A smug gratitude

Luke 18 : 9 - 14

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.....

I was speaking with someone the other day and we noted that in our many years in church, we have hardly if ever heard the warning to Christians that we might become modern day 'Pharisees'!! I wonder why. And many times we have heard congregational prayers that express gratitude to God for the many things in our lives. It is not wrong to do so. But I wonder if we ever consider a little deeper. The many things that we give thanks for are not experienced by a large percentage of the world's population, even in our own country. There is a danger of growing thankfully smug without deeper self reflection.

I have always wondered whether I would be where I am, with the many privileges of middle class life if I had been born in another time and place. When I hear stories of the terrible situations befalling people, nowadays I realize that "there but for the grace of God go I". I'm sure that I could be capable of every sin imaginable, given similar conditions in my life. So how could we ever be smug?

The prayer that was acceptable was the tax collector's. Not because of any righteousness on his part, but because of his raw honesty. There was nothing wrong with the Pharisee's life. Indeed, he was the model of piety and had managed to keep all the requirements of the law. But he forgot that without the grace of God he too would be nowhere.

I think this temptation is one that befalls 'religious' people easily. Especially when we work and try hard and seek after ideals, we grow intolerant of where others are coming from. The other day I was saddened to hear a ministry leader commenting on the fact that another leader's proposal would be ineffective. The former person has certain ideals no doubt but perhaps has not fully grasped the thought that people can't be pigeon holed. We just have to work with them where they are and it is only through getting our hands 'messy' with the less than ideal (people and situations), that we can learn what it means to avoid a pharisaical pride.