Religious false selves

Matthew 23: 23 - 32

...you outwardly appear righteous to men...

The false self is described by Robert Mulholland Jr as "the pervasive, deeply entrenched, self-referenced structure of being as the primary context of our spiritual journey". It is difficult enough for us to admit into awareness our false selves - let alone acknowledging the reality of our "religious false self". Our religious false self presumes, because we are religious, that everything is fine in our relationship with God. Well, yes we admit some fine tuning is needed, but not to worry because the rough edges can be easily polished.

The above is likely what the Pharisees thought of themselves - but Jesus was not about to leave them comfortable in their denial. He courageously exposed their hypocrisy with strong words. Their outward show of religiosity did not match the reality of their hearts. In today's context it would be stated that our ministry is not grounded in a loving union with Christ. Robert Mulholland Jr says they were "so busy being in the world for God that they failed to be in God for the world". In his book "The Deeper Journey" he asks

"Are you on a genuine quest for radical abandonment to God in love, or are you simply seeking a stronger form of the religious false self?

Do you want God in your life on your terms, or on God's?

Is your journey one of abandonment to God or one of acquisition from God?"

Very searching questions that concretize for us Jesus' strong words to all "Pharisees" whether of the first or the twenty-first century.

The heart is devious above all else, it is perverse - who can understand it?

I the Lord test the mind and search the heart. (Jer. 17: 10)