Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

Matthew 23 is one of Jesus’ most virulent tirades against the “teachers of the law and the Pharisees.” It was also the passage I preached on yesturday. What struck me is that, as hard as it is to admit, we are them.

Let’s look at the Pharisees. Even though we’ve been taught since our childhood to hate them, they were the kind of people most of us would have liked. They knew their scriptures; they were doctrinally and theologically sound; they were conservative, well educated, ethical, clean, so on and so forth. They were the kind of people that most of us would like living in our communities and dating our children and, if we’re honest, their religious priorities are remarkably similar to the ones many of us grew up with.

If we were 1st century Jews, instead of 21st century Christians most RCA folk would probably be Pharisees.

Ouch.

It’s not that Jesus didn’t like the Pharisees, per se. It’s that Jesus had no patience for hypocrites. Even worse than hypocrites? Proud hypocrites. Jesus’ “woes” were so damning because, although the Pharisees put on a good show, did all the things they were supposed to do and didn’t do the things they weren’t supposed to do, they were still hypocrites…and proud ones too.

Not unlike many of us, I’ve attended church all my life, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that, although most congregations deny it, we’re generally pretty happy with people who put on a good show (even if it’s fake) and pretty unhappy with people who admit failure (even if it’s honest and repentant).

Shame on us…or more precisely… “Woe!”

The rubber hits the road in verse 12: whoever exalts himself will be humbled, whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus, promises that the humble will be lifted up and the proud will be humbled….The repentent are forgiven, the hypocrites he condemned.

Oh that we might may be reckoned among the former.

Grace and Peace,
`tim

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