A New Way - Week 3: Not Like Other People

It’s Reformation Sunday!  (And Still Pentecost)

We are teaching through a sermon series in October, entitled “A New Way.” The inspiration for this series comes from what the early followers of Jesus called themselves.  

Early Christians were called “Followers of the Way," meaning the "Way of Christ."  Now more than ever we need to be reconnecting with this ancient notion of what it means to follow Jesus.    

Today, we’re going to read a passage in which Jesus tells a pointed story to people who firmly believed they were right.  (Spoiler alert: they weren’t)

The Psychology of Self-Righteousness

Before we dive into our text, let's talk about the psychology of self-righteousness.  Because there is one, not surprisingly.   

Characteristics of a self-righteous person: 

Judgmental attitude: tendency to judge others harshly for differing beliefs or behaviors. Lack of Empathy: Difficulty in understanding or valuing the perspectives of others. Rigidity: Inflexibility in thinking and resistance to new ideas.

There are essentially three main reasons why we get self-righteous: 

We believe we are right.  

Powerful self-interest.  

Misguided Pride. 

A certain amount of confidence isn’t a bad thing. 

But when it turns into self-righteousness, we’ve lost the plot. 

As followers of Jesus, we need to do better… 

There's a way forward for those of us who call ourselves Christians if we want to avoid becoming self-righteous, proud, and arrogant.  

THE WAY OF CHRIST IS RELATIONSHIP OVER RELIGION

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:

• The way this passage starts is ominous, am I right?

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

• Two men go to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector. (Loaded terms) 

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

• The Pharisee has a laundry list of people he’s “not like.”  

12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’

• He does religious stuff, fasts twice a week, tithes, and prays publicly 

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

• “But the tax collector…” distance, head down, repenting fervently.   

14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

Jesus leaves the crowd with a turn of events that probably stung a few of them.  “Those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  

What Can We Take Away from This 

• Living in the Way of Jesus means being at ease with uncertainty. (Remember these important five words: But I Could Be Wrong). 
• When you are in the way of Jesus, you’d rather make a difference than a point. (If you are keen to make a point, you may lose your opportunity to make a difference.) 
• The Way of Jesus leads you to a relationship with him, not a religiosity that turns religion into an idol.  

THE WAY OF CHRIST IS RELATIONSHIP OVER RELIGION