upon getting ready for tonite's bible study (we are studying the parables), i am left with some difficult questions of my own. i know these things will never be brought up during the study and that they may not be important. anyway, in the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector there are 2 guys, one prays and thanks god he isn't an awful sinner like the other guy and tells of his great "deeds"and the other guy won't even look up, but prays for god to be merciful on him because he is a sinner.
at first glance you say well the pharisee was just arrogant and the tax collector was a sinner and should have prayed that way. looking a little closer though, the pharisees were the leaders of the "church" or the religious people back in their time, and jesus said the tax collector prayed rightly to be justified before god. so it makes me wonder-have church leaders today gotten too bold, like the pharisees-thinking they are right and others are wrong? aren't we all just as much in need of god's mercy as the next guy? why do we as church people think we have it figured out and that we can lead these "sinners" in prayer when our prayers don't resemble anything like what jesus talked about?
is there maybe a humility problem among our churches leaders and people? are we teaching people the wrong way to pray? perhaps i am just over-reacting to this story and have gotten a little confused, but i am really concerned for our churches!! we need to take a look at how we pray and quit acting so pious like we don't ever make any mistakes. the truth is we make as many mistakes as anyone, maybe more. even paul was humble enough to remmber that he was the chief of sinners. as i spend time with god today this will be something that we will talk about-hopefully something will be resolved in my heart.
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