Extreme Righteousness: Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees

Rating:
Summary: This book makes you take a good look at yourself.
Review: A friend gave me this book about two years ago. I dreaded reading it, but once I got started it was wonderful. This book is about every Christian. There is a Pharisee in all of us. But we are not left with the dilemna. Tom Hovestol eloquently and practically points the reader to the grace of God.

Surprisingly, this was a very interesting and encouraging book.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book To Examine The Heart Of Every Leader
Review: In Tom Hovestol's book, Extreme Righteousness, the author looks to the Pharisees:

ZEALOUS FOR SCRIPTURES

SCRUPULOUS IN THEIR GIVING

DEDICATED TO LIVING UNTAINTED BY THE WORLD

FERVENT IN ANTICIPATING GOD'S DELIVERANCE

CONSCIENTIOUS IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMANDS

These phrases describe the Pharisees. And they describe our own churches. Exploring their historical and Biblical roots, the author discovers penetrating truths that warn, enlighten and protect belivers from their disastrous path.

Incredible chapters bringing conviction and hope for every leader. Some of the more impacting chapters: When Bible Knowledge Blinds & Binds When Tradition Twists Truth When The Sick Look Fit When A Private Relationship Becomes A Public Show

I appreciated the discussion of the five Jewish groups of Jesus' time: The Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees - Hillel & Shammai, Zealots and Essenes.

In answering the question, why is our self-righteousness unseen?, the author speaks of our blindness to it by the following agencies:

Blinded by our culture Blinded by our morality Blinded by religion Blinded by knowledge

The warning lights of self righteousness? 1.A Contemptuous View Of Others 2. A Shallow Sense Of Forgiveness 3.A Wrong Sense Of Grace & Fairness 4.An Unhealthy View Of Failure

A deep heart-encountering book recommended for any leader.

Rating:
Summary: Our Best Frie3nds, The Pharisees
Review: Unlike the misconception of most, the Pharasees were rightreous people in many ways. They were rooted in the scriptures, and zealously seeked to both teach and walk in the law. They are strikingly almost identical with the many churches we have today. Some were harsh and fundamental, while others were merciful and flexible. But as history shows their love for being good at both the scriptures and life style led them to self righteouness, legalism, traditionalism an using God's words to both blind and bind them, the identical characteristics that can be clearly seen in many churches throughout the world. Our extenal human righteousness can surely take us away from the invisible, inner reality of a pure and intimate relatiohship with Christ. This book is one of the best books I have read on legalism and the formation of the fundamentalist way of thinking that happens to the most sincere and good people: ourselves. As a former fundamenalist, this book is an eye opener to the dynamics of legalism and one-sided thinking.