In doing the work of an optical lumberjack, it is easy to lament those who have failed to take up their axe to their own eye.
But I fear that I can be far too quick to lament the self-righteousness of others without seeing it in myself.
I think this is one of the functions of Jesus' parable in Luke 18:
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
I am always struck by the poignancy of this parable. In it we find that our self-perceptions of goodness don't matter - the only way to relate to God is in repentant humility.
Unfortunately, we live nearly 2000 years after this parable was told, and the distance from the original context brews an attitude we ought not to have:
We look down on the Pharisee.
Those perpetual punching-bags of Jesus were always getting called out by him, and I'll admit I've been a little too giddy to see those folks get their comeuppance in the Gospels.
In a parable like this one, we think, "Ha! That'll serve those self-righteous idiots!"
But when we do this, we miss the whole point of Christ's parable.
This was directed to "individuals confident in their own righteousness."
When we start comparing ourselves to the Pharisees, we're falling into that same trap. We've decided that our own righteousness is superior, and that it makes us a worthy judge of others.
Essentially, we are doing the exact same thing as the Pharisee in the parable.
Jesus' story is meant to call us to examine our own sinful attitudes and repent; it is not meant to allow present-day readers to mock the sinfulness of the original hearers.
We ought to identify with the tax-collector and join in his repentance.
Be careful when you pity the Pharisee in Luke 18, you might just be him.
-BJ
