Postscript

PostScript: No room for complacency

Religious people are not better simply because they are religious (Luke 18.9-14).

Introduction

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that there is only one standard of goodness for Christians: the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Reflecting on our lives in the light of the incarnation, we find no room for complacency or self-righteousness. Neither, however, should we find cause for despair, but rather for aspiration and inspiration. We cannot measure up to Jesus on our own, but with the help of his Holy Spirit and the support of his Spirit-filled community, the Church, we can continually conform better to the example he gives us.

Context

Many people still pride themselves on their religious observance, but status in our society is more often understood in material or commercial terms. A luxury lifestyle and public celebrity are seen as indicators of success, while a humble lifestyle and admitting one’s mistakes are seen as synonymous with failure; and to point this out brings the risk of association with the ‘politics of envy’. It’s not as though material possessions are particularly reliable. The recent failure of Samsung’s incendiary Galaxy Note 7, and the reported shortcomings of Apple’s iPhone 7, both retailing at many hundreds of pounds, remind us that status symbols are not always all they’re cracked up to be.

Reflection

In a society in which so much kudos is given to status, or at least perceived status, it is refreshing to read a story in which self-satisfaction goes unrewarded, while humility is vindicated. The Pharisee prays as though he can see nothing wrong in himself, because the standard he uses is… himself! He is proud of his status and will not admit any room for improvement. The tax collector, however, recognising how far short he falls of the righteousness to which God calls him, throws himself on God’s mercy; and the merciful God grants him forgiveness.

Jesus warns against self-promotion, echoing Proverbs 16.18: ‘Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall’ (see also Luke 14.7-11). This idea is at work in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, in which Jesus explains that simply to observe the customs and rituals of our religious faith gains us nothing: not even forgiveness of our sins. Jesus teaches his followers to embrace self-improvement, not self-aggrandisement. This can start only after we acknowledge our true starting point; so whether or not the Pharisee is fooling anyone else with his display of false piety, he is most certainly fooling himself, while the Tax Collector is clearing the way towards a holier life.

Peer pressure can be hard enough to resist, while marketing techniques and celebrity culture seem designed to make us feel inadequate. Does our understanding of what is precious to God, or Christian values, help us to address these pressures?

Church members can be as susceptible to these pressures as anyone else. How may we guard against being made to feel, or making others inside or outside the Church feel, inadequate or unvalued?

Christian acts of worship often include a form of confession, the pronouncement and/or acceptance of God’s absolution, and a renewed commitment to following the way of Jesus Christ. How may we ensure that these rituals remain fresh and meaningful, even when the same words are used repeatedly?

Prayer

A prayer of St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.

Questions

What are the hallmarks of status in our own communities, and are they appropriate in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
By what standards do we measure our own and others’ success or failure in contemporary society?
How do ideas of status and equality relate to each other? Further, what of St Paul’s injunction that we ‘Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves’ (Philippians 2.3)

Action

Invite people to offer examples of their own or others' achievements that make them proud or give them a sense of fulfilment. Discuss them
In a safe space, invite people to share the pressures they feel under to conform to material or commercial ideas of success, and how they are able to confront these from a Christian position.

Young people

Invite people to nominate individuals or groups whom they genuinely admire, and to explain why. These may be, or not, public figures or bodies, and could include examples as diverse as current pop idols, Olympians and para-Olympians, aid and development organisations or politicians. What aspects of these people exemplify Christian values, whether or not they themselves are Christians?

The Revd Robert Beard is Pastoral Adviser with St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Sheffield, and a freelance writer.