Compare, evaluate and judge

We live in a world that lives primarily according to the motto: "We are good and the others are all bad". Every day we hear of groups shouting against other people for political, religious, racial or socio-economic reasons. Social media seem to be making this worse. Our opinions can be made available to thousands more than we would like long before we have the opportunity to reconsider and respond to the words. Never before has the different groups been able to shout at each other so quickly and loudly.

Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who were praying in the temple: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.” (Lk 18,10)It is the classic parable about "us and them." The Pharisee proudly declares: "I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—robbers, unjust, 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 lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Lk 18,11-13).

Jesus describes here the quintessential "us versus them" scenario of his time. The Pharisee is educated, clean, and devout, and in his own eyes, he is doing the right thing. He seems to be the "us" type, the kind you'd gladly invite to parties and celebrations, the kind you'd dream of marrying your daughter. The tax collector, on the other hand, belongs to the "others"—he collected taxes from his own people for the occupying Roman power and was hated. But Jesus ends his story with this twist: "I tell you, this tax collector, rather than the other, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 18,14)The result shocked his audience. How could this person, the obvious sinner, be the one justified? Jesus loves to reveal what is going on deep inside. With Jesus, there are no "us and them" comparisons. The Pharisee is just as much a sinner as the tax collector. His sins are less obvious, and since others can't see them, it's easy to point the finger at "the others."

While the Pharisee in this story is unwilling to admit his self-righteousness, to expose his sinfulness and pride, the tax collector recognizes his guilt. The fact is, however, that we have all failed and all need the same healer. “I am speaking of the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Röm 3,22-24).

Healing and sanctification come through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, that is, who agree with Jesus on this matter and thereby allow him to live in him. It's not about "we against the others", it's just about all of us. It is not our job to judge other people. It is enough to understand that we all need salvation. We are all recipients of God's mercy. We all have the same savior. When we ask God to help us see others as He sees them, we quickly understand that in Jesus there is no us and others, only us. The Holy Spirit enables us to understand this.

from Greg Williams