Bogey-Men Of Straw

"Let not all pray out loud; some speak amiss,
Their words suspect; who knows what books he's read,
What false doctrine he's heard, and ask amiss?
Let the stranger only give thanks for bread,
While we chosen, who're given greater weight,
Importune for boons of holier hue!
He's of open mind; can he demonstrate
Belief like us, that all else is untrue?
We must exclude members who run amuck,
That fail on our litmus ears, and God's;
Just one hell-born word from our midst could pluck
A weak mate from the prescribed path he trods!"
"These zealots create bogey-men of straw,
While displaying real sins they never saw!"

Unfortunately, new Christians are quickly and tragically exposed to unnecessary road-blocks in their search for salvation from modern Pharisees, or legalists. Jesus unloaded His heavy artillery on the Pharisees of Israel during His earthly ministry. He called them 'snakes', 'blind guides', and 'whitewashed tombs', and other choice divine epithets, because they were the self-appointed creators and arbitors of the thousands of precise and detailed Oral rules the Jews had to follow. Only, they were blind to the spiritual intent of God in every divine commandment, and their niggardly rules were all based on lockstep materialism. This resulted in a perversion of God's desires for Israel, which is why Jesus had to come to earth in the first place. They rejected Him, did not repent, and He turned to the Gentiles with a new and simple gospel, so that the entire world had a chance for salvation.

The legalists are still with us in every church today. They are like the Pharisees, because they interpret the Bible their way, after which they become sort of doctrinal policemen who zealously inspect each word spoken in church and regard different interpretations as heretical. Even the questions asked by newer members are eyed with suspicion, and any statement that requires an open mind to consider optional conclusions are not welcomed. I can only warn you of them and urge you not to permit them to destroy your new-found joy in Christ. After all, He is the One who counts, not a gray-haired deacon who perhaps is a flawed example to you.