Can we believe?

Based on the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18)

Oh Lord, says the proud man

I am your person

I follow the rules

I more than follow the rules.....

unlike those irresponsible ones

those people who are addicted,

and poor

those liars and cheats

I am thankful I am not like "them"

Oh Lord, says the hurting one

There is not much I can say

I am really a mess

Please have mercy

 

And then, here I am,

looking on….

I can tell you when I look at this story I find myself judging the judger.

Look at that arrogant person, that Westboro Baptist type person

Who has no compassion for those weaker than him.

Who thinks he can categorize others as outsiders… those outside of God’s love.

Here I am

Judging the judger

Here I am

looking at the Tax Collector… Still judging a little

Or perhaps identifying a little

but not ready… yet, to go full in on this grace thing

I mean after all.  Does this miserable piece of humanity….

Ooops, I mean does this poor repentant man really mean it?

Is he going to change?  Is he going to stop being a tax collector?  Stop doing bad things?

Here I am… judging still

 

Knowing he, and I are both sinners, but not really sure about God’s grace as it relates to his sins

Finding myself, in some ways, as judgmental as the Pharisee

Here we are

The super righteous , the unrighteous, and even those of us who are semi righteous

We all have the same issue…….

We don’t quite trust,  don’t quite believe in God’s grace

God’s scandalous love

Mr Righteous didn’t… he thought he had to do it himself

And sadly thought he could, that is where the judgment came from

Mr Unrighteous hoped in that grace… but I wonder if he really believed it

I wonder if he really knew, without a doubt, that as bad as he was

He was forgiven, loved, accepted

He was, Jesus told us that didn’t he?  But did the tax collector really get it?

Or was he just engaging in wishful thinking?

And what about us?

Can we believe in God’s love?

That it is big enough for that hateful, angry judging person we see on TV

Or have met in our own lives?

Can we believe in God’s love?

That it is big enough for the person who hurt us

Robbed us?

That it is big enough for the young man who killed those children?

Can we believe in God’s love

That it is big enough for us

Who mostly, but perhaps not quite, believe in the love and forgiveness

And in God’s acceptance of us?