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In Mark 8, we read that Jesus cautioned His disciples with these words: “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod (vs. 15).” The Pharisees were the religious elite who prided themselves in perfection. The Herodians were followers of the secular king who prided themselves in pleasure. The Pharisees were self-righteous moralists. The Herodians were self-indulgent immoralists. The Pharisees brought judgment upon others. The Herodians brought judgment upon themselves. The Pharisees lacked humility. The Herodians lacked holiness.

It’s no wonder that Christ warned His followers to protect themselves against the sinful and destructive influences exhibited by these two people groups. The question is: Are we heeding His warning today?

We don’t have any Pharisees or Herodians today…at least not in the literal sense. What we lack in the literal sense, however, we more than make up for in the typical sense. We may not dress like Pharisees, but we wear their demeanor – replacing legalism with moralism and looking for God’s approval through the letters of Paul instead of the Law of Moses. We may not flaunt our sin publicly, but we guard it secretly with just as much arrogant defiance as the idol-worshipping kings of old.

The solution? GRACE and TRUTH.

John 1:14 tells us that Jesus Christ is “full of grace and truth.” The unleavened church is the one who is full of the same. After all, the Body of Christ must have His heart. I pray this blog will be a place where both grace and truth are on full display. I promise to write. I pray you read. And I pray that Jesus opens your heart to His. Who knows? The result might just be an Unleavened Church!