In our current series, we’ve been uncovering religious spirits that subtly infiltrate the church — not always in obvious or dramatic ways, but often in ways that feel spiritual, respectable, and even justified. This week, we addressed one of the most deceptive of them all: the spirit of the Pharisee.
This spirit is dangerous because it doesn’t look rebellious. It looks religious. It looks committed, structured, and even scripturally sound. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day knew Scripture better than anyone. They were disciplined, knowledgeable, highly respected — and yet Jesus confronted them more than He confronted sinners. Why? Because they had mastered the appearance of holiness while completely missing the heart of God.
The spirit of the Pharisee elevates image over intimacy. It is more concerned with looking right than being right with God. It can quote verses, lead worship, serve in ministry — and still lack compassion, humility, and love. It polishes the outside while the inside grows dry. Jesus described it as being like a whitewashed tomb — outwardly beautiful, inwardly lifeless. Religious appearance with no spiritual heartbeat.
One of the clearest signs this spirit is at work is when people become more critical than compassionate. When conviction turns into comparison. When holiness becomes performance instead of transformation. When it’s easier to spot someone else’s flaws than to allow God to deal with our own. Over time, the spirit of the Pharisee will cause a person to defend tradition but resist transformation, speak truth without love, and value being impressive more than being surrendered.
The tragedy of this spirit is that it convinces people they are close to God — while their heart is drifting from Him. It replaces relationship with routine. It replaces fire with form. And it kills revival before it even starts. Not through scandal or obvious sin — but through pride, judgment, and spiritual coldness dressed up as maturity.
The answer is not trying harder to appear spiritual. It’s allowing God to soften the heart again. To return to true humility. To lay down the need to be seen or validated and simply desire Jesus more than reputation. God is not moved by polished words or religious performance — He is moved by authenticity, brokenness, and surrendered hearts.
Let’s be a church known not just for what we know — but for how deeply we walk with Jesus. Not just for order — but for love. Not just for structure — but for spiritual life. Let’s guard our hearts from becoming people who look righteous on the outside but have no hunger on the inside.
True holiness doesn’t make us harder — it makes us more like Jesus.
In grace and truth,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Christian Center
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”
