March 9, 2015

“Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “G*d, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “G*d, be merciful to me a sinner!”
Luke 18:9ff

“No, the Church has not been victorious, she has failed and is failing still because she assumes that the judgment that is passed around her applies to the world but not to herself. You must understand that this is my concern, which for the sake of the Church and for the sake of my people, I shall not abandon, that no one should lose the chance for forgiveness which still is being offered to us… And yet the people talk of relief work and pacify their conscience when they have sprinkled another drop of water onto a hot stone; they talk of the only true doctrine of the Lutheran Church and of the necessity to hold oneself apart from the (“others”).
Martin Niemoeller (1892 – 1984) “For All The Saints” volume I

It is easy to read the parables about the Pharisees and say “What rotten, arrogant, self-serving people they were”. The Pharisees had the audacity to believe Jesus was blaspheming the Jewish Sabbath and theology. We would never try to protect our church, our faith, our theology. The Pharisees had the temerity to say “Why do you do what is not allowed by OUR religion.” Of course, we would never say “Why don’t THOSE (Presbyterians, Methodists, etc) people do thus and so…just like we do.” The bible does not say that we are not to judge – but it does say that we should expect the same judgment with which we judge others. And we should feel the most judgment when we begin to “trust in just ourselves (especially just our own church) or feel more righteous than others”.

We do feel great pride in our church, our congregation, no matter our denomination, especially when we do a lot of ministry and have a pastor that we like. But we need to understand the church as “Universal”, not “individual”. While many churches are in the survival mode, just trying to get enough members and money each week to keep paying the bills and keep the worship experience the same – this is not doing the ministry of the church. The ministry of the church is the same as the message Jesus proclaimed – the kingdom of G*d has come near, repent, and live an active faith life. If this means that we find ways to work together with other congregations, no matter the denomination, sharing resources, sharing ministries, even sharing pastors, it will help us avoid saying “Thank G*d I am not like those sinners” – and instead stand together with our Christian and Jewish and Muslim and Buddhist brothers and sisters saying “G*d be merciful to us – sinners”.

Pastor Dave