Now is the Time

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November 7th 2010
Communion Sunday/ All Saints Sunday
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
Luke 18:9-14
“Now is The Time”

This poor Pharisee gets a bad rap. After all, he is understands the rules of the faith community. He knows the rules and plays by them. And along comes Jesus and tells us that he had got it all wrong. I know, this particular Pharisee is not a real person. But because it is a parable of Jesus it is one of those stories which can allow us to remain at a safe distance. We see the story of contrasts and cannot image this story has anything to do with us. Or, if you do try to imagine this story actually has something for us, you might be like me where I imagine that I fall somewhere in between the two characters. Even in my personal prayers I cannot imagine thanking God that I am not as bad as some other group of people. But, I also like to think that I am not really as bad as the tax collectors and sinners. As good Presbyterians we are destined for the middle group. In other words, we are not self-righteous or sinners, at least not too much.
While none of us like to believe we have self-righteous tendencies, it is clear that Jesus believes it is a sin worth getting worked up about. And, it is something for which we are all at risk of falling prey. Yes, I really just said that we all have the tendency of getting self-righteous. It is not that we start out intending to act the part of the Pharisee. Instead, it begins in simple and small ways. It begins with our interpretations of others actions. When we see the actions, and hear the words of others we interpret them through our own limited life experiences. If you are not sure what I am talking about, let me ask: “Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why does that person treat me that way?!” Or, “Why do they act like that?!” Or, “How can she think that?!” If you recognize those questions or ever harbored those thoughts then welcome to the world of the Pharisee. And what Jesus is seeking to challenge is the distance we put between ourselves and others that leads to feelings of superiority, among other things.
What would have happened if instead of standing at a distance, the Pharisee took the time to get to know this “sinner?” What would have the Pharisee come to know about this person who understood clearly his own faults and limitations in the eyes of God? That kind of engagement is difficult. It requires we risk sharing ourselves and possibly giving up our well worn grudges and prejudices. Instead of trying to get know the person it is far easier to call into question their thoughts, actions and beliefs. And while these actions seem harmless enough to laugh about, I believe self-righteousness is an often silent sin which threatens the very unity of the body of Christ.
Acting in this way does provide some personal benefit however. It allows us to exempt ourselves from a far harder task of self examination. What seems easier, looking closely at the way we interpret the world and examining our shortcomings, or comparing ourselves to those we know do not measure up to our interpretive lens. In other words, self-righteousness is really a weapon that can disguise our own insecurities. If we can pick apart or criticize others we never have to open ourselves up. We never use those same skills of criticism upon ourselves. And, in the end, we never have to get honest with ourselves.
This way of being in the world, of self-righteous living, is not a sin unique to the church. This is no more evident than in the public arena. Gone are the days of thoughtful political discourse. Instead, we stand on our certain foundations and question the very integrity and even humanity of those who do not use the same talking points. So instead of trying to understand, really understand where others are coming from and how they came to understand the world the way they do, we simply decide they must be wrong. Or worse, we decide they cannot really be human. And while the followers of Jesus should know better, we are too often at the forefront of this behavior.
When Jesus tells this story, he may be using unreal characters, but he is showing a deeper truth. By pointing out the flaws and foolishness of others we can ignore our own foolishness. Whenever we use things like, our education, expertise, or insider knowledge to exclude or to make ourselves feel more important it is a sign that there is some deeper insecurity we wish to cover over. But when Jesus comes along and says you are welcome here, you the Pharisee, you the uneducated, you the arrogant, you the outcast, you the CEO, and you the person without a home, it is a clear indication he is not looking for uniformity. Jesus knows that self-righteousness will be what divides the body of Christ, and divided we have become. Jesus understand that in any faith community we are going to drive one another a bit crazy and step on toes and leave scratching our heads some days. But Jesus knows that grace will abound when we truly know the stories of others and open ourselves up to the simple idea that we do not really know everything. And this is hard for well educated folks.
When Jesus gathered his disciples around the table and institutes the Lord’s Supper, it was a pretty diverse group. There was a tax collector and some zealots who were sworn enemies. And yet, they were there eating together because Jesus has welcomed them. Jesus did not want to exclude the self-righteous Pharisee but to help him, and those like him, recognize their own sinfulness and the full humanity of those they considered sinful. This sort of transformation was going to take a new way of looking at the world and a new engagement with others.
So, what does this look like in more concrete ways? Well, practically it means that in our church we are going to have to seek out members that we do not know well. Or it may require that you track down the person with whom you are angry or feel they are wrong about something. And when speaking with one another let us not do so without any other agenda except to get to know each other better. Ask them about themselves, or let them teach you something you already know. In the process we will find out far more about the rich diversity in this community, and it will lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the many gifted people who are part of our community. And, in practical ways it will help blunt the secret self-righteous tendencies we all carry. So let it begin again at this table, on this day. May this bread and cup nourish us again to show the world it is possible for diverse folks to come together, not just for show, but because we are committed to the friends we have in this place. Amen? Amen!