The Christian Religion According To Jesus Series

What is a good Christian like? Is it someone who doesn’t as the saying goes “drink or smoke or cuss or chew or date/marry people who do”? Is it someone who faithfully attends church? Is it someone who waits until marriage to engage in sexual activity? Is it someone who is morally upright? Is it someone who tithes on the gross and on the growth of their investments? Is it someone who reads the Bible daily?

Those things may truly mark a good Christian.

For some of us, we grew up in church settings where we were rewarded - maybe with stickers - for activities that marked a good Christian. Even in Good News Club, we have prizes for memorizing scripture, doing the devotional worksheets, attending church, etc. I think in many ways, those are all good things to reinforce - good habits to instill in each other. But does doing those things make us Christian?

As we continue our study in the book of Luke, Jesus helps us to understand some things that mark Christianity - namely humility, faith, and devotion.

If you have your bibles, open them to Luke 18.

Luke 18:9–30 ESV

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke begins this section by telling us that Jesus told a parable in order to address those who “trusted in themselves… and treated others with contempt.”

It seems like overall, Jesus helps us to see that people who follow Him, God’s people should be marked with a…

Posture of humility (9-14)

So, in this parable, the fictional story with a lesson

two men go to pray

this would have been a daily gathering at the temple

the self-righteous Pharisee

standing/praying aloud was not uncommon - praying too loudly would be in appropriate (frankly, I find that when I pray aloud - even in a whisper - I can concentrate better)

Begins well - “I thank you” - it’s good to give thanks - then this man’s prayer goes awry from there - I thank you...

I’m not like, other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers and even this tax collector - his gratitude is not related to God - but to himself.