Inflated People

There is a parable of Jesus’ where a person who is sure of his self-worth and his worth before God compares himself with another who is convinced of his guilt and unworthiness. (Luke 18:9-14) The one is a Pharisee, which is a name synonymous with legalism (though surely not all “fit the bill”). The other was a tax collector. The Roman government had “privatized” the tax collection system and those who prospered by it were ostracized by “good folk.”

This parable epitomizes Jesus’ genius for identifying and trapping human self-deception. Just try to condemn the Pharisee and you will see, and perhaps feel, what I mean. They have become the whipping boys of Christian “gospelism.” (There weren’t any Pharisee girls, so I can’t be inclusive here.) By “gospelism” I mean the stridently declared belief that God’s forgiveness of human sins is a gift that,  must be received. To use Luther’s language: a positive relationship with God is “by grace through faith alone.”

The problem is the Gospel that declares God’s thoroughgoing grace; rather, stridently declared it is the belief that the Pharisees are uniquely unworthy of the gift. Jesus doesn’t really say that. His point is in the saying at the end of the parable: “I tell you, this [tax] man went down to his home justified rather than the other [Pharisee]; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” In Gospelism, ironically, the receiver of the gift exalts her or himself. Envision the Tax collector pointing the accusing finger at the Pharisee for being too sinful for God’s welcome. If you can imagine that, then you see point. I call this “worthiness by comparison.”

In order to sift “worthiness by comparison” out of our religious psyche, I think we must mind when we encourage ourselves at the expense of those we deem worse than we are. If we say to ourselves: “I did this, but at least I didn’t do that!” then we elevate ourselves by lowering the other – in our estimation of the other’s worth. “Worthiness by comparison” steps squarely into the role of Jesus’ Pharisee. Whenever we are tempted in this way, I suggest we meditate of the Creator’s gift – and keep it simple: “I am valuable, you are valuable.” Maturing into more life-giving attitudes and behaviors is a life-long pursuit.