Sinners, Saints & Pharisees

Sinners, Saints & Pharisees.

Jesus often engaged in conversations with people who had various backgrounds and worldviews attaching themselves to some particular social status. For some it was a social stygma. And for others a social crest.

The sinners were rebellious. Or seen as outcasts. Maligned by their past. A sum of their failures. Living in poverty as a consequence of their wrongdoing. Or their father’s sins.

The saints were sort of a demi-god. Figures like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and David. Men viewed as fathers. Women like Ruth, Esther, and Hannah were queens in their own right. They were held in high honor and many people ascribed to be like them.

The Pharisees were the elite religious and political leaders. They made great attempts to adhere to every form of religious law. They were the rule followers. In some instances, the rule makers. With an ever changing scale of standards to follow.

Not everyone adheres to the Bible or the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. But everyone creates these social ties to address the good, the bad, and the ugly of our culture. We place people into categories based on popularity, talents, personality, wealth, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and religious worldviews.

So, which category do I most often place myself? I’d like to think I’m honest so maybe I’m not a saint. I’d like to believe I’m humble so I wouldn’t arrogantly snub others as a judgmental Pharisee.  I’d like to believe I’m not hostile so I doubt I’d throw myself in the den of being a ruthless sinner.

But the truth is, I’m more of a Pharisee than I care to admit. Judging others instead of loving them. Acting like the older brother when the prodigal son returns. Feeling entitled to special treatment for my position and profession.

Many people, like myself, have grown up in the church and have learned how to mask a discontented heart with good deeds. Focused way too much on modifying external behaviors in place of internal change. Learning Bible stories in Sunday school, singing songs in children’s church, reciting prayers as a formality of church liturgy.

This has translated into a church culture where being polite, using manners, living morally conservative lifestyles, being semi-generous with monetary giving, and vocalizing opinions and positions toward social issues has overshadowed and in some instances replaced the essence of the Christian gospel.

So how do we fight tension created by the labels of Pharisee and sinner and saint?

1. Read the Scriptures to find the fault of our own self righteousness.
2. Read the Scriptures to see how the same grace applied to us is extended to the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, and the worst of the worst.
3. Read the Scriptures looking to find our new found identity in Christ and His righteousness.

Spend some time with people who don’t have it all together and fight back the urge to play the role of Pharisee. Don’t judge. Don’t blame. Don’t throw stones. This can be difficult to do when people act, look, speak, and see life differently than we do. We often maintain a position that is high and lofty above others.

Recognize your own sinfulness. No one is perfect. Not even us. And if we’re honest we know that. Grace is beautiful when we see it for what it is. A gift in the midst of our mess.  While the Pharisee judges others the sinner condemns themselves. And the first step in the right direction is realizing we can’t get there on our own. We need help. We need grace.

Embracing this grace places on us a new identity. Becoming a child of God translates into a new name. I’m more than a sinner saved by grace; I’m a saint. That’s not bragging. It’s not arrogance. It’s the truth.

God places on us a new identity, a new name, a new nature, a new mission. One that is progressively sanctifying us into something totally different before He found us in the sad shape of our sinfulness. Trust Him to complete what He has started in you. He’s set you apart; He’s set you free to become all He’s created you to be!