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You may have noticed that I have attempted to swap blog personalities. You know, from the blog that had my name in your URL bar to the blog in your URL bar that is now attempting to kill Pharisees. I was torn between labeling this mess the “Pharisee Killer” or the “Pharisee Hunter”. I really wanted to go with the Pharisee Hunter because I like to hunt. And I thought the title would sound proactive, as if I was out saving the world from Pharisees. As the hunter, I wanted to splash pics of myself pointing a gun and drawing my bow. I had ideas of the background either being typical camo or black like the back of a ninja. (Because that’s the only form of a ninja you see, after the silent wrath, when he’s walking away.)

Labeling someone as a Pharisee is easy.

I was raised in a fairly legalistic church lifestyle. (It’s so easy to throw out the word legalistic, inappropriately.) Khakis, coats, and ties were involved. Hymns were sung, while I flailed my arm around attempting to keep time, as I lead the worship. Every time the doors were open, I was there (Your darn tooting we were there Superbowl night.). I estimate I spent approximately 8-10 hours a week at the church. MTV, what was that? Channel 36 was blocked, but CMT wasn’t. The KJV was THE only inspired version used. I remember seeing other versions being thrown, from the pulpit onto the floor, one Sunday night. Thanks to Kurt Cobain, I guess, all we cared about when I was in youth group was sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll (I remember where I hid my Nirvana and Kid Rock CD’s). Man, life would have been much easier with iTunes.

If death is involved you have to be honest.

One thing you should know about me, I have been pointing my finger at Pharisees and labeling them as targets since I was a teenager. I began calling their bluffs at an early age. I knew what hypocrisy was and I intended to shine light on it. They were the hypocrites and I was their arch nemesis, the rebel kid. It didn’t matter that I was the kid who showed up and everyone knew, or probably were assuming, what I was doing the night before. And since I have been doing this for so long, I can spot a Pharisee, in my scope, from a mile away. But I have to be honest…I’m bitter…I’m angry…and I’m just waiting for that clean head shot. I want these people to KNOW that they are Pharisees.

But the target has changed.

This is actually were the honesty begins. That mirror is waiting on me every morning and when I look into it, I see a Pharisee. The only difference, is that this Pharisee wears t-shirts to church. This Pharisee might spend 3-4 hours a week at church activities. This Pharisee prefers the NIV. This Pharisee thinks that “old-school church” isn’t effective (Isn’t that statement an oxymoron?). This Pharisee doesn’t have a Nirvana CD but now has a 90’s rock playlist on iTunes in which Nirvana can be found. This Pharisee raises his hands. This Pharisee thinks the Charlie Hall Band was born to push the hymnals aside.

The target is now ME. The guy wearing the Converse is now the new Pharisee. The guy who believes that there is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol is now the new Pharisee. The guy with tattoos is the new Pharisee. The guy who uses buzz words like authentic, real, and community is now the new Pharisee. The guy who says he has an audience of One, is full of it and is the new Pharisee.

Stopping the Pharisee epidemic.

All Pharisees, whether they be legalistic or hip, need to repent daily. Every single day. All Pharisees must be willing to follow. And you can’t follow if you’re a Pharisee.

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

All believers in Christ MUST die daily.

1 Corinthians 15:31 31 I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I guess I should have named this blog the “Suicidal Pharisee” because I’m going to do my best to kill myself everyday. In essence, the hunter has become the prey…