by Roy M. Terry IV
Gospel Reading: Luke 18:9-14
For Sunday, October 27, 2013: Year C—Lectionary 30
I am personally not a big fan of either of the characters in this parable. Both are just too easy, obvious, and set up to take a side.
The Pharisee immediately gets us churning with disgust while the tax collector makes his way into our compassion filled hearts. Surely the tax collector with all his sin and honesty will be exalted for his humility—and the fires of hell burn bright for those Pharisees! 
Yet, in most of the churches, denominational gatherings, or clergy hangouts I have spent time around the Pharisee would never be scorned but rather exalted! After all this guy tithes! I have seen his name on little brass plaques around sanctuaries, on stained glass windows, and even that scholarship I received while in seminary! Tax collectors, well they are terrible church members—who wants humility when you have a building program going on?
Both are a Problem
Both of these characters are not any good for the church or the growth of the church. They are just too extreme. We need moderate Christians to fill the pews. Those who people like, can relate with, and fit in with what is trending in society.
Pharisees, they run people off with their power games but at least you can keep the church going on their ego. Tax collectors just aren’t good for anyone. Those tremendously burdened sinner types, well they are just too needy. I mean you bring in one and then the next thing you know the church starts to look like an emergency room—and who has time for that? Sinners like that, well they just suck the life right out of you. The last thing the Bride of Christ needs is more bad DNA! Jesus may love them but the rest of us think they are jerks!
Pointing out the Idiots
Could Jesus be trying to make a point about either extreme? There's plenty of self-righteous idiots who don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves on both ends of the Tax Collector-to-Pharisee spectrum.
How about those crazy Christians who are always showing up on the television advocating their twisted version of the gospel with words like Jesus hates, condemns and kills! Why is it that they are always the one’s who the press go to when asked about the Christian perspective? Or, how about all those Jesus malls popping up all over the country selling Jesus like a consumer commodity and entertaining all those who attend to death! Or, how about those prosperity preachers offering a message of hope and healing for a price —preying on the poor, oppressed and hopeless, “Just plant a little seed of faith!”.
I’m just glad I’m not like those people...?
The Hardest Question
Who is the bad guy in this text? Will there be any who are exalted? Who might that be?
Rev. Roy Terry serves as the pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Naples, FL. In addition to working at the church, Roy enjoys supporting his wife and daughter's equestrian pursuits, playing in the Holy Moly Band, getting a few tattoos and singing classic rock tunes at the local sports pub. He has been published in Christian Century, Duke Divinity School's publication Divinity, The Ekklesia Project, and was a contributor in Diana Butler Bass’ work on re-traditioning churches, From Nomads to Pilgrims and Christianity for the Rest of Us.
