"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" Matthew 23:13
Sometimes I think Jesus was hard on those Pharisees and scribes! His rant against them in Matthew 23:2-35 was really full of graphic accusations! He called them not only hypocrites, but blind guides, fools, whitewashed tombs, serpents, and a brood of vipers! He said they appeared beautiful on the outside but inside they were full of robbery, dead men's bones and filth.
I was once called a hypocrite on Facebook, told I was full of hate, that I should not take the Lord's name in vain and I was just full of "God, God, God!" I can say that I never harbored hate for any of the netizens I was having a discussion with. I merely wanted to know if all the murders happening in our country was all right with them, seeing it was our President who seemed to be ordering the police to "kill, kill, kill!" Suffice to say, it did not end well, and I scampered out of my friend's wall to avoid more acrimony.
Only Jesus can see into our hearts, and can read our thoughts, so He can really tell it like it is! When He says we're hypocrites, we can bet all our money that we are. If He says we are wasting our time on earthly treasure, that we are full of unforgiveness, that we need to be more generous, then we should decide to work on that aspect of our lives. But how do we hear Him? If we want to, He will find a way to tell us. We certainly do not want to be blind guides, fools and whitewashed tombs!!! We need to want to hear the truth, for only the truth can set us free.
I'm very sorry you were attacked in this way, Patsy. Whenever we put ourselves out there, we are open to criticism. I believe we are living in times when it is right to speak out. We may come to a time when we are forcibly silenced. It's good to speak while we still can. If the worst criticism you receive is that you are all about "God, God, God", what a wonderful criticism to receive. Love & prayers, Teresa
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