dougs digs

The connectedness of humanity is an amazing thing.

For years, since the actions that followed 9/11 specifically, I have been in a fluxuating state of anger and embarrassment. Especially as a Christian, secondly as an American.

Along with the bleeding ears of my wife from my seemingly endless tirades, blogging has been very cathartic. In addition, the insights (via blogs) from others within the global community in which I operate have been incredibly helpful as well. I have come across many who share my anger and embarrassments concerning our current sociopolitical climate as it relates (or doesn't relate!) to truly following Christ and can articulate my thoughts and feelings better than I can.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Everything they do is done for men to see . . .

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?