In Luke 18, Jesus told a story about a Pharisee – a member of a very pious sect – and a tax collector – someone often shunned by other Jews for collaborating with the oppressive Roman invaders. He says that they are standing on a street, and the Pharisee is boasting about his faithfulness – how much he gives and prays and fasts, and that he is glad he isn’t a bad person like that tax collector – while the tax collector asks God for forgiveness. It is the lowly tax collector, Jesus says, who is found acceptable before God. He recognized his sinfulness and was trying to make his life right with God. The Pharisee was making sure that God – and everyone around him – knew just how good he was at being religious. This is Performative Religion.
I think about this passage every time I am with a group in public, and we say grace over our meal. I think about it when I wear my collar at a public event. I think about it when I hear people complaining about “not being able to say Merry Christmas” – which has never been a thing, by the way. We are supposed to put our light out for all to see – we are supposed to represent our faith in positive ways – we aren’t supposed to use religion to put ourselves up and others down. We aren’t supposed to legislate so that our faith and beliefs have more power than others. We are supposed to respect others and forgive those who hurt us. This is Performative Religion.
I think that Jesus got irritated on a regular basis by people who thought they knew what God wanted. I think it ticked him off when people used their power and education and status to make others feel small. I’m with you, Jesus. It seems like everywhere I look, especially this time of the year, there’s performative religion popping out. As with everything, religion is a balance. I love my faith, but I don’t use it to get my way. I love my holy celebrations, but I don’t use them to criticize other’s practices. When we use faith as a hammer against others, we become the Pharisee in this story; when we use faith as a tool for goodness, we are the tax collector. In Luke 18, Jesus chose the latter. I think He would in our stories too.
P.S. – thanks to John Pavlovitz’s recent post for triggering these thoughts.
Prayer – Holy God, we ask that You forgive us when our faith becomes performance, not service. And show us how to reverse it. Amen.
Today’s art is “What’s Vanity versus Death?” by Ott Xavier.