My latest column featuring Larry Osborne’s newest book Accidental Pharisee, in which he confronts the dark side of passionate faith and ministry. A hard-hitting read, indeed:
Now that’s a punchy, provocative question if I’ve ever seen one! And a loaded one at that. It’s not meant to be loaded, though. It’s meant as a genuine question for us ministry leaders to consider, because Larry Osborne in his new book Accidental Pharisees is on a mission to help passionate people like you and me who, despite the best of intentions and a desire to honor God, end up pursuing an overzealous faith and ministry life that sabotages the work of the Lord we think we’re serving. (17)
Of course none of us ever start out with the desire to be a Pharisee. For those of us in the know, Pharisee is a dirty word, they’re the bad guys who Johnny and Susie never wanted to be when they grew up. As Osborne says, “I’ve never heard anyone describe himself as a Pharisee. I bet you haven’t either. The word always describes someone else.” (19)
Nope, not me. Yep, someone else. Yet I’ve been there, done that. If you’re honest you have, too.
