My Prejudice

The Pharisees.

The word set me on edge from the time I was in junior high. I was taught to hate Pharisees from the early stages of my Christian walk. I was taught Pharisees were the enemy of Jesus, hated Christians and killed Stephen - the first Christian martyr. I hated Pharisees. My hatred of Pharisees intensified over the years as the same interpretation was reinforced by pastors, teachers and professors. I was convinced the Pharisees were part of the Jews who accused, arrested, tried and killed Jesus! I was taught by people I respected with Biblical authority. I was taught....so I thought....right?

 

On one of my trips to Israel, a rabbi challenged me to learn about the Pharisees before I made any judgment about them. How could I make such a blanket statement of an entire group of people? What did it say about me of I only allowed one opinion into my heart? The rabbi challenged me to go deeper and find out if my judgment was truthful.

 

The truth was I knew nothing about first century Judaism. I was never taught about rabbinical schools. I didn't know names like Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Hillel, or Rabbi Shammai. I didn't understand the power a first century rabbi had as he selected students (talmidim) to follow him. I didn't know the theological arguments of the day or how each school interpreted scripture. I knew nothing of the great teacher's legacies or their powerful teaching. Their influence remains to this day as the main streets in Jerusalem are named Akiba, Hillel, Shammai. A whole new world opened for me. If you want to know more, please begin your exploration here to find out more about these great men. http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/203

 

The truth is sometimes like a water droplet into a pond. One droplet of it can expand our mind and heart. It's purity has a power that defies logic. Scripture makes a case for truth as the power to set us free. The wise rabbi knew what he was doing with this talmidim and I love him all the more for it. As I learned to put aside my prejudice, I recognized another rabbi standing on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee. His words dropped into my heart and changed it forever. All he had to say was 'follow me.'