I follow Keith Giles on Twitter (btw: follow me!!) and he shared this article that he wrote: I Am A Self-Righteous Pharisee. I identify with so many elements of his initial story. I was called a pharisee along with a barrage of expletives.

The “logic” is simple enough:

• you are a pharisee because you disagree with me or my agenda,
• Jesus hates pharisees,
• therefore I can hate you, or worse, “it is my religious duty to hate you”, and I can behave in an unChristian manner towards you.

I was struck by this paragraph that nicely summaries it:

Knowing the truth isn’t the same as doing it. Being a Christian isn’t only about what you believe, it’s actually more about what you do with the things you say you believe.

The followers of Jesus are called to love without holding back. This love is so radical that even enemies, those that hate us, are objects of love. Loving faith in Jesus is actualised in compassion and empathy. And, yes, I do that so poorly!!!!

I need to reflect more on it all.