Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Luke 18:10 (NKJV)

Versus – Us vs Them Series – Part 6

Go to  PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5  |  PART 6

CLOSING THOUGHTS AND PRAYER

It’s often our dualistic nature that influences our “flat like” interpretation of the Bible and the stories within it. It drives that “Us versus Them” mentality that is rife in the world (not just in communities of faith, but everywhere). I’m right, you’re wrong. There IS no grey. There IS a right side and a left side to everything.

Ever tried living like that?

I have. And it didn’t work.

Not one bit…

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is a great example of that.

Luke 18:10-14 (NKJV).
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

It may seem that Jesus elevates one man above the other, but the parable has a trick (which is traditionally how they functioned). As soon as I say, “Thank God I relate to the Tax Collector and NOT the Pharisee,” we echo the words of the Pharisee who said, “Thank God I am not like this Tax Collector…” And the cycle of comparison about ‘who is better than who' continues.

A couple of days ago we discussed that there is much debate in the theological world over the interpretation of the word “rather.” The original Greek word is “para” and can mean ‘rather than,’ which is the interpretation we usually adhere to in our modern world. BUT it can also mean ‘because of’ and ’side by side.’ Which changes everything. Maybe both men left justified in their own way, maybe both men left on a journey with a ways to go… Both needing growth, change and mercy. The humility that the Tax Collector received would have had to extend into the way he viewed the Pharisee, turning his judgement and criticism into empathy and grace.

I haven’t lived my life completely humble in every moment. I have moments of pride. Seasons of it, even. Moments of “Thank God I am me and not them, cos they are not awesome and I clearly am.” (Honestly… we’ve all been there, right?). I have been both Tax Collector and Pharisee. And so have you.

I think what Jesus was hoping to communicate, or, at least, part of it was that humility should be our M.O. There is more that unites than divides us. Don’t shy away from those “chest beating, repentant” moments, and don’t judge others in theirs.

All dualism does is tell a predictable story of winners and losers, the strong versus the weak. But a story of inclusion, color and variety, humanity and wonder? That tells a tale where weakness IS strength, truth is a journey, and faith is the only thing we can be certain of. It's a story where the losers are picked up by the winners, and they celebrate together and share the prize. It’s a story where the 2 + 2 of our lives does not have to equal 4.

(sounds a little like resurrection if you ask me).

May you leave the ‘Us versus Them’ story behind, and allow the parable of Jesus to dig deep in your heart and unearth a humility that allows you to see the beauty in everyone's story.

Much Love,

Lizzy and Jesse.

Over to you.

Can you think of just one way that inclusion has transformed you?  Leave us a comment below.

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