Discover The Word

Friday, January 12, 2007

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’ ” (Luke 18:9-14).

IDEA: Religion can lead us into handling our guilt in dangerous ways.

PURPOSE: To have listeners realize that there are wrong ways to deal with their guilt.

Have you heard about the man who went into a bar and tossed a glass of whiskey into the face of a man standing next to him . . . “I no longer feel guilty.”

Was the man’s problem really solved? What was it?

Is it possible that going to church can be a form of psychotherapy that causes us to confuse guilt feelings with guilt?

In the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, we learn techniques for handling guilt in unproductive ways.

The first technique: We practice negative obedience.

I. Technique Two: We practice petty obedience.

The Pharisee did some religious exercises he didn’t have to do at all (v. 12). He fasted twice each week on a Monday and a Thursday.

He gave a tithe of everything he possessed.

People do these kinds of things to compensate for real sins they have committed. It is illogical: People give more money to the offering to feel better about embezzling from the company.

People want to cover up some secret sins that they know are there but don’t want to face.

They don’t smoke or drink, but they use pornography.

They become perfectionists or workaholics.

They give money to charity, they attend the services of the church.

They try to avoid moral anxiety.

They concentrate on petty rules they can keep, which they have made up themselves, to keep from facing God’s big commands which they could never keep satisfactorily. The commands which they should face would make them morally anxious.