Sermon October 28, 2007 Pharisee and Tax Collector
Pastor Wesley Howell

Here is a parable of grace for those who feel they haven't made the grade, say that they don't know how to pray, or what to say, or how to act before the altar of God. Here is a story about God's amazing grace even for people who don't know how to pray.

Besides, have you ever tried to be humble? You can't. When it comes to humility, you either are or you aren't. Like the Country Western Song, I cant’ remember for the life of me who it was, but my Dad was really into country, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Hee Haw on Tuesday. Anyway…the song is still with me. “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way. Oh Lord. It’s hard to be humble but I’m getting much better each day.”

We’re not talking false, faux, pseudo humility here. You know…the kind of humility that just begs for someone to say, “Oh NO! You’re really quite good!”

The word humility comes from the word humus - earth, earthy. To be humble is to be close to the ground.

The tax collector wasn't trying to be humble. He was humble. He wasn't acting like he didn’t know what to pray. He didn't know how to pray. He was down. He had sold out and was willing to steal from his neighbors on behalf of the occupying force - Rome. He had a lot to be humble about.

He wasn't trying to act like he didn't know what to do in church; he didn't know what to do in church.

Two people went to the temple to pray. One, a pious, devout religious person, a Pharisee, prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income".

The tax collector could hardly even pray. He beat upon his chest crying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Two people were in church on Sunday. One, a lifetime member of the church, frequent teacher of Sunday School, member of the board, prayed, "God, I thank you that my parents brought me to church, taught me the Bible as a youth, planted in my heart a love of and a strong commitment to your will. I give 10 percent off the top, volunteer each month with Habitat for Humanity, tutor underprivileged children at an inner-city school, and never drink to excess."

Another man seated near the rear of the church, only muttered, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

That's all he could say. You see, when his combination liquor store/porn shop went broke, after his marriage dissolved, just before that scrape with the law, he had begun coming to church. So far, he had not joined the church; nobody had asked him. He was lousy at prayer; didn't know which words to say.

These two persons then went to their homes after church. To be honest the Bible-believing Christian, member of the board didn't get much out of the service. Something was missing. Nothing in the service touched his heart. He already knew the Scripture for the day. Old hat. The music was a repeat of last week. The preacher was OK. Oh, well, maybe next Sunday.

The other man stayed seated in his pew long after the benediction, crying, overcome with joy or grief, he didn’t know which one it was. He couldn’t explain what had happened to him during the service. All he could say to anyone who would listen was, "God loves me Can you believe it? God loves me."

What a great text for Reformation Sunday. Reform is just not going to happen unless it starts here - in your own heart. Altar calls aren’t part of our tradition. I don’t know why - sad really. Sure they can be showy…you can do it just to show off to your neighbor just how Holy you are. But at the same time, it makes you think. Makes you put your life on the line. Causes you to move up out of your pew and make a physical walk to follow Christ. I think we’ve missed out. Now we’re content. Easy to sit back…

We’ve accepted Jesus as our savior. That’s not so hard. Forgiven. Healed. New life. In Lutheran lingo that’s baptized and confirmed. But there’s a part two. Have you accepted him as your Lord? That’s the step to becoming a disciple. I talked last week about it being hard. Not hard like its technically difficult. It’s not. It’s really simple. What’s hard is letting go of our own stuff.

There’s a cost to NOT being a disciple. Following means Peace…deep down solid peace. Faith that sees everything through God’s eyes. Hope that knows that in spite of everything and anything going on…that God is in charge. The power to do what is right.

Maybe we don’t do altar calls. Maybe we will. We can always reform. But I want you to bow your head and open your heart to God.

Silence...... Two men went to the temple to pray. Amen