respect

Thursday October 31^st, Luke 18:  ⁹To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'   Most of us would love to have a congregation full of Pharisees.  They are well behaved, well dressed, educated, enthusiastic, involved and give a tenth of their income to the church.  The only thing missing is the heart.  Pharisees believed in the resurrection, Jesus was a Pharisee by definition, but Jesus calls us to invite the others into our midst.  The ones who don’t know Luther’s small catechism, or the proper way to serve communion, or which apron to wear for what occasion.  Pharisees would be great for doing “church.”  Pharisees would be a lousy way to do mission.  Pharisees are aware of others peoples sins, the people in Jesus’ church is amazed at the forgiveness of their sin.  Do you want a highly successful motivated church?  Support the Pharisees in your community.  Do you want an active alive church?  Support the adulterers and others sinners who are called to fear and love God so that in matters of sex our words and conduct are pure and honorable, and husband and wife love and respect each other.