Spiritual Arrogance

   “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.  The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and I pay tithes on my whole income.’  But the tax collector, stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9-14)

   I suspect many of those who claim Christianity fall into the same trap as the Pharisee in this parable.  Like the Pharisee, they consider themselves better than others because they believe they are more religious or faithful than others.  Those who think this way are only fooling themselves.  Worse, they are demonstrating selfish pride and ignoring Jesus’ teachings.

   Jesus often warned of the arrogance and self-righteousness of the religious leaders of His time.  The same self-important arrogance is just as common in today’s Christianity as it was in the Jews of Jesus’ time.  They considered anyone other than a Jew unclean.   Some Christians today consider anyone who is not Christian as unclean.  They may even apply their judgment to other Christians.  They seem to think that only those who worship exactly as they do are Christian.  All others are considered to be nothing more than fodder for the fires of Hell.  How sad that people who claim to worship the same God, Savior and Holy Spirit have so little love and compassion for each other.

   Jesus ate with sinners, chose a tax collector as his apostle, and forgave others their sins.  When questioned about it he said, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”  (Luke 5: 31).  The Jewish leaders couldn’t understand why He would associate with sinners. Some Christians today are just as blind.

   We have no right to pass judgement on others.  Only Jesus sees into our hearts.  We would do well to leave judgement to Him.  Like the publican, we are all sinners and in need of God’s mercy.