There is a religion which by its very nature offends the character of Christianity and at the same time is intertwined within its fabric. This religion has been part of the purposes of God throughout biblical history,yet opposes the purposes of God. It is a religion which has been highly successful in the guise of Christianity to create a chasim between witness of the gospel and refusal to accept the truth of the cross.

In Timothy Keller's book, "The Reason for God," the author puts into words a very sharp reality that all Christians must face and therefore make changes accordingly; not only for the good of Chrisianity itself as a means to become better witnesses for the cause of Christ, but for the benefit of those who stand a chance to answer the invitation from God to accept Christ altogether.  This is an excerpt from page 179. 

"Pharisaic religion doesn't just damage the inner soul, it also creates social strife. Pharisees need to shore up thier sense of righteousness, so they despise and attack all who don't share their doctrinal beliefs and religious practices. Racism and cultural imperialism result. Churches that are filled with self-righteous, exclusive, insecure, angry, moralistic people are extremely unattractive.  Their public pronouncements are often highly judgmental, while internally such churches experience many bitter conflicts, splits, and divisions.  When one of their leaders has a moral lapse, the churches either rationalize it and denounce the leader's critics, or else the scapegoat him.  Millions of people raised in or near these kinds of churches reject Christianity at an early age or in college largely because of their experience.  For the rest of their lives, then, they are inoculated against Christianity.  If you are a person who has been disillusioned by such churches, anytime anyone recommeds Christianity to you, you assume they are calling you to adopt 'religion.'  Pharisees and their unattractive lives leave many people confused about the real nature of Christianity."

Jesus Christ intentionally placed himself what some may deem in "harms way" to utterly deny the Pharisees their allusion that the religion they practiced and insisted humanity within the limits of their authority to also practice.  Yet, the very thing Jesus stood against many who claim to be Christian are living today.  When will the cycle be broken?  When will followers of Christ come to an absolute understanding and practice all that Christ taught we should?  Oh, yes, it is very easy to say the answer to both questions is when Christ returns, but we must consider all the souls that will have the capacity to accept the call toward salvation, but never accept it because of the Pharisism that exists.  Those who read this blog must discover new and better ways to expand the heart, the intention, the reality, yes, even the truth that encompasses the ministry Christ began and left for us to continue until he does return.