Thinking like a Pharisee

[Vort]

Here is the article I mentioned in the original post:

Open to all religions? It’s wiser to delve deeply into one | Local News | The Seattle Times

[Tough Grits]

I was just thinking the other day of how thankful I am for my failings and short-comings. Yes, I need to be actively working on overcoming my failings and shortcomings, but I am thankful for having them too, because they keep me humble, and they keep me from being prideful and arrogant.

Service seems to be the key. For those who are observing the "mechanics" of being a member (prayer, scriptures, attending church...and so forth), service and charity then become a key component in remaining humble and sincere in our discipleship.

I like the mechanics of the gospel, because they are straight-forward and often become habits that are easy to maintain. However, service and charity require more than just habit or rote following of procedure. Service and charity require love--love of God and love of our fellow man. Service and charity require a true desire to be an instrument in the Lord's hands, and a worthy and humble heart to then hear and follow the promptings that will lead us to those who stand in need of service, charity, and love.

Our physical observations of God's laws must be accompanied by a true and sincere desire to help, serve, and love those around us.

I believe that we need to form solid, consistent gospel habits, while striving with all our heart, might, mind, strength, means, time, and abilities to serve those around us. I think that it is through service that we can truly manifest and apply what we have learned from observing and living the "mechanics" of our religion.

[NightSG]

I was just thinking the other day of how thankful I am for my failings and short-comings.

If you ever feel like you need more, I can give you my ex wife's number. She'll be happy to assign you a few million more, whether they're even remotely appropriate or not.

[NightSG]

From this I take the question of whether or not to drink sparkling cider in public as legitimate. Judgments about other believers' spirituality, based upon whether they chose to partake in apple cider--that would be Pharisaism.

That's why I only drink sparkling cider from well-washed beer bottles in public.

[Finrock]

I'm just having a good time with the Gospel of Thomas and I came across this interesting parable about the Pharisees:

Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat."

Regards,

Finrock

[Vort]

I'm just having a good time with the Gospel of Thomas and I came across this interesting parable about the Pharisees:

Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat."

Regards,

Finrock

That is a great quote. How did that not make it into our present New Testament?

[mnn727]

Before I can think about this intellectually - you mean I'm not supposed to take Nyquil? Actually, Nyquil makes me have terrible nightmares, but I use Dayquil in order to function. Did you really mean that one shouldn't take medications that may have a sedative effect?

I take it when needed and get very vivid dreams, not nightmares, but really strange ones -- I wonder if that is a common side effect.

Technically Its 20-25% alcohol, which some people refuse to take.

[mnn727]

The second problem of Pharisees is the doctrine I struggle with the most of all other doctrines. That is the doctrine of being meek. I have tried to understand this doctrine and every time I think I have finely made sense of it - I become prideful of my accomplishment. But it is worse that that ---- I do not enjoy meek talks or having a meek teacher in Sunday School or Priesthood. Every once in a while I run across a genuinely meek person and to be honest they drive me nuts.

It depends on what definition of 'Meek' you use: "down-to-earth, lowly, humble, modest, unassuming, unpretentious"

Nothing wrong with being meek, it doesn't have to mean you are a doormat or unsure of yourself.

[mnn727]

I'm just having a good time with the Gospel of Thomas and I came across this interesting parable about the Pharisees:

Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat."

Regards,

Finrock

I am taking a course right now called 'The Lost Christianities', it spends quite a bit of time on the Gospel of Thomas.

There were a number of books that did not meet the consensus when men decided what was to be in the Bible. Of course there are many (misguided in MHO) people who believe God chose exactly what is in the Bible and keeps it free from error - never understood that thought even before I was LDS.

[norah63]

I have heard it that meek meant teachable.

To have a meek spirit was to have a teachable one.