It's so easy to become a modern Pharisee.

We start out with good intentions, desiring only to encourage people to serve God faithfully. We end up setting in stone our requirements and holding people responsible for disobeying God when they violate them.

That has happened in our denomination. When Southern Baptists decided to update their "creedal statement," a document we call The Baptist Faith and Message, it was said loud and clear that these were not to be tools by which we were to judge the doctrinal faithfulness of our people. That soon went by the wayside. These days, if professors and pastors do not subscribe to that document, they are not considered for that open position or vacant pulpit.

The sons and daughters of the Pharisees are alive and well and active inside your congregation, too, friend.

Our Lord did not say one thing about regular church attendance. The rest of the New Testament said one thing only. "Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:25). (True, it implies it with all the reminders about loving one another, encouraging one another, rebuking and praying and such. But I'm just making a point.)

Listening to us—preachers and other gatekeepers of the kingdom—you'd think church attendance was 90% of the duties of believers. And in my denomination, Sunday morning is not enough. If you're not there morning and night and at least once for mid-week service, you're probably backslidden.

In truth, it should not have been necessary for Scripture to say anything commanding us to get together for worship, study or service. It's our natural inclination. Like commanding us to breathe or eat and sleep.

A young man is in love. His parents do not have to admonish him about the importance of visiting Sarah at least twice weekly. And to take along some flowers. And sweet-talk her.

He automatically knows to do this. If anything, you have to restrain him.

Acts 2 says the 3,000 who believed in Jesus on the day of Pentecost began to gather with the apostles for a time of study in their doctrine, prayer, breaking of bread and fellowship. Not once a week, but daily (Acts 2:46)!

It wasn't commanded; they just wanted it. It was, in a way, a sign or evidence they were sincere about being saved.

So, what are we to make of this? We do something not commanded but expected and then eventually we make rules that try to enforce it?

Is that what happened?

I'm pretty sure that's how the Pharisees got to be the "hypocrites" and "brood of vipers" we meet in the New Testament.

Originally, we're told, the Pharisees were a layman's movement designed to call the nation back to righteousness. They urged people to respect the Sabbath, to bring their sacrifices, to tithe and to pray.

Gradually, they changed.

They began to codify what it means to be faithful. After that, all bets were off and legalistic hypocrisy was the order of the day.

At what point did some of our leaders—I'm Southern Baptist and it shows here!–decide that Hebrews 10:25 means we should meet on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night, and possibly at additional times? And where did the Lord tell us to make critical judgments about each other based on who skips some of those meetings?

And yet it's done all the time.

In the days when every church had Sunday evening services, I would hear pastors say, "I have a couple of deacons who don't come to church on Sunday nights." And why does this matter? They would add, "I don't think they should be deacons if they are not going to support all the meetings of the church."

The original Pharisees rightly diagnosed that the nation was sliding into worldliness and wanted a revival of godliness. They were, in a sense, the Promise Keepers of their day.

A good thing.

What were they asking the people to do? Those early Pharisees justifiably wanted regular prayer, Sabbath observance and alms-giving. They wanted people coming to the temple for special days; they wanted people to tithe; they wanted signs of righteousness.

Anything wrong with that for Israel at that time? Not a thing.

However, in time, what started as a call to genuine revival degenerated into a legalistic system. Give so much money, walk no further than a mile on the Sabbath, observe all the Mosaic rules. And woe to those refusing to obey these rules.

And if your heart is not in it, it doesn't matter. Just do the act.

"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees," said the Lord Jesus. "Hypocrites!" (Matt. 23:13a). They had become play-actors, appearing holy and righteous outwardly but a cesspool of filth inwardly. But appearances were all that mattered.

Sound like any church you know? The lay leadership is there on time, gives money and takes the lead in every way, but off-campus they are rascals, fornicators, pornographers and even criminals.

My single concern here is that you and I watch for the pharisaic tendencies in ourselves and drive a stake through those things the moment they appear.

Bring every thought and act under the lordship of Christ.

Joe McKeever is retired from the pastorate but still active in preaching, writing and cartooning for Christian publications. He lives in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

For the original article, visit joemckeever.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.