“Space for All at God’s Table” – Brad Jersak
“The Jesus Way makes space for all at God’s table; it enfolds all people as those whom God loves.” —Greg Albrecht
“It’s easy to call people out. It’s harder to call them in. But confession is a helpful start.” —Jarrod McKenna
The Pharisee and the Publican
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people— robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”—Luke 18:91-14
Oh, those Pharisees. Dastardly Pharisees! Thank God that I’m not like those Pharisees!
Did you see how I did that? To thank God I’m not like the Pharisee is to miss Jesus’ point— is to become the Pharisee!
