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We Protestants automatically assume that the Pharisees are the Catholics. They are the self-righteous people who have made Christianity a form of legalistic religion, thereby destroying the free grace of the Gospel. We Protestants are the tax collectors, knowing that we are sinners and that our lives depend upon God's free grace.
Stanley Hauerwas
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques the tendency to label others as self-righteous while recognizing one's own need for grace.

In this quote, Stanley Hauerwas contrasts the perception of Pharisees and tax collectors within the Christian context. He suggests that many Protestants view Catholics as the self-righteous Pharisees who adhere to a legalistic interpretation of faith, while positioning themselves as the humble tax collectors who acknowledge their sinfulness and reliance on God's grace. This highlights a deeper reflection on the nature of faith, grace, and humility in religious belief.

Themes

GraceHumilityFaithSelf-RighteousnessChristianityPhariseesTax Collectors

In practice

Example use cases

During a church discussion on grace, one might use this quote to illustrate the danger of self-righteousness.

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The most creative social strategy we have to offer is the church. Here we show the world a manner of life the world can never achieve through social coercion or governmental action. We serve the world by showing it something that it is not, namely, a place where God is forming a family out of strangers.
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