Honor Or Humility
Preaching
Preaching the Parables
Series II, Cycle C
Emily Post was a well-known expert on etiquette. She would
tell you the proper table manners to observe. Her advice helped
a person to be gracious in polite society. She told you not to
put your elbows on the table -- and so did your mother probably -
- and not to talk with your mouth full. She also told you which
knife, fork, or spoon to use.
Jesus also had some words about table etiquette. They had less to do with how to behave in polite society. They had to do with the proper relationship to yourself and to others. His advice had more to do with the attitude of pride expressed by where persons wanted to sit at the table. The parable for today deals more with the spiritual state shown at the table than how to know the conventions of civilized eating.
Context
Context of Luke 14
Luke reports in chapter 14 about three different types of meals and Jesus' actions or accounts of them.
Luke 14:1-6 -- Jesus eats at the house of a leading Pharisee.
Luke 14:7-14 -- A parable of people at a wedding feast.
Luke 14:15-24 -- A great dinner or banquet that refers to eating in the kingdom of God.
In each of these accounts Jesus makes a point about proper attitudes and actions.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Jeremiah 2:4-13) God poses a question to the Israelites. Why do the people who have received so generously from God's hands no longer follow him? God looks around. He sees no other people abandoning their traditional gods, even though they are no gods. The people of Israel have forsaken God and are creating their own source of values rather than accepting the real ones given by God.
The Second Lesson. (Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16) The writer of the letter calls the Christians to continue to practice mutual love. What that means is spelled out in terms of hospitality, prison visitation, marriage, and love of money. Jesus is the constant standard of reference in ethical behavior. By following him and doing good they will show proper praise to God.
Gospel. (Luke 14:1, 7-14) Jesus teaches about humility in receiving hospitality. He advises the participants in a wedding feast not to seek the honored place near the host. If they do, they may be embarrassed by being asked to move farther away. On the other hand, taking a place of low honor, they may receive more recognition by being asked to move up. He adds advice as to whom to offer hospitality so as not to expect to be repaid for it.
Psalm. (Psalm 81:1, 10-16) The message is similar to the first reading. The people forget the graciousness of God in the past. If they will only return, they will be treated with high favor.
Context of Related Scripture
Psalm 37:11 -- The meek shall inherit the land.
Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Waiting to be called up to the king's presence.
Matthew 5:5 -- The meek will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:12 -- Your reward is great in heaven.
Matthew 6:4 -- The Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 23:12 -- Those who exalt themselves are humbled and the reverse.
Acts 24:15 -- The resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous.
Philippians 2:8-9 -- Jesus humbled and exalted.
1 Peter 5:5 -- Clothe yourselves with humility.
James 4:6 -- Oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble.
Content
Content of the Pericope
Luke 14:1 -- This verse sets the context for the chapter where Jesus engages in a controversial action and table talk.
Luke 14:7 -- Jesus observes the rush of guests to seek the places of greatest honor at the table. Their actions give rise to the parable about seating at a wedding feast.
Luke 14:8-11 -- The parable about humility and honor.
Luke 14:12-15 -- Jesus admonishes his host to consider whom he invites to his meal and the consequences of blessing for inviting those who cannot repay his actions.
Precis of the Parable
After observing how the guests of a leading Pharisee try to occupy the places of honor at the table, Jesus tells a parable about proper table etiquette. He says that persons who seat themselves at the places of highest honor may be embarrassed and humiliated when they are asked to move down to the lowest place of honor. On the other hand, persons are exalted when they take a place of lower honor and then are publicly invited to move up to a place of higher honor.
Thesis: Those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humiliated.
Theme: The humble are blessed.
Key Words in the Passage
1. "Leader of the Pharisees." (v. 1) Perhaps the host was the ruler of the local synagogue. The Pharisees were a closed group. It was customary for a visiting dignitary to be checked out to see if he could be recognized as a part of the group of Pharisees.
2. "A Meal on the Sabbath." (v. 1) It was not a violation of the Sabbath law to have a meal on that day. The food was prepared the day before so that no work was involved in the preparation of it on the Sabbath. It was seen as a good work to entertain prominent guests.
3. "Watching Him Closely." (v. 1) It is not entirely clear whether they were watching him more closely than they would usually. It does seem from the following incident of healing on the Sabbath that they may have been seeking to incriminate him.
4. "Chose the Places of Honor." (v. 7) The custom of eating a meal was to have something like couches where the persons ate in a semi-reclining position. The places of honor would either be at the head of the table or to the right and left of the host as he ate at a more central position.
5. "In Disgrace." (v. 9) In English we would probably play on the difference between being humble, which is acceptable, and being humiliated, which is a disgrace. Their pride led them to public shame.
6. "Exalt Themselves ... Humbled." (v. 11) Some persons tend to evaluate themselves more highly than they should. As a consequence they are brought down when others evaluate them more accurately.
7. "Do not Invite ..." (v. 12) Jesus is not suggesting that you should never eat with relatives or rich friends. In the context of a Pharisee who invites a prominent guest and excludes the needy, such as the man with dropsy, Jesus tells him that he is not really doing good works. If he wants to do good works, he should help the needy who can't offer anything to him in return.
8. "The Resurrection of the Righteous." (v. 14) Jesus does not necessarily suggest that only the righteous will be resurrected. Rather the point is that the blessing for unrewarded good works will be rectified in the resurrection of the righteous.
Contemplation
Issues and Insights
1. A Christian Etiquette. Is there a Christian etiquette? That may be an appropriate question to raise. It involves more than one issue actually. It goes beyond the form that is used to express it, such as the place persons seek at a dinner, at a church function, or in any gathering. A central concern is the accurate assessment of a person's self-worth. True humility is an awareness of who you are. It has something to do with the high value of all human life.
Closely related to the accurate assessment of oneself and the awareness of the worth of all human life is the respect for others. The Christian should show deference to the worth of others. Does that not mean that persons do not push their self- interests ahead of others? When choice positions are available, a person should first consider whether others should have precedence unless some functional reason requires one to take the lead.
2. Self-Effacement and Assertiveness. The American culture with its emphasis on competition encourages assertiveness. Should Christians make a distinction between a false self- effacement which denies their self-worth and a kind of assertiveness that has to be number one or to receive priority whenever possible?
A person should not always be a victim because of a lack of assertiveness. When is it appropriate for persons to insist on their rights as opposed to deferring to others? When is it proper and in the interest of others' rights to claim them for oneself?
Nineteenth century revivalistic preaching sometimes tried to bring conversion by calling sinners a worm in comparison to the glory and majesty of God. Is that "worm's eye" view of self healthy? Is it only of some validity when persons compare themselves to God, but not valid as an evaluation of self in relation to other people?
3. Expecting Rewards. Jesus addresses the issue of doing good in order to be rewarded as opposed to finding the blessing in just doing the deeds themselves. Some people have read Jesus' teachings on repayment to mean that all gifts and all good deeds should be done anonymously.
When does giving recognition for good deeds lead to pride and the kind of exaltation that can lead to humiliation? Should the church never honor persons who perform tasks, whether as paid staff or as volunteers? When is recognition improper and when is it a due acknowledgement of appreciation that is deserved?
Is it a question of what the expectation of the person performing the good work is and not the acknowledgment by others of the deeds done? Can a person receive the praise and appreciation in a humble attitude?
4. False Humility. Can an attempt to be humble lead one into the trap of false humility? Humility can often be paradoxical. If persons are aware of their humility, does that indicate that they are proud of it? When people say how poorly they have done something or point out their imperfections are they really fishing for compliments? Are they really hoping that people will deny how imperfect they are and affirm their worth? How should we react to such persons?
5. The Resurrection of the Righteous. Some have assumed that Jesus' reference to the resurrection of the righteous means that only they will be resurrected. The unrighteous will not be resurrected.
In the related scriptures cited above, note is taken of the reference to Paul's hope that both the righteous and the unrighteous will be resurrected (Acts 24:15). Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 would imply a resurrection of both.
The danger in the teaching about the resurrection of the righteous to blessing and the unrighteous to judgment is that people will become proud that they are among the righteous. Given the surprised saints and sinners in the parable, a considerable amount of humility should temper any tendency to pride that a person is among the righteous and others are not!
Homily Hints
1. Watched Closely. (v. 1) Christians should live a life that is transparent enough to stand scrutiny.
A. A Life of Integrity. Confession of faith and performance of deeds should be closely enough related that they confirm each other.
B. A Living Witness. If a picture is worth a thousand words, acts of love and compassion may pass the test better than ten thousand words.
C. Standing with Jesus. A life standing with Jesus need not be ashamed regardless of the world's view of it.
2. Places of Honor. (v. 7) Where do Christians find the places of honor?
A. The World's Places of Honor
B. The Christian's Places of Honor
C. Called to a Higher Place
3. Places of Honor. (v. 11) Is this a paradox or a dilemma? How can the Christian join humility and exaltation?
A. Humbled in Self-Assessment. The Christian recognizes that any achievement of real and eternal worth is primarily because of God's grace, not self-achievement.
B. A Servant Humility. Jesus came as a servant and gave first priority to servanthood, not to domination of others.
C. Exalted with Christ. Just as Jesus was exalted because of his obedience as a slave, our exaltation comes as we identify most completely with him.
4. Invited to the Banquet. (vv. 12-14) The thrust of the servant can be threefold.
A. Whom Do We Invite? How do we invite the poor and needy to share our goods and feast with us?
B. Inviting to the Lord's Table. How do we invite others who may not now seem worthy to share the Lord's table with us?
C. Receiving the Invitation Humbly. Jesus has invited us to the banquet feast. We accept despite the fact that we were unworthy before repentance and renewal by grace.
5. Rewards for Righteousness. (v. 14)
A. No Good Deed Is Unrewarded
B. Righteousness Is its Own Reward
C. Blessed in the Resurrection
Contact
Points of Contact
1. Worship Etiquette. Is it a false humility that leads people to sit in the last pew of the church? This often puts the preacher in the position of preaching to an empty space of several rows. It is often difficult to get people to move forward in a meeting even when asked. Yet it is easier to speak to them and to carry on discussion of issues when that is appropriate to the kind of meeting held.
Is it thoughtlessness, false humility, or laziness that causes people to plunk themselves down at the beginning of a row of chairs or a pew? It makes later comers crawl over them to get to a seat. It also often leaves an empty space in the middle of the sanctuary, again having the speaker address an empty space. Sometimes it is appropriate for persons to sit at the end of a row. They may need to get out easily to do something needed in the course of a service. Some people may also have difficulty maneuvering into the center of a row. These should be respected.
Does our television generation tend to make people comfortable talking during the playing of music or even while people are speaking? Do they get used to talking or engaging in other activities while people are on the television screen? They then transfer that behavior to public meetings, unaware of how it annoys or distracts from other people's enjoyment or participation in the service. At a minimum it is rude to those leading the service.
How does the church address worship etiquette?
2. Self-Exalting or Exalting by Grace. A distinction can be made between exalting self and the exaltation over the work of grace granted. Self-exalting is a form of boasting or bragging about one's achievements. That is an expression of pride. It may have its own reward in the approval received from others. It does run the risk of alienating others. It also gives payment in full and does not give the fullest blessing of anonymous actions.
Exalting over the work of grace that has transformed life or given blessings and joys may offer a testimony that can be helpful to others. It may attract them to trust the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
It is a fine line to walk between exalting self and exalting over the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Social Climbing. Some people use the church as a means for social climbing. They join the church that will give them connections. It is usually a church that is characterized by people who are a step or two up from the social and economic class from which the person is coming. They hope that the identity with the church will give them enhanced social status or economic opportunities.
That reason for joining the church is the same kind of seeking a higher place as at a wedding feast. It is a form of prostituting Christianity. It is using it for benefits that it was not intended to give. It tends to make of the church a social club rather than a community of those seeking to follow Jesus in discipleship.
The church needs to be aware of the danger of being used for social climbing. It needs to work at getting such members to make a fuller, better, and more honest commitment.
4. True Humility. True humility acknowledges the dependence on God's grace to become our real selves. We are then aware that our achievements are not basically from our own efforts. In fact, they come in spite of our own natural tendencies.
When honors are given, we then recognize that we receive them by grace. True humility means that we are ready to serve without having to receive credit for what we do. When we do receive honor it becomes an opportunity to give praise and thanksgiving for the blessings that flow from the Holy Spirit acting through us.
5. Christian Hospitality. Jesus calls us not to seek repayment for our hospitality. We ought to extend it to those who are in such need that they are in no position to reciprocate.
This principle of offering our hospitality can be extended to many other areas than just a banquet. A movement is afoot in this country to promote "random acts of kindness." Those who promote it propose doing something for strangers for no particular reason. It may be paying for the person ahead of you in the check-out line. It may be picking up the check of a family at a restaurant. It may be paying the parking ticket for another car.
Random acts of kindness should not be a new or novel idea for Christians. It is what Jesus proposed in telling his host that he should invite to the banquet people who can't return the invitation.
That may mean sending the Christmas greeting to the person who needs support but never sends you a card. It means sending the note of consolation to a grieving family. It means providing a scholarship for a student who does not know you.
Many are the ways that Christians know the unrepaid blessing of random acts of kindness.
Illustrative Materials
1. Humility and Humiliation.
A. A number of sayings refer to humiliation: "Eat crow," "Eat dirt," "Eat humble pie," and "Diss."
B. Someone has suggested that modern persons are more bothered by embarrassment than they are by the guilt of sin.
2. Offense of Honor. Newt Gingrich was highly offended and later obstructed agreements with the White House because of a perceived slight when returning from the funeral of assassinated Prime Minister Rabin of Israel. He resented the fact that he and Robert Dole had to leave the airplane by the rear exit instead of the front exit with President Clinton. He also complained because President Clinton talked with reporters at the front of the plane rather than coming back to talk with him and Robert Dole about budget issues.
3. Gandhi and Humility. When Gandhi traveled to England to negotiate for independence for India, he came in his typical loin cloth dress. He said that the British leaders showed up in their "plus fours." He came in his "Minus Fours." Also, on the ship en route to England he discovered that his compatriots had brought several trunks of clothes. At the next port he had most of them shipped backed to India. They were too ostentatious.
4. Reciprocating. The tendency of people only to act when they are repaid is found in two popular sayings:
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
One hand washes the other.
5. Table Arrangements. When negotiations were taking place to try to settle the war in Vietnam, a considerable amount of time was required in the preliminary talks before serious discussion of issues could take place. The focus of these discussions was on the table arrangements. Could representatives of the Viet Cong sit at the same table as the representatives of the North Vietnam, the South Vietnam, and the U.S. governments? The dispute was settled by having the Viet Cong seated at a side table.
Additional discussion also centered on the arrangement of seating at the table. Questions of honor were involved and no one wanted to be humble.
In diplomatic relations generally a protocol officer has a major assignment to be sensitive to proper seating arrangements at all meetings, including formal meals.
Jesus also had some words about table etiquette. They had less to do with how to behave in polite society. They had to do with the proper relationship to yourself and to others. His advice had more to do with the attitude of pride expressed by where persons wanted to sit at the table. The parable for today deals more with the spiritual state shown at the table than how to know the conventions of civilized eating.
Context
Context of Luke 14
Luke reports in chapter 14 about three different types of meals and Jesus' actions or accounts of them.
Luke 14:1-6 -- Jesus eats at the house of a leading Pharisee.
Luke 14:7-14 -- A parable of people at a wedding feast.
Luke 14:15-24 -- A great dinner or banquet that refers to eating in the kingdom of God.
In each of these accounts Jesus makes a point about proper attitudes and actions.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Jeremiah 2:4-13) God poses a question to the Israelites. Why do the people who have received so generously from God's hands no longer follow him? God looks around. He sees no other people abandoning their traditional gods, even though they are no gods. The people of Israel have forsaken God and are creating their own source of values rather than accepting the real ones given by God.
The Second Lesson. (Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16) The writer of the letter calls the Christians to continue to practice mutual love. What that means is spelled out in terms of hospitality, prison visitation, marriage, and love of money. Jesus is the constant standard of reference in ethical behavior. By following him and doing good they will show proper praise to God.
Gospel. (Luke 14:1, 7-14) Jesus teaches about humility in receiving hospitality. He advises the participants in a wedding feast not to seek the honored place near the host. If they do, they may be embarrassed by being asked to move farther away. On the other hand, taking a place of low honor, they may receive more recognition by being asked to move up. He adds advice as to whom to offer hospitality so as not to expect to be repaid for it.
Psalm. (Psalm 81:1, 10-16) The message is similar to the first reading. The people forget the graciousness of God in the past. If they will only return, they will be treated with high favor.
Context of Related Scripture
Psalm 37:11 -- The meek shall inherit the land.
Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Waiting to be called up to the king's presence.
Matthew 5:5 -- The meek will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:12 -- Your reward is great in heaven.
Matthew 6:4 -- The Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 23:12 -- Those who exalt themselves are humbled and the reverse.
Acts 24:15 -- The resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous.
Philippians 2:8-9 -- Jesus humbled and exalted.
1 Peter 5:5 -- Clothe yourselves with humility.
James 4:6 -- Oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble.
Content
Content of the Pericope
Luke 14:1 -- This verse sets the context for the chapter where Jesus engages in a controversial action and table talk.
Luke 14:7 -- Jesus observes the rush of guests to seek the places of greatest honor at the table. Their actions give rise to the parable about seating at a wedding feast.
Luke 14:8-11 -- The parable about humility and honor.
Luke 14:12-15 -- Jesus admonishes his host to consider whom he invites to his meal and the consequences of blessing for inviting those who cannot repay his actions.
Precis of the Parable
After observing how the guests of a leading Pharisee try to occupy the places of honor at the table, Jesus tells a parable about proper table etiquette. He says that persons who seat themselves at the places of highest honor may be embarrassed and humiliated when they are asked to move down to the lowest place of honor. On the other hand, persons are exalted when they take a place of lower honor and then are publicly invited to move up to a place of higher honor.
Thesis: Those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humiliated.
Theme: The humble are blessed.
Key Words in the Passage
1. "Leader of the Pharisees." (v. 1) Perhaps the host was the ruler of the local synagogue. The Pharisees were a closed group. It was customary for a visiting dignitary to be checked out to see if he could be recognized as a part of the group of Pharisees.
2. "A Meal on the Sabbath." (v. 1) It was not a violation of the Sabbath law to have a meal on that day. The food was prepared the day before so that no work was involved in the preparation of it on the Sabbath. It was seen as a good work to entertain prominent guests.
3. "Watching Him Closely." (v. 1) It is not entirely clear whether they were watching him more closely than they would usually. It does seem from the following incident of healing on the Sabbath that they may have been seeking to incriminate him.
4. "Chose the Places of Honor." (v. 7) The custom of eating a meal was to have something like couches where the persons ate in a semi-reclining position. The places of honor would either be at the head of the table or to the right and left of the host as he ate at a more central position.
5. "In Disgrace." (v. 9) In English we would probably play on the difference between being humble, which is acceptable, and being humiliated, which is a disgrace. Their pride led them to public shame.
6. "Exalt Themselves ... Humbled." (v. 11) Some persons tend to evaluate themselves more highly than they should. As a consequence they are brought down when others evaluate them more accurately.
7. "Do not Invite ..." (v. 12) Jesus is not suggesting that you should never eat with relatives or rich friends. In the context of a Pharisee who invites a prominent guest and excludes the needy, such as the man with dropsy, Jesus tells him that he is not really doing good works. If he wants to do good works, he should help the needy who can't offer anything to him in return.
8. "The Resurrection of the Righteous." (v. 14) Jesus does not necessarily suggest that only the righteous will be resurrected. Rather the point is that the blessing for unrewarded good works will be rectified in the resurrection of the righteous.
Contemplation
Issues and Insights
1. A Christian Etiquette. Is there a Christian etiquette? That may be an appropriate question to raise. It involves more than one issue actually. It goes beyond the form that is used to express it, such as the place persons seek at a dinner, at a church function, or in any gathering. A central concern is the accurate assessment of a person's self-worth. True humility is an awareness of who you are. It has something to do with the high value of all human life.
Closely related to the accurate assessment of oneself and the awareness of the worth of all human life is the respect for others. The Christian should show deference to the worth of others. Does that not mean that persons do not push their self- interests ahead of others? When choice positions are available, a person should first consider whether others should have precedence unless some functional reason requires one to take the lead.
2. Self-Effacement and Assertiveness. The American culture with its emphasis on competition encourages assertiveness. Should Christians make a distinction between a false self- effacement which denies their self-worth and a kind of assertiveness that has to be number one or to receive priority whenever possible?
A person should not always be a victim because of a lack of assertiveness. When is it appropriate for persons to insist on their rights as opposed to deferring to others? When is it proper and in the interest of others' rights to claim them for oneself?
Nineteenth century revivalistic preaching sometimes tried to bring conversion by calling sinners a worm in comparison to the glory and majesty of God. Is that "worm's eye" view of self healthy? Is it only of some validity when persons compare themselves to God, but not valid as an evaluation of self in relation to other people?
3. Expecting Rewards. Jesus addresses the issue of doing good in order to be rewarded as opposed to finding the blessing in just doing the deeds themselves. Some people have read Jesus' teachings on repayment to mean that all gifts and all good deeds should be done anonymously.
When does giving recognition for good deeds lead to pride and the kind of exaltation that can lead to humiliation? Should the church never honor persons who perform tasks, whether as paid staff or as volunteers? When is recognition improper and when is it a due acknowledgement of appreciation that is deserved?
Is it a question of what the expectation of the person performing the good work is and not the acknowledgment by others of the deeds done? Can a person receive the praise and appreciation in a humble attitude?
4. False Humility. Can an attempt to be humble lead one into the trap of false humility? Humility can often be paradoxical. If persons are aware of their humility, does that indicate that they are proud of it? When people say how poorly they have done something or point out their imperfections are they really fishing for compliments? Are they really hoping that people will deny how imperfect they are and affirm their worth? How should we react to such persons?
5. The Resurrection of the Righteous. Some have assumed that Jesus' reference to the resurrection of the righteous means that only they will be resurrected. The unrighteous will not be resurrected.
In the related scriptures cited above, note is taken of the reference to Paul's hope that both the righteous and the unrighteous will be resurrected (Acts 24:15). Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 would imply a resurrection of both.
The danger in the teaching about the resurrection of the righteous to blessing and the unrighteous to judgment is that people will become proud that they are among the righteous. Given the surprised saints and sinners in the parable, a considerable amount of humility should temper any tendency to pride that a person is among the righteous and others are not!
Homily Hints
1. Watched Closely. (v. 1) Christians should live a life that is transparent enough to stand scrutiny.
A. A Life of Integrity. Confession of faith and performance of deeds should be closely enough related that they confirm each other.
B. A Living Witness. If a picture is worth a thousand words, acts of love and compassion may pass the test better than ten thousand words.
C. Standing with Jesus. A life standing with Jesus need not be ashamed regardless of the world's view of it.
2. Places of Honor. (v. 7) Where do Christians find the places of honor?
A. The World's Places of Honor
B. The Christian's Places of Honor
C. Called to a Higher Place
3. Places of Honor. (v. 11) Is this a paradox or a dilemma? How can the Christian join humility and exaltation?
A. Humbled in Self-Assessment. The Christian recognizes that any achievement of real and eternal worth is primarily because of God's grace, not self-achievement.
B. A Servant Humility. Jesus came as a servant and gave first priority to servanthood, not to domination of others.
C. Exalted with Christ. Just as Jesus was exalted because of his obedience as a slave, our exaltation comes as we identify most completely with him.
4. Invited to the Banquet. (vv. 12-14) The thrust of the servant can be threefold.
A. Whom Do We Invite? How do we invite the poor and needy to share our goods and feast with us?
B. Inviting to the Lord's Table. How do we invite others who may not now seem worthy to share the Lord's table with us?
C. Receiving the Invitation Humbly. Jesus has invited us to the banquet feast. We accept despite the fact that we were unworthy before repentance and renewal by grace.
5. Rewards for Righteousness. (v. 14)
A. No Good Deed Is Unrewarded
B. Righteousness Is its Own Reward
C. Blessed in the Resurrection
Contact
Points of Contact
1. Worship Etiquette. Is it a false humility that leads people to sit in the last pew of the church? This often puts the preacher in the position of preaching to an empty space of several rows. It is often difficult to get people to move forward in a meeting even when asked. Yet it is easier to speak to them and to carry on discussion of issues when that is appropriate to the kind of meeting held.
Is it thoughtlessness, false humility, or laziness that causes people to plunk themselves down at the beginning of a row of chairs or a pew? It makes later comers crawl over them to get to a seat. It also often leaves an empty space in the middle of the sanctuary, again having the speaker address an empty space. Sometimes it is appropriate for persons to sit at the end of a row. They may need to get out easily to do something needed in the course of a service. Some people may also have difficulty maneuvering into the center of a row. These should be respected.
Does our television generation tend to make people comfortable talking during the playing of music or even while people are speaking? Do they get used to talking or engaging in other activities while people are on the television screen? They then transfer that behavior to public meetings, unaware of how it annoys or distracts from other people's enjoyment or participation in the service. At a minimum it is rude to those leading the service.
How does the church address worship etiquette?
2. Self-Exalting or Exalting by Grace. A distinction can be made between exalting self and the exaltation over the work of grace granted. Self-exalting is a form of boasting or bragging about one's achievements. That is an expression of pride. It may have its own reward in the approval received from others. It does run the risk of alienating others. It also gives payment in full and does not give the fullest blessing of anonymous actions.
Exalting over the work of grace that has transformed life or given blessings and joys may offer a testimony that can be helpful to others. It may attract them to trust the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
It is a fine line to walk between exalting self and exalting over the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Social Climbing. Some people use the church as a means for social climbing. They join the church that will give them connections. It is usually a church that is characterized by people who are a step or two up from the social and economic class from which the person is coming. They hope that the identity with the church will give them enhanced social status or economic opportunities.
That reason for joining the church is the same kind of seeking a higher place as at a wedding feast. It is a form of prostituting Christianity. It is using it for benefits that it was not intended to give. It tends to make of the church a social club rather than a community of those seeking to follow Jesus in discipleship.
The church needs to be aware of the danger of being used for social climbing. It needs to work at getting such members to make a fuller, better, and more honest commitment.
4. True Humility. True humility acknowledges the dependence on God's grace to become our real selves. We are then aware that our achievements are not basically from our own efforts. In fact, they come in spite of our own natural tendencies.
When honors are given, we then recognize that we receive them by grace. True humility means that we are ready to serve without having to receive credit for what we do. When we do receive honor it becomes an opportunity to give praise and thanksgiving for the blessings that flow from the Holy Spirit acting through us.
5. Christian Hospitality. Jesus calls us not to seek repayment for our hospitality. We ought to extend it to those who are in such need that they are in no position to reciprocate.
This principle of offering our hospitality can be extended to many other areas than just a banquet. A movement is afoot in this country to promote "random acts of kindness." Those who promote it propose doing something for strangers for no particular reason. It may be paying for the person ahead of you in the check-out line. It may be picking up the check of a family at a restaurant. It may be paying the parking ticket for another car.
Random acts of kindness should not be a new or novel idea for Christians. It is what Jesus proposed in telling his host that he should invite to the banquet people who can't return the invitation.
That may mean sending the Christmas greeting to the person who needs support but never sends you a card. It means sending the note of consolation to a grieving family. It means providing a scholarship for a student who does not know you.
Many are the ways that Christians know the unrepaid blessing of random acts of kindness.
Illustrative Materials
1. Humility and Humiliation.
A. A number of sayings refer to humiliation: "Eat crow," "Eat dirt," "Eat humble pie," and "Diss."
B. Someone has suggested that modern persons are more bothered by embarrassment than they are by the guilt of sin.
2. Offense of Honor. Newt Gingrich was highly offended and later obstructed agreements with the White House because of a perceived slight when returning from the funeral of assassinated Prime Minister Rabin of Israel. He resented the fact that he and Robert Dole had to leave the airplane by the rear exit instead of the front exit with President Clinton. He also complained because President Clinton talked with reporters at the front of the plane rather than coming back to talk with him and Robert Dole about budget issues.
3. Gandhi and Humility. When Gandhi traveled to England to negotiate for independence for India, he came in his typical loin cloth dress. He said that the British leaders showed up in their "plus fours." He came in his "Minus Fours." Also, on the ship en route to England he discovered that his compatriots had brought several trunks of clothes. At the next port he had most of them shipped backed to India. They were too ostentatious.
4. Reciprocating. The tendency of people only to act when they are repaid is found in two popular sayings:
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
One hand washes the other.
5. Table Arrangements. When negotiations were taking place to try to settle the war in Vietnam, a considerable amount of time was required in the preliminary talks before serious discussion of issues could take place. The focus of these discussions was on the table arrangements. Could representatives of the Viet Cong sit at the same table as the representatives of the North Vietnam, the South Vietnam, and the U.S. governments? The dispute was settled by having the Viet Cong seated at a side table.
Additional discussion also centered on the arrangement of seating at the table. Questions of honor were involved and no one wanted to be humble.
In diplomatic relations generally a protocol officer has a major assignment to be sensitive to proper seating arrangements at all meetings, including formal meals.
