I just finished reading Romans 2. Paul is warning the Jews, the religious conservatives of his day against hypocrisy. Much of what he says can be applied to modern conservative Christians, like myself. Paul warned his hearers against a spirit of pride where we judge the unbelieving world and turn around and do the same thing. We can be so proud, and consider ourselves the ones who have the answers and have to straighten everyone else out. But then we can be no different ourselves. What are we called to do? We are called to respond to God's kindness and mercy by repentance.
I have seen too many times in the Christians circles I have been around over the years and indeed in myself. Once we forget about God's grace, pride and self-deceit take over and we become modern day Pharisees. The unbelieving world gives no credibility to our message when we are phonies. It is a sober warning to us not to forget God's grace.
