A modern-day Pharisee
Recently Lindy Drake taught the Guananos about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus as recorded in John 3.
As he talked about Nicodemus he explained what it meant to be a Pharisee. He emphasized how Pharisees were convinced they were able to keep God’s laws without breaking even one, and they were critical of everyone else for not being as pious as they were.
Later that week, a Guanano woman, Nilsa, went to the local health clinic to receive routine treatment for her baby, Glenda. One of the nurses began a conversation with her about her religious experience.
He said, "I have studied the Bible for eight years, and I understand it perhaps better than most."
When he learned that Mario and Nilsa had married without any formal religious ceremony he said, "You are disobeying God’s very clear commands. Unless you have been married in a church you are sinning."
Then, when he heard that Mario and Nilsa attend church services on Sunday morning, he said, "The day to worship God is Saturday. Whoever is teaching you the Bible on Sunday mornings is a false Bible teacher."
As he was saying these and many other things, Nilsa was thinking: "My goodness, I’m sitting next to a Pharisee."
"We have learned from experience in discipling Guanano believers, that there is always someone trying to scare them, trying to convince them that their faith in Jesus isn’t all that God requires for salvation," the Drakes wrote.
"We are thankful that Nilsa wasn’t moved in a wrong direction by the words of this modern-day Pharisee."
Pray that the Guanano church will continue to grow and be able to stand firmly against the constant challenges to their faith and life in Christ.Nilsa stands firm when she's told she needs to follow rules to be saved.