By: Deacon Renée Beyea (MDiv)

A child pleads: “Dessert comes after dinner, so if you give me ice cream for snack, it doesn’t count.” Which is not so different from: “I eat dark chocolate and drink red wine daily because it’s good for the heart.” Innocuous examples, but children are experts at justifying themselves and adults are even better. This is not a skill that must be taught. We are born to it and we improve with age.

We demur; we are not like Teachers of the Law. Surely we would not have the audacity to justify ourselves to Christ when we know that our justification rests in him alone. That is, except for those occasions when the Holy Spirit calls or convicts or challenges us, and we tilt his Word just enough to feel comfortable, to imagine we have been obedient. He calls us to serve on a mission trip; we donate money instead. He calls us to share our faith with a coworker; we pray for that person instead. He calls us to love him with all that we are; we give him a daily hour and check the box. Not that cheerful giving and prayer are inadequate responses, but they may be less than his best for us in a given circumstance.

If we are skilled with spin, Jesus is better. He untangles our deceptions and reveals truth. He doesn’t answer the question, “And who is my neighbor?” Instead, he illustrates what it means to be a neighbor. With what tender mercy and grace Jesus responds to our petty justifications. He neither chastises nor condemns, but shows us the better way, if we only will trust him for the faith and courage to walk in it and live.