Pharisees ?

I've been thinking about the poor Pharisees of Bible times. The Jesus hating legalists that people love to talk about when ever holiness is mentioned. I was wondering what things must have looked like from their perspective and it dawned on me how easy it is to be a 'Pharisee'! They were sincere, God fearing, devout believers. They worked very hard to do what God wanted and make sure that the rules were kept. It wouldn't have been an easy job! Unfortunately, they went from God fearing to rule fearing. They did such a good job keeping the rules that they forgot why they were given rules to start with.They had no savior or indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them in a righteous path. The needed outside walls to guide them.
Today it seems that the most sincere and devout Christians are the ones that end up focused on outward signs of righteousness. We start out wanting to be different that the world out of love for Jesus or possibly fear and end up feeling that being different makes us holy/ closer to God. We tend to become proud. Why is it so hard to trust God to bring about the needed changes from the inside out? Why do we feel so much better about ourselves when we do something external to prove our insides are OK? This is something that I've struggled with quite often. Don't get me wrong, I am not a liberal minded, hippy-style 'Christian' that thinks we can live and act like the world and make it to Glory. I am one that believes in following a very narrow path. My confusion comes about when I focus more on what I look like as I'm going down that path, rather than what I'm thinking and feeling about God and others along the way.
Some issues are obvious. Take modesty for instance, we are supposed to be modestly covered at all times (even at the pool/lake) for a very good reason. We know that to expose ourselves can cause our brothers to stumble into distraction or lust. We are reverencing God by respecting those around us AND our own body more than our own comfort. Issues that are of importance to the New Testament Church can usually be understood in this manner. As we are told that ALL of the commandments can be summed up in two:
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “ ‘(A)YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and [a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘(B)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 (C)On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Many people proclaim Christianity and yet avoid all moral limits as "legalism". These people cannot truly claim to be following the guidance of Jesus in Matthew 22 and should ask themselves why they claim to be Christians.
On the other hand, some of the most devout people get so caught up in looking for ways to be more righteous that they are drawn into unnecessary bondage that keeps them from knowing Jesus in spirit and truth.
Think of the many rules that bind many churches today, celebrating holidays,don't say "bless you", keeping the top of your head covered, don't watch movies, don't trim your hair,wear only plain looking clothes, don't wear makeup,don't eat pork,don't do any kind of work on the sabbath...the list is endless. Now, ask yourself,'how does doing/not doing these things cause me to love God or my neighbor more truly? If you have a personal preference to do any of these things, that is your right but it will not bring you any closer to Heaven.
Often Satan uses the good intentions and passions of Christs most passionate followers to distract them from true growth. In Jesus we see humility,hard work,sacrifice, prayer,selflessness,pure thought and speech....love.
It is easy for me to only wear certain clothing;it's not easy to love my enemy. It's easy to cover my hair with a scarf; it's not easy to actually submit. It's easy to do nothing on Sunday; it's not easy to go help a neighbor.
Love is not easy, nor can it be summed up in a list of simple rules.
Holiness is a must but can only spring from a clean and humble heart.
To be like Christ is to devote ourselves to these things; the hard things.
16Let no man therefore judge you in meat [food], or in drink, or in respect of an holyday [holiday], or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. 20Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. Col 2: 16-23