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Balancing the Christian Life
Balancing the Christian Life
QUICK THOUGHT: The Idol of Self
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Understanding Idolatry and Self-Righteousness
Speaker 1Welcome to Balancing the Christian Life . Quick Thoughts . I'm Dr Kenny Embry . Join me as we figure out what it means to live as Christians .
Speaker 1Idolatry in the Old Testament is easy to identify because anytime the Israelites got stuff , they started making things to worship . The first three commandments are specific about condemning the particulars of idolatry . They could have no other gods , they couldn't make anything that was supposed to represent a god , and they should not enter into a commitment to God lightly . I've done a pretty good job of avoiding making a golden calf or bowing down before a bull , but if idolatry is replacing God with something that shouldn't be there , well , my idol isn't barnyard animals but the face looking back at me when I'm shaving . Selfishness is a pretty elusive idol because it loves to masquerade itself as Christian virtue .
Speaker 1In Luke 18 , jesus tells a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple to pray . You already know the outcome to this parable , but let me get you to slow down a little before you jump to Jesus' conclusion . First , both men went to the temple to talk to God , whom they both believed in . Both also believed God was in control and that God changes things . Good , that's the right action and the right motivation for both these guys . And here is the prayer of the Pharisee God , I thank you that I am not like other men extortioners , unjust adulterers and even like this tax collector . I fast twice a week . I give tithes of all that I get . First , did Jesus say he wasn't doing exactly what he said he was ? Frankly , I don't do many of the things this Pharisee did , like fasting or tithing . Second , the Pharisee expressed gratitude . He was truly thankful . What made him thankful ? Well , it was because he was following God's instructions on fasting , giving of his income , being fair in business , not being a liar , not being sexually promiscuous and , unlike the reputation of the tax collectors , not being someone who betrayed the children of God by making alliances with a corrupt government like Rome . Tax collectors had a bad reputation , mostly because they deserved a bad reputation . They did bad things that sometimes got other people killed . What part of this are you against ? Are you against the Pharisee being grateful ? Are you against telling the truth ? Are you against devoting yourself to God by fasting ? Are you against refraining from being sexually promiscuous ? Look , the Pharisee was grateful for being someone who could keep God's law , which gave him a good character . I realize Jesus invented this character , but I know lots of people like this who are grateful to God that following his law makes us better people . I know them because I'm one of them . I think following God's laws keeps me from a host of problems . But what is Jesus' criticism ?
Speaker 1The Pharisee trusted he could and had kept God's law . He could and had kept God's law and because he kept God's law , he was doing the right thing . And that made him righteous . By the way , that's right . Righteousness , by definition , is doing the right thing . And that made him proud . That gave him confidence . Did you notice , jesus said ? He stood by himself and prayed . He came to God , confident in his standing with God . He was ready to be judged because he looked at God's standards and judged he had done well . His problem was his confidence in his ability or , as the passage tells us , he trusted in his own righteousness and treated others poorly . He knew the tax collector next to him not personally , but only by reputation of the profession .
Speaker 1The Pharisee's problem was self-righteousness . He was so wrapped up in godly virtue he had assumed the role of God himself and judged himself righteous . The easy answer to this is to judge ourselves by God's standard instead of our own . That is absolutely the right answer . But how do you do that ? Was the Pharisee able to see past his own judgments of how he interpreted God's law ? Of how he interpreted God's law ? In one of his own defenses , Paul says that he had always served God in good conscience . Even when he was doing the wrong thing by killing Christians , he felt like he was serving God rightly .
Speaker 1I don't know about you , but I don't consider myself as good as Paul . So are we just doomed ? First of all , remember we are not saved by righteousness , we're saved by grace . We never earn a relationship with God . That relationship is based on the faith we have in God and the devotion we have to each other . Can we sin all the more that grace may abound ? No , no , no , no , no . But if you think you are behaving yourself into a good relationship with God , you're missing the point . We are sinners because we have sinned . We are redeemed because God redeemed us , not because we haven't sinned .
Speaker 1Second , consider your standards . There's wisdom in examining yourself by yourself . If you measure how well you're behaving as a Christian today versus how well you were a Christian yesterday , you're gauging progress . But you also need to measure yourself against the perfect standard the standard you will never measure up to . You need to know God well enough to know how far short you fail . That still means you have to interpret God's will , and we don't always do that well . But as you progress in your relationship with God , hopefully you grow in understanding him better .
Reclaiming Humility and Seeking Truth
Speaker 1Further , are we open to being challenged by even people we disagree with ? The Pharisees didn't agree with Jesus , and that was a problem . They didn't have a good reason to disagree with him . They never checked his facts , they just assumed he had been wrong . Because , well , they never checked his facts . They just assumed he had to be wrong . Because , well , most people who went against the Jewish leaders were wrong .
Speaker 1Next , what do we get out of it ? Just because you get praise or recognition doesn't mean it's wrong . When the Israelites obeyed God , they were praised . That's a very good thing . But who is doing the praising ? And are we in it to get closer to God , or are we in it to have someone tell us we're doing the right thing ? Finally , is there someone whose opinion you trust to challenge you ? Jesus challenged the Pharisees and Paul . The Pharisees largely resisted and Paul , blind and mute , learned how to stop listening to himself and start listening to God .
Speaker 1Of all the idols , the idol of selfishness is the one I fear most , because it is the idol I often recognize least . Let's take this to God . God , we often get in our own way , we mislead ourselves and we ask that when we are on the wrong road , you would send us others who challenge our thinking . We pray for failure when we are self-deluded . Help us to never attack others out of reaction and , even when we are attacked , to love those who are on the assault . Likewise , help us to be that for others .
Speaker 1We all have blind spots when it comes to being self-righteous . We do pray for righteousness . We pray we are right , but help us to keep our egos in check . Remind us that being right simply means we're closer to you , but we are not you . You are truly the only one who is always righteous because you are always right . Put us in our place and help us to rely on you more . Help us to love you more , because you love us even when we're stupid , even when we fail and even when we dethrone you from where you rightfully belong . We pray . We avoid all idolatry , but help us to avoid worshiping ourselves . Idolatry , but help us to avoid worshiping ourselves , because we cannot have a closer relationship with you when we assume your place . We love you . Help us to show that more In our King's name , amen . Now let's be good and do good .
