On the Difference between Right and Justified

Preached on October 23, 2016

gospel: Luke 18:9-14

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The 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. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ ¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I 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.”

Who are those who trust in themselves that they are righteous and regard others with contempt?  Not me. I’m not like those hypocrites, those self-righteous do-gooders who think they’re better than everyone else.  I’m a Lutheran.  We’re humble church folk. This is who we are and what we believe. Listen to these four statements: 

• Know the difference between right and wrong and choose what is right. Do the right things. 
• The bible teaches us the right way to live.  Follow the bible’s teachings and you will please God.  If you’re on the wrong track, turn around and get yourself right with the Lord. 
• A right relationship with God and others is the key to a happy life.
• God wants you to know that you are good, that you can do good things, and that doing good things for others is the calling of all Christians.   

Do these statements describe us?  I think we can all agree that these statements sound, well, right.  To a certain extent, this is what we believe isn’t it?  Christianity teaches us how to live the way God wants us to live, teaches how to behave, what righteousness looks like.  From the ten commandments to the Sermon on the Mount, from the prophets words of admonition to Paul’s Christian household codes, the bible is a manual for holy living.  Now, we Lutherans are taught that we are all sinners, incapable of following the law.  So Jesus was sent to die for our sins, freely taking my place on the cross, so that I can receive forgiveness and eternal life.  We call this amazing grace.  And it frees us from slavery to sin so that we can be the good people God intends for us to be.  As a result, we are encouraged to try harder.  We are free from the threat of punishment to work harder at doing God’s will, doing what is right.  Because of Jesus, we are able to confidently move toward righteous obedience.  We call this sanctification, becoming holier as we reject sin and follow Christ.  Our actions, worship and service to our neighbors move us closer and closer to sainthood.  The more we do, the closer we get.  The less you do, the further you get from God.  Non-practitioners of the faith are maybe more lost than unbelievers.  They don’t know any better.  Right>  but saved people should act like they are grateful.  Again, this sounds right in our ears.  This is the correct formula for a Christian life.   I suspect that most people who come to church do so to hear a positive message, an uplifting message and an encouraging message.  Mainly that God cares about you, that you are loved and capable of real goodness.  We love stories of people doing good things for others.  I suspect this is what we want Christianity and church to be about.  Feel good, do good, be good.  It is what we do or don’t do that counts for or against us.  Our behavior is a sign of our character.  Morality is the hallmark of the Christian life.  Salvation is the reward of a life lived well.  Either good people are saved or saved people are good.  This is what we have come to believe.          

So, Jesus tells a story.  Two men go up to the temple to pray.  One thanks God that he is a good man who does the right things.  He is upright, religious, faithful.  He brings no guilt or shame or remorse.  But he is grateful.  He contrasts himself with immoral people like the other man praying nearby.   The other begs God for mercy because he is not a good man.  He is a tax collector, a traitor working with the enemy occupiers.  He has guilt, shame, and remorse.  He is not right with God or others.  He is not a good person.  He has made bad choices.  Both men pray to the same God.  But only one man goes home justified.  Only one man goes home changed.  Only one man goes home lighter, freer, happier.  Only one man goes home with a new relationship with God, a clean heart and a clear conscience. 

To be righteous is to trust in our own ability, our own goodness, our own moral character.  To be righteous is to live in contrast to those around you who are not, who are wicked, bad, immoral, sick, depraved, etc…this is how we so easily ignore criminals, the poor, the addict.  Righteousness can become arrogant disassociation, detachment from those other people.  Righteousness divides people into good people and bad people.  And it is a false reading of the bible. 

To be justified is to experience myself as a sinner, to fall on my knees, to cry out for mercy, to hope for unearned acceptance, and to receive a great gift.  To be justified is to surrender one’s self to God, who might very well punish or reject you, and instead chooses to embrace you and welcome you home and restore you to your created self, child of God.  To be justified is to be clothed with Christ in baptism, fed by Christ at the table, crucified with Christ, and raised with Christ.  To be justified is to be seen by God in the likeness of Jesus.  We set nothing right.  When we try, we are more likely to sin.  Our work is to beat the chest and cry out for mercy and hope for God to listen and take action for you and for your neighbor.  Our work is to have faith enough to believe that God has the power and the glory forever.  Amen.