Why are some Christians self righteous?

[Dave Slayer]

Why are some Christians self righteous? What does the Bible have to say about this?

 

[Vic C.]

It's a battle between Spirit and ego, Dave. :yes

 

[NooneSpecial]

Pride.

 

[rosconeko]

Why am I not surprised that barely no-one replied to this. Everybody here keeps dodging the real stuff and only posting on threads where they feel they can correct other people. I think this is an extremely important topic that deals directly with how non-believers view Christians and in return pushes more people away

 

[JoJo]

Why am I not surprised that barely no-one replied to this. Everybody here keeps dodging the real stuff and only posting on threads where they feel they can correct other people. I think this is an extremely important topic that deals directly with how non-believers view Christians and in return pushes more people away

So what are your thoughts, rosconeko? Why are some Christians self-righteous?

 

[justvisiting]

It's true Christians can become that way, but what is sometimes perceived as self-righteousness, is only the desire to state what God's word says on matters. The unsaved will perceive just about anything that is contrary to invading their comfort zone as being self-righteous. A Christian has to weigh all things. We have to be determined to follow what is truth. That is what God requires of us.
If we only made friends with the world without telling them the truth, we would not really be their friends at all. Anyone that can make friends with everyone, has probably missed what the Holy Spirit told them. We do have to show the wisdom of Paul though...I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means win some.
In a world full of sin...oftentimes, sharing the truth...does become a battle. That's why we pray for the unsaved.
As for disagreement among Christians? We are required to be as Bereans...search the scriptures daily to see whether such things are so. If we didn't have this defensive position, there would be heresy everywhere. I have no qualms with other believers questioning what I say or even their pastors, as long as they are receptive to what scripture says. Go ahead. Check it out for yourselves. That's an edict from God.(study to show yourselves approved unto God). He doesn't want you to be on milk all your life. Sooner or later we have to exercise discernment and be ready for meat. (deeper truths). That requires being watchful and discerning...not necessarily being self-righteous.

 

[VenomFangX]

Some christians are self righteous, but not most of us; I think most of us live in the real world doing normal jobs and so on. I like to do normal boy stuff (well normal in my country) like hunting and Rodeo. Where I grew up and still growing up in my green Valley we are taught to be humble, and to me self righteousness is the opposite of that. I have my faults like anyone else, and yeah need to be told about them in a polite way, but in a friendly manner not from someone who thinks they also can walk on water like our Lord.

 

[GojuBrian]

Why am I not surprised that barely no-one replied to this. Everybody here keeps dodging the real stuff and only posting on threads where they feel they can correct other people. I think this is an extremely important topic that deals directly with how non-believers view Christians and in return pushes more people away

Does anyone else see the irony here? LOL!!! :rolling

 

[justvisiting]

Some christians are self righteous, but not most of us; I think most of us live in the real world doing normal jobs and so on. I like to do normal boy stuff (well normal in my country) like hunting and Rodeo. Where I grew up and still growing up in my green Valley we are taught to be humble, and to me self righteousness is the opposite of that. I have my faults like anyone else, and yeah need to be told about them in a polite way, but in a friendly manner not from someone who thinks they also can walk on water like our Lord.

Sometimes, I think it is misconstrued that because we want to share truths, that we also have the "walk" to back it up. You may very well be a better Christian than others that may be more knowledgeable. The receptive Christian should still take those truths and use them.
I hope the Lord can give you wisdom and power and knowledge...to go with your belief in a humble walk.

 

[AfterTheFlood]

An interesting question. Virtually every Christian will freely declare that they are saved by grace yet fail to really understand that being "saved" isn't a compartmentalized event but rather it has a beginning that continues to the day of our blessed hope. We tend to see being saved as the day we confessed Christ and unfortunately not as the new life that confession brought. Once we repented and began this journey, every single moment of that new life is grace. We still want to do what Paul warned the Galatians against doing for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is pride. The Greek for pride speaks of self confidence which is forever at war with humility and meekness. To put it in theological terms, there are two fundamental approaches to this life after our salvation has begun. These are described by the terms "doxology(to give the glory to God) and dox astology which is a dualistic approach in which we hold that there is a participation in our sanctification by both God and us. We could go off here now on this tangent and end up not addressing the question.

So back to self confidence. This self confidence shows up as two basic forms from what I see in the word. The first is licsenteousness - this being a self confidence that we can go it totally on our own sans God at all. The second one, which is germain to the question, is rule keeping. This is the mindset which says 'I did it, why aren't you?' We construct these rules as our Christian Talmud for the same reason we construct the nomencalture(s) of biology, chemistry, and physics. By doing so we reduce grace to something tangible and effectively stagnate our new life because rules by definition have one positive outcome - you have obeyed the rule or you have not obeyed it! If you have obeyed it then there is nothing left to do, the goal has been achieved. And if someone has not achieved the goal then they must be corrected. Grace on the other hand, is life. It does not lend itself to measurables just as God can not be measured. Therein lies our conundrum, we like rules because it places the attributes of God into sub-categories and saves us from really knowing God and living in His presence. Yet grace births in us a desperate desire for nothing less than that terrifying and incredable presence. Rules bring achievment, grace brings eternal hope.

 

[Adullam]

No one is given the grace for tomorrow. The bible shows that the self-righteous thought they were part of a special group of saved ones. This idea of a superior status engenders self-righteous pride among those who feel themselves as being special. Human nature can't resist the temptation to grasp what it has always craved...immortality and special status. Favour IS deceitful. A Christian would do well to refrain from superlatives in regards to his opinion of his own destiny. Humility teaches us that we are not in fact to behave like we are God. We do not know what will become of us actually. We put our trust in the true God. He will judge.

Only the power of cross of Christ applied to our old natures can eliminate the tendency towards self-righteousness that exists by default in every one of us. Otherwise we will use any means...even Christ...to further our own agendas. Have we not resisted the requisite loss of all things in order to gain Christ? Do we not try to exploit Christ even while remaining in our old ways? Is this not the hallmark of modern Christendom?

 

[justvisiting]

No one is given the grace for tomorrow. The bible shows that the self-righteous thought they were part of a special group of saved ones. This idea of a superior status engenders self-righteous pride among those who feel themselves as being special. Human nature can't resist the temptation to grasp what it has always craved...immortality and special status. Favour IS deceitful. A Christian would do well to refrain from superlatives in regards to his opinion of his own destiny. Humility teaches us that we are not in fact to behave like we are God. We do not know what will become of us actually. We put our trust in the true God. He will judge.

Only the power of cross of Christ applied to our old natures can eliminate the tendency towards self-righteousness that exists by default in every one of us. Otherwise we will use any means...even Christ...to further our own agendas. Have we not resisted the requisite loss of all things in order to gain Christ? Do we not try to exploit Christ even while remaining in our old ways? Is this not the hallmark of modern Christendom?

You are absolutely right...the WALK... is every bit important as the TALK.

 

[AfterTheFlood]

This begs the question - what is the "walk" and who gets to define it? An ancillary question to this topic would be 'What is a hypocrite really?'

 

[Adullam]

This begs the question - what is the "walk" and who gets to define it? An ancillary question to this topic would be 'What is a hypocrite really?'

The walk could be seen as the demonstration of the faith that we are pronouncing to others. A hypocrite is one who ACTS holy while in public.....he puts on a show in order to be seen as better than he really is. Away from prying eyes he is quite different. :gah

No one becomes holy or set apart by attending church. It is the everyday walk and behaviour in the truth that will be the true testimony of the saint. A Christian is a part of a greater whole....not an individualist. Where you find one Christian you will find others who live their lives for Christ together. The family bonds of love among them are the testimony of Christ to the world.

 

[AfterTheFlood]

I largely agree yet I would say that the biggest hypocrites I've ever known are those who have have the "walk" down pat both in their public and private life but leave you with a sort of "ewwwe" feeling everytime you are around them because they are so bereft of love and joy and make a walk with God look and feel like a tortuous burden.

 

[Szolat]

In my experience not all Christians are self righteous. I have many Christian friends and we get on well with neutral topics, even on topics of religion. I think it is just a matter of human nature so to speak as I have seen many self righteous atheists as well, so this does not just apply to Christians.

 

[Ed the Ned]

Dave, I never like this question even though I think I asked it a lot when I was not a Christian. Their are Christians out there that very self righteous, but I think a bigger problem is more a perception issue. These questions generally arise in Gay, Abortion and those types of threads when Christians disagree with a more acceptable social gospel. Christians have to oppose things that are against the word of God and more importantly they have to live as Christians. I am a Christian, I am saved, yet I am a sinner.
Does it mean I am being self righeous when I oppose homosexuallity or the embracing of other religion practices into the Christian faith. I don't believe so. But other might. Perceptions differ, but if I feel my opinion would benefit I will give my two cents even if I am accused of being self righteous.

 

[Szolat]

When you oppose other people due to belief system religious or otherwise you are implying you are morally superior to them and wish to lower their rights by sanctions. When the Romans persecuted Christians by the dictates of Nero, they no doubt felt their Roman belief system was under threat by christianity (which it was) and felt justified for the atrocities. It is the same thinking that the Catholic church allow the Inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada to carry out his evil work. Torquemada was one of the most evil men in history yet he was a christian. Believing is one thing but applying that believe to impose your will in any form on someone you disagree with is arrogance and self righteousness.
Cheers

 

[Sparkey]

- Yeshua answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain King, who made a marriage feast for his son,
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.

Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have made ready my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"'

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.

When the King heard that, he was angry, and he sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy. Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.'

Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. But when the King came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?'

He was speechless.

Then the King said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.'

For many are called, but few chosen."

Why are Christians self-righteous? Who says it is only "some" ?? Let us all adorn ourselves with the wedding clothes - the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Who has apprehended unto this? It is to our shame than none can hold their hand up. But wait! As we lift our hands to Him - our hands are lifted as "holy hands". As we continue to look to Him the work that He desires and delights to perform is done.

"But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we [are] all thy people."
(Isa 64:6-9 KJV)

 

[lovely]

Self-righteousness is really an issue of trying to earn one's salvation apart from abiding in Christ. We have to learn the difference between being a Pharisee who is merely a hearer, and being changed by the Holy Spirit and becoming a doer by God's grace. When we are prideful, then thank God when He humbles us and when we can be repentant and teachable...what good gifts. Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowldege. If we fear God, and love God, then we will naturally have a desire (through His wisdom) to obey Him, but obedience is not so that we can be puffed up, or lord over others at all. In Obedience we learn to deny self, to see more of God's nature, to become one who see's through His eyes, and to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit so that we may walk in love.