east facade of the U. S. Supreme Court building; the central figure is of Moses and the Ten Commandments. Before and after sessions in the U. S. Senate chambers, prayers of invocation and benediction are offered by the Chaplain; and have you ever listened to a Presidential speech that didn’t conclude with, “God bless you, and God bless America?.” I don’t think so. Hypocrisy? Big time!

Abortion on demand, homosexuality, sodomy and same sex marriages are all either presently legal, or are being seriously considered such. However, a reading in Psalm 139 and Romans chapter 1, along with the Old Testament book of Leviticus, should prove to the 85% professed believers just what God thinks of such behaviors. He calls them abominations.

On a personal note, I am convinced that I am to trust and acknowledge God in all I do (Proverbs 3:5-6) and to give thanks for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And I am reminded again for the first time that a public display of the Ten Commandments, “In God We Trust” on our currency and coins, a pledge of allegiance, including “Under God” in our public school rooms, and Bible studies on campuses, are not only a privilege for citizens who live in the freest nation in the history of the world, but a necessity if we expect continued blessings from God.

As I shared with you previously, Patrick Cubbage, a 54-year old retired army sergeant, serving as an honor guard, was fired last year for saying “God bless” while presenting a folded flag to a grieving family of a deceased veteran, in accordance to protocol training literature he was given. He has recently been reinstated, however, but he’s been admonished to leave the “religious talk” to chaplains and civilian clergy. As I also opined before, the time may come in our glorious America when bowing in a restaurant and thanking God for our meal, may be cause for arrest and transport to a local slammer. But as for me, God bless Judge Roy Moore, Sergeant Patrick Cubbage, and a Christian president who boldly asks God for His blessing on us and our nation. And God bless you, dear reader. At least that’s as I see it.