Pharisee/Sadducee or CHRISTIAN?

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!
   Well, Herod did not kill Jesus. The Wisemen went back home on another route.  So, because of this Jesus is saviour of the world and we get to celebrate Christmas.  End of story.  Whoaa!  Not quite.  Jesus gave us a commission which we must carry out. Go into all the world and spread the gospel as well as love thy neighbor as thyself; but the most important--Love God with all your heart, mind, soul!!!
   Think about this a moment:  Pharisee/Sadducee or Christian?
Pharisees were commiteted to obeying all of God's commands; were admired by the common people for their apparent piety; believed in a bodily resurrection and eternal life; and believed in angels and demons.
   Sadducees believed strongly in the law of Moses and in Levitical purity; were more practically minded than Pharisees.
   These were the two major religious groups in Israel at the time of Christ.  Pharisees more religiously minded, whereas the Sadducees more politically minded.
   Their negative characteristics (see if any fit you) are:
Pharisees
   1. Behaved as though their own religious rules were just as important as God's rules for living.
2.  Their piety was often hypocritical and their efforts often forced others to try to live up to standards they themselves could not live up to.
3. Believed that salvation came from perfect obedience to the law and was not based on forgiveness of sins.
4. Became so obsessed with obeying their legal interpretations in every detail that they completely ignored God's message of mercy and grace.
5. Were more concerned with appearing to be good than obeying God.
Sadducees:
1.  Relied on logic while placing little importance on faith.
2. Did not believe all the Old Testament was God's word.
3. Did not believe in a bodily resurrection or eternal life.
4. Did not believe in angles or demons.
5. Were often willing to compromise their values with the Romans and others in order to maintain their status and influential positions.
    Check these out.  There are pastors who fit the bill in each of these categories.  There are also many, many "Christians" who believe this same way.  It is the Christmas season.  Take time to see if you fit in any of these categories; if so, STOP, go to your knees and pray for God's guidance.
    May you have a wonderful Christmas season.  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
   Johnny