"Two men went up into the sanctuary to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tribute collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed to himself, 'God, I am thanking You that I am not even as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tribute collector. I am fasting twice of a Sabath, I am taking tithes from all whatever I am acquiring.' Now the tribute collector, standing afar off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but he beat his chest, saying, 'God, make a propitiatory shelter for me, the sinner!' I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one. For everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself shall be exalted."
Luke 18, 10-14, Concordant New Testament
How many times have we found ourselves in that situation? That moment where we tell ourselves, "Gee, I'm glad I'm not like that guy." As if we ourselves are any different from those we are criticizing. The Pharisee in Jesus' parable thought that his adherence to religious laws somehow made him much different than the tax collector he looked down upon. But was he really that much different? In His response, Jesus does not tackle the deeper issue, but lets us know that placing ourselves above others is never a good idea. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled while those who humble themselves will indeed be exalted in the Lords eyes {Luke 18:14}. As I said, this in no way addresses the underlying issue we run into whenever we look down on those around us. Yet, why is it that we diminish others and prop ourselves up? Most would say that self confidence is a good thing, and I agree. However, my own self confidence has never involved putting others down. We can be confident in our abilities without making others feel lower than dirt. In the end, however, I would suggest that even the most devout believers will not hold themselves to the beliefs of what we know to be true. What is this truth? The truth that we were created in the very image of our heavenly Father {Genesis 1:27}. Even though I tried, I have not been able to locate anywhere in scripture where it says that I, Scott, am the only one created in my Fathers image. So what does this mean? Well, that very same person whom we have looked down upon occasionally has also been created in our Lords image. The Pharisee in the parable of Jesus might have realized that he was created in the image of God, but he failed to acknowledge that the lowly tax collector shared in his lineage. Jesus may not have mentioned this in His story, but He nevertheless knew it to be true.
Who is the image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature. For in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1: 15-16, Concordant New Testament
What knowledge of the Father can I claim if I ignore the fact that ALL are created in His image? This isn't a popularity contest. I cannot claim to be created by my heavenly Father all the while insisting that the mean guy at work does not share in that reality with me. We are one in the same. Each one of us lovingly created in the Fathers own image. Of course, this throws a monkey wrench into our entire attitude of dealing with people. Don't like that bully at work too much? Well, he shares in his creation along with you. Don't like that homeless guy downtown? Yep, he was created in the Lords image just as we are. God doesn't deal in favorites. The scriptures tell us that God created man in His image. We either accept this truth or we consider God to be a liar. Which would you choose? Along those same lines, it was never the Lords intention that we treat our brethren unfairly {1 John 4:7}. It is only through our own ignorance and disregard for others that we have created a hierarchy among the Lords creation. Rich, poor, smart and dumb are all ways we have chosen to marginalize what God has created. It is Jesus who embraces those we look down upon when they come to Him {Matthew 11:28-30}. It is also Jesus who proclaims that we are to love one another {John 13:34}. Notice that Jesus did not say that we were to love one another...except those Pharisees. Jesus doesn't choose sides. When we speak of our brethren, we do well to acknowledge the entire brethren.
Beloved, we should be loving one another, for love is of God, and everyone who is loving God is begotten of God, and knows God.
1 John 4: 7, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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