I'm Not A Pharisee, Am I?

Kat Von D is a famous tattoo artist known for her work on the TLC reality show LA Ink. Until recently, she was heavily involved in witchcraft and the occult, but a year ago, she started a journey that culminated in her giving her life to Jesus.

She posted a video of her baptism online, and more than five million people watched it! The fallout among her largely secular audience was predictable, but bizarrely, she was also met with skepticism and doubt from Christians.

She took to her Instagram account to share how they had accused her of staging her baptism for attention and had criticized her “pagan” appearance. Other commenters rejected the validity of the ceremony because her hands never went under the water!

Nothing annoyed Jesus more than this kind of behavior. In His short time on earth, He encountered all sorts of immorality, corruption, and ungodly behavior, yet He reserved His harshest anger for the judgmentalism of the Pharisees and religious elite.

In Matthew 23:27, He says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”

I don’t know about you, but I am nothing like those Pharisees. What idiots! I only judge those who judge others. Oh, wait? I’m confused. Maybe I am guilty, too.

Like pride or arrogance, no one ever thinks they are susceptible to engaging in it, and yet we almost all certainly are. Paradoxically, judgmentalism is as hidden as it is ubiquitous.

I often speak in churches, and recently, I reviewed a talk I had given on evangelism. In it, I shared that no matter how attractive we make our services or how entertaining our sermons, people are not coming to us. We have to go to them. The content was right - my heart was not. My words were harsh, and my tone was unloving. The message gave off an “I am better than you” vibe because, frankly, that was how I felt. 

As I listened to my own message, I was embarrassed. I was a Pharisee, and I didn’t even realize it.

So what’s the answer? Do we swear off all judgment? I don’t think so. Sinking into the mire of relativism is not the answer - and honestly, it’s not even something we can live out.

It’s not about whether or not we should judge - it's about how we do it. Jesus strongly opposes judgmentalism because it’s antithetical to the Cross. By dying for the sins of the whole world, Jesus eliminated all bragging rights. No one can boast; all fall short, and everyone is in debt to what He did.

When I really come to an understanding of this, it revolutionizes how I view others. I still see right and wrong, even in other people - but having a "holier than thou" attitude becomes impossible. There is a critical distinction between judgment and judgmentalism, and it was the latter that invoked the wrath of Jesus.

Let's love people enough to tell them what’s true, but do it as a fellow-struggler.

I pray that the Cross would be fixed in front of my eyes as a constant reminder of what Jesus did for me so that when I feel led to point out someone else’s attitude or action, it would be with great fear and trembling.

But of course, that won't be necessary - because I never judge anyone, right?
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Want to listen to the conversation related to this blog? Listen to Episode 492: Kat Von D, Pharisees, and Hidden Hypocrisy