Pride Before God

This is the English-translated outline of the sermon preached by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi to the congregations of Ashiya Christian Church and Unfinished Community on Sunday, October 26, 2025, drawing from Luke 18:9-14

The issue we see in today's Bible passage might not seem like a major issue in our society today, but in Jesus' time - in a society where Judaism was not only the norm but integrated into their social and political systems - there were many people who flaunted their faith. They likely expected to be respected by others for doing so, were satisfying their own self-importance in that way. However, in today's Japanese society—or indeed, looking at recent trends, even in the West—church attendance has plummeted dramatically. Some even say these societies are losing their Christian faith entirely. In this kind of social climate, people who boldly boast about their faith in public are often rare, at least here in Japan. In that sense, I can sometimes almost feel a certain respect - paired of course with a great sense of discomfort - for those who stand in front of train stations asking, “Would you like to study the Bible?”

Yet the message Jesus conveys in today's Bible passage is the same for both the Jewish society of his time, and our contemporary Japanese society today as well. Faith in God depends on how firmly each individual grasps, feels, and gives thanks for their personal connection with God within their own societal context. It's not about flaunting it to others, nor is it something you must hide in public either. The key point is how you yourself understand yourself, as you stand alone before God.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah played a significant role. His prophetic journey began with recognizing his own absolute weakness, impurity, and smallness. This was because he himself encountered God within the Temple in Jerusalem. The word “holy” in the Bible comes from the Hebrew word “kadosh,” whose original meaning is “an absolutely unbridgeable gap, or impassable difference.” We can draw near to God, but when we stand before Him, if we are honest with ourselves, we are completely unable to boast about ourselves like the Pharisees of today. If someone is able to do that, without any hesitation, it actually proves they have never truly encountered God.

Let us pray,

God, we thank You for forgiving our weakness, for keeping us alive in Jesus' love, for encouraging us, and for using us. Grant us the richness of each day as we walk before You with Jesus. We pray in the name of the Lord,

Amen.