WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
October 28th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Comparative Discipleship”
Luke 18:9-14
Like last week, we join Jesus and the disciples on the road. This unknown location where he and the disciples are travelling and learning together is a great metaphor for the journey of faith. This section in Luke makes two things abundantly clear; the first is that no one can remain faithful alone and the second is that faith was never intended to be stagnant. Faith must be nurtured or it will wither. So these parables on the road are meant to inform our journey so that our faith will be nurtured.
Also like last week, we find out much about the parable even before Jesus tells the story. This time, the information is not about the meaning of the parable but about the intended audience. This parable is told for: “Those who trust in their righteousness and regard other with contempt.” From this brief introduction it is clear that trusting in our own righteousness and feeling contempt for or looking down upon other people is contrary to faithful living. (Just in case you missed that…)
The passage presents a rather simple contrast that might lead us to believe it has little to offer. It is one of those well worn stories which can lead to an almost dismissive familiarity. But, when Jesus tells the story, the expectations of his hearers were a little different. In the eyes of the religious community the good guy and the bad guy are easily identified. But unlike modern hearers the Pharisees were seen as religiously pure and upright in the eyes of God. And, no one would ever think a tax collector would be an example of faithfulness. But in this parable, the well ordered ancient world was about to be turned on its’ head.
While it might seem odd, there is nothing earth-shattering throughout most of the parable. It was common for all sorts of people to ascend the temple mount and to pray. There is nothing odd about the Pharisee standing up front or for a tax collector to standing at the back. In fact, we should be careful not to beat up on the Pharisee who prays these words: God, I thank you that I am not like other people: the greedy, the unjust, the adulterers, or even like that tax collector. I fast two times more than the Sabbath requirements, and give a tenth of my very large income.” (This is my translation.) This is a prayer of a person who clearly believes that God is on his side, and he knows this because he can compare himself with the obvious sinners of the world.
In contrast to the Pharisee, the tax collector knows that he not welcome in the company of the religious. After all, the tax collector makes a living by selling out his own people to the empire of Rome. He is not someone who would be welcome in many places, let alone the temple of God. Yet, the tax-collector goes to the temple and stands in the back. (Apparently he is a Presbyterian tax collector since he heads for the back row.) As he hits himself on the chest unable to even lift up his eyes he cries out because he knows what he is doing is wrong. He knows how it hurts the poor and how it is contrary to God’s law. Yet he comes anyway carrying those burdens. The only prayer he can must is simply: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Up to this point in the parable, the script has gone according to expectations: On the one hand we have a Pharisee while annoyingly pious is righteous. On the other hand we have the tax-collector an all around bad guy. However, when Jesus is finished, he makes it abundantly clear that our expectations and beliefs are wrong. It is the tax-collector and not the Pharisee who went home justified in the eyes of God. The simply truth of this passage is that anyone who really hears this passage should be shocked or offended. After all, the Pharisee might not be fun to be around, at least he follows the rules, and the tax-collector is a known crook. It simply does not make any sense… but that is the way of discipleship. (Who might you place in the role of tax-collector?)
Jesus does not end there in upending societal expectations. In the same breath he calls his followers to the way of humility. “…all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted” With this, Jesus comes into direct conflict with the wisdom of the day. In this ancient culture, humility was not a virtue. In fact, it was seen simply as a vice and a sign of weakness. For Jesus to lift up humility, he was calling his all his disciples to take a stand against any culture which values and rewards pride, or hubris.
At the heart of this parable, is the simple message that in the life of faith there is no room for comparative discipleship. Competition is not a kingdom value because it puts us into conflict with the people we need most. The problem with competition in the life of the faith is that it can lead us to despise, taunt, look down upon, or even harm other people. In fact, anytime we become elitist in our thinking or our practice, inside or outside the church, it is we who are acting the part of the Pharisee. Ultimately, this passage shows that comparison discipleship is really a lack of maturity in life and in faith. Our maturity in faith begins to show its face when we no longer measure our lives against others.
A few months ago Emma was complaining that one of her friends was always able to run faster. This is something which frustrates her greatly. I tried to address her frustration and sadness about the fact that he might always be faster. And what I should have done was try to explain that some people are better at some things than others. But I didn’t. Instead I looked at her frustration and sadness and in a moment of wanting to make it all better I said: “The next time he says something about being faster or winning, just remind him how much shorter he is than you.” Instead of trying to express her intrinsic worth, I gave in to the practice of lifting ourselves up by tearing others down.
This sort of competition runs deep in all of us and when we seek to instill the kingdom values in our lives and in the lives of our children it is not easy. It will require all of us working together. So when we are together, seeking to serve God and be a witness to the faith that is in us, let us seek to follow the ways of humility and not comparison or competition. Like the song goes, we may not be able to pray like Peter or preach like Paul but we can tell of the love of Jesus. Amen? Amen.
October 28th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Comparative Discipleship”
Luke 18:9-14
Like last week, we join Jesus and the disciples on the road. This unknown location where he and the disciples are travelling and learning together is a great metaphor for the journey of faith. This section in Luke makes two things abundantly clear; the first is that no one can remain faithful alone and the second is that faith was never intended to be stagnant. Faith must be nurtured or it will wither. So these parables on the road are meant to inform our journey so that our faith will be nurtured.
Also like last week, we find out much about the parable even before Jesus tells the story. This time, the information is not about the meaning of the parable but about the intended audience. This parable is told for: “Those who trust in their righteousness and regard other with contempt.” From this brief introduction it is clear that trusting in our own righteousness and feeling contempt for or looking down upon other people is contrary to faithful living. (Just in case you missed that…)
The passage presents a rather simple contrast that might lead us to believe it has little to offer. It is one of those well worn stories which can lead to an almost dismissive familiarity. But, when Jesus tells the story, the expectations of his hearers were a little different. In the eyes of the religious community the good guy and the bad guy are easily identified. But unlike modern hearers the Pharisees were seen as religiously pure and upright in the eyes of God. And, no one would ever think a tax collector would be an example of faithfulness. But in this parable, the well ordered ancient world was about to be turned on its’ head.
While it might seem odd, there is nothing earth-shattering throughout most of the parable. It was common for all sorts of people to ascend the temple mount and to pray. There is nothing odd about the Pharisee standing up front or for a tax collector to standing at the back. In fact, we should be careful not to beat up on the Pharisee who prays these words: God, I thank you that I am not like other people: the greedy, the unjust, the adulterers, or even like that tax collector. I fast two times more than the Sabbath requirements, and give a tenth of my very large income.” (This is my translation.) This is a prayer of a person who clearly believes that God is on his side, and he knows this because he can compare himself with the obvious sinners of the world.
In contrast to the Pharisee, the tax collector knows that he not welcome in the company of the religious. After all, the tax collector makes a living by selling out his own people to the empire of Rome. He is not someone who would be welcome in many places, let alone the temple of God. Yet, the tax-collector goes to the temple and stands in the back. (Apparently he is a Presbyterian tax collector since he heads for the back row.) As he hits himself on the chest unable to even lift up his eyes he cries out because he knows what he is doing is wrong. He knows how it hurts the poor and how it is contrary to God’s law. Yet he comes anyway carrying those burdens. The only prayer he can must is simply: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Up to this point in the parable, the script has gone according to expectations: On the one hand we have a Pharisee while annoyingly pious is righteous. On the other hand we have the tax-collector an all around bad guy. However, when Jesus is finished, he makes it abundantly clear that our expectations and beliefs are wrong. It is the tax-collector and not the Pharisee who went home justified in the eyes of God. The simply truth of this passage is that anyone who really hears this passage should be shocked or offended. After all, the Pharisee might not be fun to be around, at least he follows the rules, and the tax-collector is a known crook. It simply does not make any sense… but that is the way of discipleship. (Who might you place in the role of tax-collector?)
Jesus does not end there in upending societal expectations. In the same breath he calls his followers to the way of humility. “…all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted” With this, Jesus comes into direct conflict with the wisdom of the day. In this ancient culture, humility was not a virtue. In fact, it was seen simply as a vice and a sign of weakness. For Jesus to lift up humility, he was calling his all his disciples to take a stand against any culture which values and rewards pride, or hubris.
At the heart of this parable, is the simple message that in the life of faith there is no room for comparative discipleship. Competition is not a kingdom value because it puts us into conflict with the people we need most. The problem with competition in the life of the faith is that it can lead us to despise, taunt, look down upon, or even harm other people. In fact, anytime we become elitist in our thinking or our practice, inside or outside the church, it is we who are acting the part of the Pharisee. Ultimately, this passage shows that comparison discipleship is really a lack of maturity in life and in faith. Our maturity in faith begins to show its face when we no longer measure our lives against others.
A few months ago Emma was complaining that one of her friends was always able to run faster. This is something which frustrates her greatly. I tried to address her frustration and sadness about the fact that he might always be faster. And what I should have done was try to explain that some people are better at some things than others. But I didn’t. Instead I looked at her frustration and sadness and in a moment of wanting to make it all better I said: “The next time he says something about being faster or winning, just remind him how much shorter he is than you.” Instead of trying to express her intrinsic worth, I gave in to the practice of lifting ourselves up by tearing others down.
This sort of competition runs deep in all of us and when we seek to instill the kingdom values in our lives and in the lives of our children it is not easy. It will require all of us working together. So when we are together, seeking to serve God and be a witness to the faith that is in us, let us seek to follow the ways of humility and not comparison or competition. Like the song goes, we may not be able to pray like Peter or preach like Paul but we can tell of the love of Jesus. Amen? Amen.
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