I’m so glad I’m not like you!

I’m so glad I’m not like you!

It’s the silent sin that is frequently right at home in church pews, among good, moral people. It creeps up with a whisper of contempt, “How could he do such a thing?”  We slip into this state of mind because it creates the illusion of real distance between ‘those kind of people’ and ‘us.’  It often gets tangled up with racism, revealed in thoughts left unspoken - “people like that do those things.”  This kind of pride finds a ready home in the hearts of the smug, self-satisfied who fail to account for the grace of God that is active in their lives.  It steals compassion and replaces it with judgment. “Why doesn’t he just get his act together?”  replaces “How can I join hands with you to make it better?”

Jesus told a story about it.  Even if you’re familiar with it, take the time to read it slowly, listening for the Spirit’s voice. "Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” (Luke 18:9-14, NLT)

It is true that actions have consequences, that seeds produce harvests. Each of us bears responsibility for our choices. However, none of us is a ‘self-made man’ despite that enduring cultural myth.  This was illustrated to me as I viewed Buck, a movie that tells the true story of Dan "Buck" Brannaman. He is a cowboy whose knowledge of handling horses inspired the fictional 1998 Robert Redford movie, The Horse Whisperer.  Buck grew up in a home headed by an alcoholic father who beat him regularly, ut, today he is a gentle, quiet husband and father.  A school sports coach saw the scars and cuts and a local sheriff got Buck removed from his father’s care.  Brannaman went to live with a loving Christian couple who were foster parents to 23 boys. In their home he learned to love, gained discipline, and discovered horses.  Did Buck make a choice not to be bitter, to live in hate? Of course, but there were several people who were key to the change in his life!

Are you living in spiritual pride, blaming others for their sins?

Are you trying desperately to be self-sufficient, to re-make yourself by grit and determination?

Reject the silent sin of pride! Let God break your heart with His grace.  The Spirit’s invitation includes a promise.  May we live with grace today, receiving the grace we need, giving away the grace with which we have been blessed.  Here’s the word from the Word. "He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor." (James 4:6-10, NLT)

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“Do you wish to be great?
Then begin by being.
Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric?
Think first about the foundations of humility.
The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.

Do you wish to rise?
Begin by descending.
You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds?
Lay first the foundation of humility.”

-          Augustine