Christopher Leong, The Pharisee

Luke 15:1 "Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around [Jesus] to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Luke 19:10 "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Lately, I've been having a hard time loving certain people, one of them being a fellow brother in Christ. This persons condescending nature and yet overall desire to be treated like an infant do not sit well with me. What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say that you're better than me or that you want me to baby you or both? It's something that has been on my mind a lot and has come out in conversations as frustration. Through it all, my attitude has been sour and equally condescending. My, how I have forgotten the story of grace.

I opened my devotional book today and read about the Pharisees and their response to Jesus's ministry to the "sinners" and "enemies" of the Jewish culture. They were angered by such grace as it meant that Jesus spent time with the "bad guys" and not themselves, the "good guys". As the devotional book put it, the Pharisees were caught in "good guy, bad guy" theology. In essence, "good guy, bad guy" theology looks like this...

I am good. They are bad.
My actions merit the approval of God. Their actions merit condemnation.
If only others could be as good as I am. I'm sure glad I don't look like that guy.

"Good buy, bad guy" theology misses the entire basis of Christianity: we are all sinners before a just and holy God that despises sin. It is not our actions but by His grace and favor that we are able to draw near to Him. I am not saying that I live with the attitude that I deserve the approval of God but I do look at people and sometimes say "man, I can't stand this person" and then grumble under my breath.

Here I am, a judgmental pharisee, casting condemnation upon others due to my personal distaste for some of their actions and words. No matter how rude, offensive, condescending, or prideful those actions and words come off, I am left with no excuse not to love. In God's eyes, I am no different. Much like them, I am a sinner, eternally indebted to a Savior. God loves them just as they are in their flaws much like me loves me despite the full knowledge of my shortcomings as a person and a follower of Christ.

The story of grace is that it makes life not fair. It sets all sinners, worthy of eternity in Hell, on the same plateau of God's mercy and love. I need to stop thinking that I am on that plateau while others are merely at the base of the mountain. There is no separation between myself and others, only grace.