Modern Day Pharisees
Grace Evers sat down beside her friend, Johnny Richardson. They were both fourteen years old. They had been friends since Johnny's father build a sandbox in his backyard. They were neighbors then, just as they were now.
"What are you thinking?"
The inquiry having just slipped from Grace's mouth, was a question she asked often. Johnny was an introvert. Sometimes he thought deeply about things. Those thoughts were private to everyone, accept the friend beside him.
"Just thinking... that's all."
They were on the bank, overlooking a small stream. The ground was blanketed with Autumn leaves. There was a chill in the air. This location was a favorite place for both of them. Grace knew, when she wanted to find Johnny, he'd be here.
"Seems like you're troubled, Johnny Richardson, and you know I won't give up until you let me into that world of yours."
"That's why you are my best friend," Johnny said, then without any prelude he asked, "Do you ever ponder whether or not Pharisees exist to this day, and how they will respond when Jesus comes again?”
"Deep," Grace replied.
Johnny turned toward her. Grace wasn't sure if he would respond to her one word answer. Often times he didn't. That was Johnny's nature. He thought about things. Sometimes he would answer his own questions. On occasion he reverted back to silence, which usually gave way to meditation and prayer.
"I listened to a man preaching," he finally said. "It's not important where. All preachers seem to get it wrong sometimes. They think their interpreted dogma is the only way into the kingdom. They preach that their teachings are key. Jesus told us the way. His words were never complex like those of any church. He said, the kingdom is already here. It's at hand. We have to simply follow Him... and believe in Him... forsake all others. They don't see the kingdom, nor do they listen to the words of Jesus."
"Was this in church?" Grace asked.
Johnny nodded. "The Pharisees thought they were right about their notions of God, and the law. Sadducees had different ideas. Same with the Essenes. There was conflict of thought between them. They focused on their differences, not on their similarities. I wonder if they knew that God loved them all. His promise of the covenant was for all of them. In the end very few were ready to meet the promised one, God's son."
"And you think it's like that today?"
Again, Johnny gave a nod in response to her question. "In our false righteousness, we tear apart the body of Christ. He allows these differences in His church, and we should know that His church is not a single denomination. We should be humble enough to know that we, mere people created by love, have only the answers Jesus provided. He is the word. When the church thinks it stands by the word of men, it becomes as faithless as those same men."
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