Holier Than Thou

 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

-Luke 18:9-14 (New Living Translation)

I'm certain that you've heard, or even said, the phrase "Holier Than Thou!" Usually, that phrase is muttered when one person thinks the other is acting superior to the other, all the while looking down on them. It's a problem today. In fact, a 2008 survey stated that 44 percent of Americans strongly agree with the statement "Christians get on my nerves." To read the whole survey, click here. Could those 44 percent have found a Christian who projected an attitude of superiority because of their salvation? Think about that before answering. It's a problem today, and was also a problem in Jesus' time. In fact, in Luke 18, Jesus tells a story that could just as easily have occurred today. 

Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

A Pharisee, a religious leader, scoffed at the tax collector. Through his words, he alienated the very person he should have ministered to. The Pharisee valued his position in the Jewish culture. He couldn't be seen hanging out with a sinner. We may look at this story and speak badly about the Pharisee. But, how often do we do the same thing. Hurting people, people sick with sin enter our social clubs called "church" and they get scoffed at, ignored and labeled and sent right back out the door. We, as Christians, have that "holier than thou" attitude. We don't want to be seen with the unchurched. We don't want the unchurched to be seen coming out of our church. 

When was the last time you reached out to someone who is still sick in sin? When was the last time you showed the love of God to someone in need of a Savior? Think About It.