29 March 2014 - judge not

29 March 2014 - judge not

‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —

How can we choose to do good without this sort of implicit judgment on those on who do not?  We know that people should not be "greedy, dishonest, adulterous" yet in not doing these things, how do we avoid what the situation that James warns us about where he asks, "have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs" (cf. Jam. 2:4).

It all stems from our motivation.  Righteous deeds can mask a prideful heart.  Jesus warns, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean" (cf. Mat. 23:27).

The Pharisees are doing something which could be good when they fast twice a week and pay a tithe on their whole income.  But for the Pharisees, all of this supposed righteousness is done to be seen.  It is done so that they may be recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated.  They are looking to earn the love and admiration of their fellows by what they do.  If it were possible to become righteous on the basis of their own ability they would have a reason to boast.  There would be some skill that they had that others didn't allowing them to excel.  But the very point of the law is selfless love.  Beginning with a motivation like this one cannot arrive there.  On one's own strength one cannot arrive at all.  As Paul tells us, "what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded" (cf. Rom. 3:27).  In another place he reminds us that "this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast" (cf. Eph 2:9)

The tax collector may, perhaps, be guilty various sins.  But he isn't concerned about how it looks before others.  He is only concerned about what it looks like before God.

But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

The beauty of making this our sole concern is the certainty we can have that, when we turn to him sincerely, he heals us, heals us by the very power of his resurrection from the dead.

“Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.

The goal isn't something lame and transitory like appearing good before others.  It is relationship with the God who made all things.  There can be nothing better.

Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth.”

Let us appear before him with hearts that desire to be made whole, contrite hearts.  The LORD delights to heal us.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

When we are healed the LORD delights to use us to share his mercy with others.  None of us have to earn love by beating ourselves up.  It is mercy, rather, which the LORD desires for everyone.

It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.