Every trial we face is allowed by God. He could have kept us in perfect safety and perfect health while enjoying an abundance of resources to indulge in, yet He often allows the tragedies and hardships to fall upon us. He allows us to fail even when our hearts seek fully to follow Him. He is often silent when we desperately want to hear from Him.
Some people will think that God is not as loving as His reputation has reported Him to be. They think that a loving God must make sure that His children have everything that they ever want. They cannot understand that over indulgence results in childishness. They do not realize that struggles mature us.
Isn't it interesting that it was Satan who pointed that out? He stood before God and said that Job would curse God if His protection and provision was removed. Satan knew what few Christians seem to know. There is no mature faith like a faith under fire.
We should be able to realize this by the examples God has provided for us in the physical world. A muscle gets stronger if it is challenged often. Our minds get sharper when we are presented with problems which must be solved. Our resolve gets stronger when we work toward a goal. Thus, our spirits mature when we face trials in this world.
I read recently of a wealthy man who did not leave his vast wealth to his children or grandchildren. He passed it to what would become his many great-grandchildren. I suppose he was afraid that this wealth would corrupt his offspring and so spread it out to so many that no one of them could do nothing and be nothing because of this inheritance. He knew what has happened to so many people who lost everything because they have won huge lotteries. He knew that easily begotten gains remove all gratitude. He knew that hard work makes people strong. He knew that he would be destroying some of his loved ones if they suddenly came into such a fortune without any work.
The joy that James says we should have when we have such trials comes from the knowledge that these trials have come with God's permission. They, therefore, are there to grow us into maturity. They will reveal God as He works in our lives and our circumstances.
Some people apparently work harder than others to have the same success. Some people learn quicker than others. That is not always the reason that some have more hardship than others. Some of these will have grown so much with a challenge that God will give them greater challenges. Their trials may not come because of their unfaithfulness but because of their steadfast devotion and endurance. They will have been given more because they have produced more. They will have learned to truly be full of joy when trials come their way.
I have met some people like this. They are so close to God that they carry their own atmosphere. They never lord over others their relationship with God nor do they claim to be better than any other person. They simply have a maturity in the faith that astounds the average believer.
There is some trepidation within me when I say that I want to be like one of these people. I know that my heart longs both for a maturity in my faith and an ease in my living. The two are simply incompatible. The idea that you can sit on the couch and get yourself in great physical shape is snake oil sold by unscrupulous ads on television. The only way to get in great shape is through challenging the muscles. The only way to become spiritually mature is through faithful endurance of the trials God lays before us.
Yet, if this blog has any truth in it; if I am true to what I say, I must follow my purpose and give God glory. The glory that God would have me give is one of a spiritually mature man who is able to express his faith through the trials he has endured. Hard times make strong believers.
Be joyful for this.
James 1:2-4 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Living with the Two Tyrannies of Life
Several years ago I got certified to teach the best management course I have ever seen. I read several business leadership and management books every year. This course is far superior to any one suggested in any of these books. The course is called Model-Netics. It was developed by Harold Hooks, the head of Main Event Management.
One of the models taught in the course is called "Two Tyrannies." Simply stated, there are two tyrannies in life: things will change and people will judge you. This is always true. Things will change even if you decide not to change with them. The world still goes around. You can decide to adapt to, improve and employ good changes or you can resist these changes. You can decide to go along with and participate in good changes or you can resist these changes. Either way, you cannot keep all things from changing.
People will judge you no matter what you do. They will judge you if you do the wrong thing. They will judge you if you do the right thing. They will judge you if you do nothing at all. You may be able to affect how some people will judge you but you won't be able to keep people from judging you.
Therefore, if things will change no matter what and people will judge you no matter what, you should do the right thing to make the best changes. This won't keep some people from judging you wrongly. Your greatest altruistic act will be judged as selfish by some. The same is true of your greatest sacrifice. You simply need to know the person that you are. You need to know that you are doing your best to make the greatest positive impact.
I can never really ask myself if I am making everyone happy. I can't even ask whether I am doing what everyone wants. Neither of these will allow me to have any peace in my life. I have to know that I have pleased my God.
Yes, I suppose you still have to listen to people's judgement but at least you can live with yourself. Hearing the criticism is just part of living with the two tyrannies.
Remember what people said of the Apostle Paul:
2 Corinthians 10:10 (ESV)
10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
I appears he had to live with the two tyrannies too.
One of the models taught in the course is called "Two Tyrannies." Simply stated, there are two tyrannies in life: things will change and people will judge you. This is always true. Things will change even if you decide not to change with them. The world still goes around. You can decide to adapt to, improve and employ good changes or you can resist these changes. You can decide to go along with and participate in good changes or you can resist these changes. Either way, you cannot keep all things from changing.
People will judge you no matter what you do. They will judge you if you do the wrong thing. They will judge you if you do the right thing. They will judge you if you do nothing at all. You may be able to affect how some people will judge you but you won't be able to keep people from judging you.
Therefore, if things will change no matter what and people will judge you no matter what, you should do the right thing to make the best changes. This won't keep some people from judging you wrongly. Your greatest altruistic act will be judged as selfish by some. The same is true of your greatest sacrifice. You simply need to know the person that you are. You need to know that you are doing your best to make the greatest positive impact.
I can never really ask myself if I am making everyone happy. I can't even ask whether I am doing what everyone wants. Neither of these will allow me to have any peace in my life. I have to know that I have pleased my God.
Yes, I suppose you still have to listen to people's judgement but at least you can live with yourself. Hearing the criticism is just part of living with the two tyrannies.
Remember what people said of the Apostle Paul:
2 Corinthians 10:10 (ESV)
10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
I appears he had to live with the two tyrannies too.
Monday, May 16, 2011
No, I Am Not Tolerant
It seems that we have made tolerance a virtue. In fact, it is a greater virtue than holding to the truth.
Years ago I taught a series on the common theologies which were infecting our faith. I quoted statements and gave the names of those who said them. I explained why these teachings were wrong and the evils they espoused. The problem was that each of the people I mentioned were well known televangelists who were well known. I suspect that many of those who heard my teaching were supporting these "preachers."
Onc of the deacons came to me and told me that this was the most evil thing he had ever heard in church. I said, "Yes, what these people is truly evil." I knew he meant that what I said was evil but I wanted him to know that I considered this "teaching" from televangelists for their own personal gain was the true evil. He thought we should all be tolerant of each other and accept any theology that calls itself Christian.
There is no virtue in tolerance over falsely teaching doctrine. Sure, there are some things that we may not agree on which we remain in fellowship but the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, the historicity of the miracles, the authority of the Bible, the resurrection and the substitutionary atonement of Christ blood for our sins are not debatable. Those who claim to be as much the son of God as Jesus, who add to Scripture and deny the Trinity are heretics. Their teaching must be exposed with the truth.
A friend once told me that people in front of him at a theater responded to his audible sigh at a depiction of homosexuality with, "Some people are just not tolerant!" I told him, "Next time respond by asking, 'Are you intolerant at my lack of tolerance?'" You see, those who claim to be tolerant are really not tolerant at all. They want to demonize those who confront their pseudo-values.
We need to gently correct other Christians who have gone astray. We need to sharply rebuke those who teach heresy.
No, I am not tolerant and neither is the Bible.
Titus 1:10-14 (ESV)
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
Years ago I taught a series on the common theologies which were infecting our faith. I quoted statements and gave the names of those who said them. I explained why these teachings were wrong and the evils they espoused. The problem was that each of the people I mentioned were well known televangelists who were well known. I suspect that many of those who heard my teaching were supporting these "preachers."
Onc of the deacons came to me and told me that this was the most evil thing he had ever heard in church. I said, "Yes, what these people is truly evil." I knew he meant that what I said was evil but I wanted him to know that I considered this "teaching" from televangelists for their own personal gain was the true evil. He thought we should all be tolerant of each other and accept any theology that calls itself Christian.
There is no virtue in tolerance over falsely teaching doctrine. Sure, there are some things that we may not agree on which we remain in fellowship but the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, the historicity of the miracles, the authority of the Bible, the resurrection and the substitutionary atonement of Christ blood for our sins are not debatable. Those who claim to be as much the son of God as Jesus, who add to Scripture and deny the Trinity are heretics. Their teaching must be exposed with the truth.
A friend once told me that people in front of him at a theater responded to his audible sigh at a depiction of homosexuality with, "Some people are just not tolerant!" I told him, "Next time respond by asking, 'Are you intolerant at my lack of tolerance?'" You see, those who claim to be tolerant are really not tolerant at all. They want to demonize those who confront their pseudo-values.
We need to gently correct other Christians who have gone astray. We need to sharply rebuke those who teach heresy.
No, I am not tolerant and neither is the Bible.
Titus 1:10-14 (ESV)
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Need for a Radical Revolution
Each generation emulated the generation before it for a very long time. Values remained static. Morality never changed. Most people knew the difference between right and wrong even if they chose to do what was wrong. They also knew that they had to take responsibility for their actions.
I know the world is changing technologically but the parallel of these innovations and scientific discoveries is the change in humanity itself. We seem to think we have evolved into a higher form of ourselves by changing long established values. We think of ourselves as magnanimous when we do not hold others responsible for their actions or allow them to give flimsy excuses for their transgressions. We accept their sins as excusable and maybe laudable if their reason for sinning is deemed sufficient.
Poems encouraging murder are called art. Shooting someone who has gotten in your way is called self defense. Stealing has become a means of supporting your family. It has become wrong to deport illegal aliens, incarcerate enemy combatants or hold an unwed mother as partially responsible for her predicament.
It seems that the morons are the new geniuses for the day. Pastors who bend and question God’s word are called great communicators. Politicians who spend into bankruptcy are said to have a grasp of the economy. Those who use an inordinate amount of energy and pollute the earth freely are called great ecologists. Does any of this make any sense?
What is going on? Why has the world rejected that which has been proven true for generations?
Maybe I am too simple. Maybe my answer reflects my own bias. I can’t be sure since it is my own bias and I don’t know how to think something else is right. It seems that the more we deviate from our faith, the more we deviate from common sense. Our faith told us to honor our parents and listen to our elders. It said we should work hard, put our faith in God and expect His reward. It said that our lives would have no anchor if God allowed us to go our own way. Therefore, it told us to seek God while He can be found.
How long can a faithless society last? Maybe we should ask some of the past great civilizations. People will demand order when the chaos gets bad enough. They will support totalitarianism to ensure their safety. They will forfeit freedom for sustenance. The will cry for oppression in order to set things in order.
We need a revolution. It should not bring any violence to anyone other than the person who is revolting. The revolting must be done against ourselves. We must return to the God of our fathers. We must not allow things of insignificance to take the place of the vital. Taking our children to church and teaching them the fundamentals of faith must be more important than taking them to ball practice and teaching them how to catch. Holding them responsible for work around the house must be more important than taking them to Disneyland. Giving them rewards and teaching them honor must be more important than false self esteem generated from awards that mean nothing. Living out your own faith before others must be more important than getting what you want. Giving to God must take precedence over the desires this world generates.
This is not a message of doom and gloom. It is one of saying that we must wake up and return to our faith before we lose everything. Yes, I believe God will heal our land and even our own minds which have become believers in things contrary to His word. I also believe that He is calling me and you to commit ourselves to Him for that healing. it requires a revolution in our lives for we must rebel against the societal changes which are conforming us.
It will take an effort to be transformed. It will take a renewal. It will take a decision from me and you.
It will be radical.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Would the Cause of Christ Be Helped If You No Longer Existed?
I guess I have seen too many cars with a fish on the back of them. The driver of this car doesn't get out of the lane that is closed and pushes in at the front of the line. Many others got out of the closed lane and waited their turn. Courtesy is often punished.
I wonder how many people look at that fish symbol and wonder what it means. Surely, it can't mean that this person is a Christian. After all, didn't Christ tell Christians to put others before themselves?
I have seen too many deacons found at bars hitting on married women. There have been too many pastors sexually involved with women they were supposed to be counseling. There have been far too many church members who have the reputation as a town gossip.
Are these people oblivious to the harm they are doing to the cause of Christ? Do they believe that their faith only exists at church? Do they have any faith at all?
This past week I told my congregation that honoring your mother meant making her proud of you all the days of your life. A mother told me that her little boy looked up at her and asked, "Mommy, are you proud of me?" I thought that was precious. This little boy was understanding the message better than many adults. I wonder if we should ask God the same question, "Father, are you proud of me?"
This has nothing to do with living a perfect life. I believe that trying to live a perfect life is a horrible way to live. It is never satisfied. I am talking about the journey we should be on to become like Christ. It is a life that exemplifies Christ and leads others to Him.
Now, I know that some want to ask: "Would the cause of Christ be hurt if I no longer existed?" The answer is generally "no." God picks up where another person ends. He brought the disciples along to take up the cause of Christ and it multiplied. He raised up the early church fathers to take up the cause of Christ and spread it around the world. Each faithful person was adequately replaced because others observed and emulated those faithful people.
Thai is not as true for those who call themselves Christians but live like the devil. There are those who are watching these people too. They either believe that Christ makes no difference in changing a person's life or they believe that this is what being a Christian really is. They may also emulate these "Christians" who hurt the cause of Christ.
So, would the cause of Christ be helped if you no longer existed? You can do something about it, you know.
1 Timothy 1:18-20 (ESV)
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
I wonder how many people look at that fish symbol and wonder what it means. Surely, it can't mean that this person is a Christian. After all, didn't Christ tell Christians to put others before themselves?
I have seen too many deacons found at bars hitting on married women. There have been too many pastors sexually involved with women they were supposed to be counseling. There have been far too many church members who have the reputation as a town gossip.
Are these people oblivious to the harm they are doing to the cause of Christ? Do they believe that their faith only exists at church? Do they have any faith at all?
This past week I told my congregation that honoring your mother meant making her proud of you all the days of your life. A mother told me that her little boy looked up at her and asked, "Mommy, are you proud of me?" I thought that was precious. This little boy was understanding the message better than many adults. I wonder if we should ask God the same question, "Father, are you proud of me?"
This has nothing to do with living a perfect life. I believe that trying to live a perfect life is a horrible way to live. It is never satisfied. I am talking about the journey we should be on to become like Christ. It is a life that exemplifies Christ and leads others to Him.
Now, I know that some want to ask: "Would the cause of Christ be hurt if I no longer existed?" The answer is generally "no." God picks up where another person ends. He brought the disciples along to take up the cause of Christ and it multiplied. He raised up the early church fathers to take up the cause of Christ and spread it around the world. Each faithful person was adequately replaced because others observed and emulated those faithful people.
Thai is not as true for those who call themselves Christians but live like the devil. There are those who are watching these people too. They either believe that Christ makes no difference in changing a person's life or they believe that this is what being a Christian really is. They may also emulate these "Christians" who hurt the cause of Christ.
So, would the cause of Christ be helped if you no longer existed? You can do something about it, you know.
1 Timothy 1:18-20 (ESV)
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Heart of Heresy
Heresy is "doctrinal deviation from the fundamental truths taught by Scripture and the orthodox Christian church, with an active propagation of the same" according to New Dictionary of Theology. I have found that heresy may have begun with good intentions and even reflect some truth. It often begins with the overemphasis of a truth at the exclusion of all other truth.
For example, baptism is important in the Christian faith. It can be so emphasized that it becomes salvation itself. Grace is therefore defined as the gift of baptism. Faith can be left out in the cold with this heresy.
On the other hand, grace can be so emphasized that no one will ever go to hell. Universalism generally puts all of its emphasis on God's love. Human reasoning takes the place of Scripture when accepting universalism. People ask, "How could a loving God send people to hell?" They fail to understand that God does not send anyone to hell. People make a choice of rejecting Him.
This is true across the board. We can emphasize God's provision so strongly that we make tithing a way of receiving much more money from the Lord. We can emphasize God's blessings so much that we make the failure of a blessing a flaw in our own actions. We can become as superstitious as the witch doctor who dances to bring the rain. The failure of rain means he didn't do the dance correctly.
The truth of the Scripture must be taken wholly rather than piece by piece. We honor our parents and we have a full life. We give our hearts to Jesus for salvation and eternal life. We follow Him fully and we have an abundant life. We give generously and we are blessed with the understanding of God's provision. We seek righteousness and we are humbled.
I believe it all fits together. I believe we are always becoming like Jesus. I believe that our lives are always being changed and improved upon as we become like Jesus. I believe that God is actively bringing us to Himself always. He is always seeking to give us grace. That grace may be understood in tragedy or blessing.
God's desire is not only that we come to Him in salvation but that through that salvation we become like His Son.
The emphasis of any statement in Scripture to the exclusion of other statements becomes the heart of heresy. It takes all of Scripture to teach us to be complete. None of it should be excluded.
Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
For example, baptism is important in the Christian faith. It can be so emphasized that it becomes salvation itself. Grace is therefore defined as the gift of baptism. Faith can be left out in the cold with this heresy.
On the other hand, grace can be so emphasized that no one will ever go to hell. Universalism generally puts all of its emphasis on God's love. Human reasoning takes the place of Scripture when accepting universalism. People ask, "How could a loving God send people to hell?" They fail to understand that God does not send anyone to hell. People make a choice of rejecting Him.
This is true across the board. We can emphasize God's provision so strongly that we make tithing a way of receiving much more money from the Lord. We can emphasize God's blessings so much that we make the failure of a blessing a flaw in our own actions. We can become as superstitious as the witch doctor who dances to bring the rain. The failure of rain means he didn't do the dance correctly.
The truth of the Scripture must be taken wholly rather than piece by piece. We honor our parents and we have a full life. We give our hearts to Jesus for salvation and eternal life. We follow Him fully and we have an abundant life. We give generously and we are blessed with the understanding of God's provision. We seek righteousness and we are humbled.
I believe it all fits together. I believe we are always becoming like Jesus. I believe that our lives are always being changed and improved upon as we become like Jesus. I believe that God is actively bringing us to Himself always. He is always seeking to give us grace. That grace may be understood in tragedy or blessing.
God's desire is not only that we come to Him in salvation but that through that salvation we become like His Son.
The emphasis of any statement in Scripture to the exclusion of other statements becomes the heart of heresy. It takes all of Scripture to teach us to be complete. None of it should be excluded.
Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Problem with Reaching Young People
I am a baby-boomer. I am afraid that my generation didn't especially like the standards of the preceding generation. We rebelled because we wanted something different. We called it our freedom to express ourselves. We fooled ourselves so well that we didn't even know when we were lying to ourselves.
We grew our hair long, ignored most social more's and protested the things our parents held dear. We were drawn in my things that looked good and people who sounded good. We failed to challenge whether or not these things were true. We came up with the phrase, "if its right for you" and believed that was a good enough answer for anyone's behavior.
Time passed and we cut our hair and got jobs. We had children that we promised to raise differently than our parents raised us. We wanted things to look good but did not have the foundation for them to actually be good. So we worked on our image and went where we thought our image would be improved. We cared very little about whether that image was true.
A new generation grew up and realized what fakes we were. They didn't want to work in our businesses the way we did. They didn't want to go to our churches. They wanted something real. We thought we could entice them with glitz and they just weren't interested.
The generation that follows the boomers is not lazy or uninterested. They are unimpressed. They want someone to say something that isn't looking for show alone. They want someone they can trust. They would join us if we were trustworthy and could honestly give them something meaningful.
Our churches will reach young people if we will honestly admit that we don't have it all together. Our testimonies must be those that reflect a genuine spiritual change. We must admit our failures and confess our sins if we are to see that they will ever believe us.
The problem with reaching young people is not going to be in the music we offer on Sunday mornings. It will not be so much in the beauty of our facilities (that, of course, will determine if you will reach baby-boomers). It will be whether or not we are real.
Young adults are looking for people meaning in their lives like each generation before them. However, they are unwilling to settle for whitewashed tombs that look so good on the outside but are full of dead men's bones.
The problem with reaching young people is when I am just enough of a Christian to be one on the outside only. They want to see something deeper than that.
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
We grew our hair long, ignored most social more's and protested the things our parents held dear. We were drawn in my things that looked good and people who sounded good. We failed to challenge whether or not these things were true. We came up with the phrase, "if its right for you" and believed that was a good enough answer for anyone's behavior.
Time passed and we cut our hair and got jobs. We had children that we promised to raise differently than our parents raised us. We wanted things to look good but did not have the foundation for them to actually be good. So we worked on our image and went where we thought our image would be improved. We cared very little about whether that image was true.
A new generation grew up and realized what fakes we were. They didn't want to work in our businesses the way we did. They didn't want to go to our churches. They wanted something real. We thought we could entice them with glitz and they just weren't interested.
The generation that follows the boomers is not lazy or uninterested. They are unimpressed. They want someone to say something that isn't looking for show alone. They want someone they can trust. They would join us if we were trustworthy and could honestly give them something meaningful.
Our churches will reach young people if we will honestly admit that we don't have it all together. Our testimonies must be those that reflect a genuine spiritual change. We must admit our failures and confess our sins if we are to see that they will ever believe us.
The problem with reaching young people is not going to be in the music we offer on Sunday mornings. It will not be so much in the beauty of our facilities (that, of course, will determine if you will reach baby-boomers). It will be whether or not we are real.
Young adults are looking for people meaning in their lives like each generation before them. However, they are unwilling to settle for whitewashed tombs that look so good on the outside but are full of dead men's bones.
The problem with reaching young people is when I am just enough of a Christian to be one on the outside only. They want to see something deeper than that.
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
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