One of the things I struggle with is seeing the faults in others and then smugly telling myself that I am better than that. “Thank goodness I am not as dumb as that stupid idiot” is something I will find myself thinking from time to time.
It seems to be a problem in the world today as well. The logic seems to be “I am right- you are wrong. Therefore, I am good, and you are bad. Thus, I am better.” This attitude can eventually lead to contempt, de-personalization, and inhumanity.
Jesus told a story about the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 8:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Pharisee thanked God for making him judgemental, haughty, proud, condescending, and arrogant. He thanked God for making him better than others.
I see a lot of this in many ways. People are marginalized because of their beliefs, income, education, profession, appearance, national origin, politics and religion. Especially religion.
Catholics are a false religion. Baptists are intolerant. Mormons aren’t real Christians. Jehovah’s witnesses are deceived. Evangelicals are materialistic. Fundamentlists are judgemental. And on and on.
And what about those Muslims/Jews/Scientologists/Wiccans and even Satanists? Obviously we are better than those heathens.
It is easy to think so. That’s the point.
We are commanded to love one another. Not just Conservatives. Not just straight people.
Not just Christians. Everybody. Because we are all the same in God’s eyes. We are all a part of His Creation. He loves everybody equally.
It is a hard thing for a sinner like me to understand, easy to forget.
Luke 18:13- And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Bondo- the real deal 
This is because human nature. The story where the line where if your son asks for a fish you wouldn’t offer him a stone. I think it might address part this in the first part. (Memory thingy). Vanity, all is vanity!! Self importance and arrogance are a sinners nightmare. It is like how can people miss the obvious! Can’t they see how goofy this. Are they really that slow, dumb, moronic, etc!! The trick here is “DO NOT BE DECEIVED!! We haven’t walked in their shoes, but according to me, moi, self, yes some of them are. What might be obvious to me, some people may not even think of or fathom. Therefore keeping my arrogance and megalomania in check, I have to remember some people had no one around to knock common sense into them. I just have to remember they don’t have to live up to my standards, I do! Watching the decline in moral standards, education, and common sense decline in the entire population is disheartening. The madness that has come my way, amazes me how smart I used to be before life got ahold of me. I still have a couple smarts left, but the amount of IQ points I frittered away, let alone what trust in my medical professionals cost me shames me still. I am back to trying to deal with Drs. again. The arrogance and ignorance of these educated professionals literally blows my mind. Believe me, telling these people just how they sound to someone that can repeat what they just said is probably not in my best interest. It literally amazes me still how much GOD can accomplish with simple sinners. I struggle every day with the fact that my inventory is the only one that matters.
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that is one of my favorite Bible quotes “vanity, vanity, all is vanity.”
once I figured out the only person i could change was me, my life got a lot simpler.
thanks for commenting mangledman
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I had to read it again, and it struck me again that the sermon JESUS is giving them is how we ARE supposed to love the ones that don’t love us. I will try to go find it.
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