My evangelism professor in seminary was Jack Miller. He not only believed the gospel, he loved the gospel. He was gospel-centered and from that center he overflowed with joy and love. He was also a risk-taker. He believed the words of Paul in Romans 8 that if God has given us his Son then we can face death all day long. We can take risks for Jesus’ sake and Jack did. I am not sure how anecdotal this account is but I was told that he would often go up to a complete stranger and introduce himself by saying, “Hello, I am Jack and I am a recovering Pharisee.”
I think song writer Buddy Greene must have had some contact with Jack or Jack’s disciples because he wrote the song:
Recovering Pharisee
Words and music by Buddy Greene
I’m a Pharisee in recovery
With new eyes I can see the big sinner in my
But it’s the way of the human heart
To confess other people’s sins
Reluctant to admit my part or the deeper problem within.
But, thank God, he won’t let me be, or remain in my hypocrisy
Sooner or later I’ll be on my knees
Honest to God a recovering Pharisee
I’m a sinner and saint simultaneously
I’m not what I was or am going to be
Still I’ve got that ol’tendency to be all a wicked man can be
It takes more than knowin’ right from wrong
It takes more than singin’ gospel songs
It takes the life of the great I Am to produce any good in me
He’s the Vine and I’m the branch and I learnin’ to be
Honest to God, a recovering Pharisee.
I need the God of all grace each and every day
If I’m to run his race if I’m to walk in his way
I don’t have to be a slave to sin I don’t have to let the devil win
Cause the Son of God lives in me and He promises to set me free
So, Jesus, help my unbelief so I can follow you faithfully
You’re the Shepherd I’m the sheep and your helpin’ me be
Honest to God a recovering Pharisee.
(Words quoted by permission)
I am a recovering self-indulgent Pharisee. What I mean is that I am not only recovering (daily and by God’s grace progressively) from a heart and life of self-righteous sins but from a heart and life of self-indulgent sins too. The Gospel is the power of God to save sinners from pride and passion! It is good news indeed.
The Christian life has to be fueled by the Gospel. There is no other way to come to Christ and there is no other way to live as his follower but consciously through humble faith to rely upon the Gospel. Of course this means that in faith you rely upon the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for sins and because of his virtuous life was raised from the dead and ever lives to save all who call on Him with repentant faith. I don’t ever want to become numb to the reality of what the Father secured on my behalf through the obedience, death and resurrection of His Son, my savior the Lord Jesus Christ. So at the very center of the Gospel is the glorious truth of justification. This wonderful objective reality of Christ willingly as the God-man taking upon himself the guilt of my sins (all of them) and paying in full my debt to God in his penal vicarious sacrificial death thus securing complete forgiveness and in exchange the Father by grace granting to me the record of Christ’s obedient life. Oh may the Gospel continue to overwhelm my mind and affections. May the grace and truth of the Gospel keep my heart humble and my soul slaking its thirst at its gracious fountain rather than the leaking cisterns of the false gods and false gospels of this world!
