“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you 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 that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” –Luke 18:11-14 {ESV}
Is there a type of person with whom you struggle to connect? Most of us are aware of certain types of individuals with whom we have great difficulty connecting. It isn’t that we purposefully feel negative toward them, it’s simply that our gears don’t seem able to mesh with their own. I’ve recently discovered that God has been gracious to me in allowing me ease with welcoming the vast majority of varying people that I encounter into my life. Not that they themselves lend great importance as to whether or not I receive them, mind you, but I find it helpful to have a lowered guard and open willingness for God to introduce new types of people regularly into my life. I enjoy the young and old, the American and those from abroad, the relaxed and the intense – all of these and more have much to offer to the Kingdom and to me as an individual. It is beneficial – even wise – for us to purpose to listen to those whom we know to be different than us. If we were all living in uniformity this world would be bland and boring – a vanilla cone in a world meant for rainbow sherbet.
Having said all of that I need to make a confession of awareness. I struggle with connecting to professing Christians who are lacking the following two things in their lives: a spirit of humility and a lack of joy.
It has been said that joy is the flag which flies in front of the castle of your heart which allows all who observe to know that the King is at home there. For the believer, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and cannot be diminished as some insignificant emotion. We recognize that joy is not giddy happiness but rather a strong soul-substance which sometimes is clearly visible and at other times strong and full within, not appearing to the naked eye. I do believe, however, that if you are in regular contact with a particular individual who professes Christ as King then you should be allowed to assume the presence of visible joy will regularly be in their lives. Stoic countenances, unmoved hearts, suppressed emotion and repressed celebration are simply not fitting for those who know the King. Those among us whose doctrine is orthodox, whose integrity is unquestionable, whose service is faithful and whose gravity is unquestionable need to ensure that they prove their lingering humanity from time to time by exhaling and welcoming God the Spirit to reveal the joy of justification to those around them. Yes, I confess, I’m suspicious of those who say with their lips that Christ is Lord but their countenances rarely convey an authenticating Amen. True spiritual conversion should reveal your teeth to the world around you – go ahead and smile, friend. May God grant us all to purpose to cultivate that precious and tender fruit of the Spirit known as joy.
The other issue that helps me to connect with another is the characteristic of humility. I could write a book of entries on this essential commodity of Christian character but let me focus on the passage at the top of today’s blog. The Pharisee was a pretty impressive dude: he was praying, he was expressing thanks to God, he was separate in his lifestyle from his culture, he did not extort money, he was fair with his fellow man, he honored his marriage vows, and he was not a sellout to the Romans like the tax collector standing near him. The Pharisee was disciplined in fasting and highly committed to financial stewardship of all that he earned. Don’t gloss over that. This man was disciplined and devout. He put thought and effort into how he related to his God and clearly understood the expectation of God for His people to live committedly. He understood that a life which professes inward change will be backed up by outer evidence. Yet there was a severe issue that Jesus was highlighting in this passage. There was the element of arrogance and elevation in this man’s heart which allowed him to deem himself superior to others. There was a smoldering smugness which oozed out of him through the spiritual pores that should have been producing visible joy…not corrosive pride. He certainly had disciplines that the pitiful tax gatherer did not possess. Yet the tax gatherer had the most valuable possession between the two of them. The tax-gatherer had brokenness. This poor sinner offered nothing by way of self-vindication to God that day. He cried out in public brokenness that he was a candidate for God’s mercy and he pounded his own chest in penitent pain, sensing his unworthiness before God. Think of how he felt as the Pharisee prayed aloud concerning his own credentials! The tax gatherer didn’t have a deep prayer life. He didn’t fast or tithe. It is likely that his moral standards were lower than the Pharisee. He didn’t have a leg to stand on and clearly sensed his unworthiness at even opening his mouth before a holy God. The Pharisee was confident while the tax gatherer was contrite.
Jesus said that the religious man went home condemned and the rebel went home justified.
Perhaps the reason we have something in our heart that struggles with relating to joyless and self-reliant people is because God cannot welcome them either. I chose my words carefully there. God cannot welcome the proud and self-reliant – He can call them and convert them but He cannot accept them. Brokenness, humility and the fear of God are both the precursors and the evidence of acceptance by God. I truly believe that the essential fruit of joy is the branch which grows off of the tree of humility – they are intertwined. May God grant us all some breast-beating which denies the potential to become chest-thumpers. Beware of the Pharisee’s spirit rising up in your own heart. Abandon the sinful ways of the tax-gatherer but never take credit for your walk of righteousness. Continue with me to pray his mighty prayer, “God, be merciful unto me…a sinner.”