How To Help People Identify & Remove Pharisaical Masks

actions. Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Scribes and Pharisees are occupying Moses' seat; therefore do not be like them. They do not practicewhat they preach. They conduct their activities to be noticed by men. For they enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their fringes. They cherish the chief place at dinners and the best seats in the synagogues…you hypocrites, all of this is done as a pretext for piety and yet you cheat widows out of their houses. For this you will receive greater judgment. (Matthew 23)

D). THE MASK OF POWER - It has become a fact that some people try to intimidate others with their displays of power. This has happened inside andoutside of many well-meaning churches. Ananias and Sapphira thought they could win favor in the eyes of God and men by offering money to the early church. They could have retained the proceeds from the sale of their property, but they colluded with each other to lie. They said that they had given all the money in order that they may rely on God. In actuality, they had given only a part of the money. They coveted power more than anything. God is displeased with the mask of dishonesty, deceit and greed to cover over our desire for the po wer of wealth and leadership. God wants to strip away the masks of power in order to us rely on His power. The masks of power or wealth will quickly fade away. Job once said, "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, "You are my security, If I have rejoiced over great wealth so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high." (Job 31:24-28)

E. THE MASK OF SPIRITUALITY - Some people are eager to pray publicly. They love to be seen by others as capable of assuming spiritual influence. One day Jesus made an observation of such a group of people when He said, "You Pharisees pray long prayers and you love to be in public places before men. Alas, for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte and when he becomes one, you make him a son of perdition twice worse than yourselves. (Matthew 23:23-29) The reactionary religious right members are attentive to procedures, but often dull to the voice of the Spirit of God. There are Christians who are full of spiritual works, but their motivations are mainly self-centered. There is nothing easier in any religion to observe than spiritual actions done for the wrong reasons.

F). THE MASK OF ACTIVITY - It is common to see well meaning members of the reactionary religious right stay active in their service for the church. However, often these duties can cause them to shirk their more important responsibility to spend time alone with God or time devoted to their families. These people often wear their activity masks as a way of showing people they are zealous. They expect others to rise to their level of spirituality. Those who are not able to keep up with their frantic pace are left behind in the dust, ignored, forgotten or deserted. Inwardly, they may feel a deep sense of insecurity that they are trying to compensate for addiction to good works. Since they are usually in a hurry to do things, they tend to have superficial relations with many. They are controlled by the compulsion to hurry to do as many things as possible in the least amount of time as a measure of their spiritual zeal. They need to realize that the Lord loves them even when they are flat on their back sick in bed. They need to take conscious thought of a great truth from the Old Testament that says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the gates, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1) Only when people are confident God is directing them, will they be able to remove their activity mask and let Him direct their schedules. (Isaiah 40:31) [Please refer to the guides offered in the appendix 3 on the Johari Window plan to help remove masks that hinder us from seeing and being seen with all our weaknesses and strengths]