Jesus vs Pharisees

The reason I asked the question yesterday was because it’s really important. Very important. If it can’t be answered, or even if it can, it not only excuses but encourages the judging kind of attitude that lots of us don’t like - even if we do it - in religious people.

So… why wasn’t Jesus a bit of a Pharisee? Or was he? And what the hell does it mean for followers of Jesus to “be perfect like Jesus”? Does that mean followers of Jesus have a holy book mandate to be a little bit of a Pharisee themselves and to judge people as long as they are judging the “right” people? I mean that would justify much of what is done (in their own heads) in the name of Jesus by many of his followers - which doesn’t make it right or wrong but damn, it makes it complicated when your holy teacher does the very thing you aren’t supposed to do - which means you can do it to certain people and are, actually, supposed to as long as it’s the right certain people. Which is complicated.

Which really got me thinking about the differences between Jesus and Pharisees because stuff like this bugs the hell out of me.

Here’s where I’m at. (Staying within the reason and world of most Christians - i.e. not just assuming it’s all made up or Jesus was a fraud, etc…)

1. Both judged people. So… judging is not as bad as it’s made out to be.

2. Pharisees judged people for not being “holy” enough or “good” or “in” or whatever label.

3. Jesus judged people for burdening others, for being hypocrites, fake, and for number 2 above.

4. Apparently, if you’re going to judge people, it’s better to go for no. 3 but not no. 2.

5. No. 3 and No. 2 are diametrically opposed and yet tied together and very subjective. Jesus and Pharisees tied “holy”, “good”, “burden”, and “hypocrite” to different things which justified them both even if for different reasons.

6. The evangelical feels they have every right to judge the pro-abortion person for being a hypocrite and evil and a burden on society.

7. The post-christian feels they have every right to judge the no. 6 evangelical for the same reasons.

8. We’re kinda screwed here.

So I might end it this way.

Making someone feel as though they don't measure up is risky business. It’s best to limit it to people who make others feel as though they don’t measure up. Which of course is an endless cycle that doesn’t get anyone anywhere because then we’re always judging on whether someone is making someone feel as though they don’t measure up and then making sure they know they don’t measure up we’re now the person making someone feel as though they don’t measure up.

So… maybe it’s this. Judging is always subjective. Always has been and always will be. If we’re going to do that, just know that. Jesus did it and knew it, Pharisees did it and knew it. Don’t use either group to justify or condemn anything.

I don’t know if that’s very satisfactory to me, to be honest. I’ll keep thinking. Thoughts?