self-rightseness

[wiggbuggie]

hello, (excuze me for my terrible spelling) but can anyone give me an example of what is self-rightseness?

 

[TrustingmyLord]

adjective confident of one's own righteousness, esp. when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.

Examples would be saying or thinking things like:

"I must surely be a better Christian than so-and-so, cause I dont drink alcohol." (or smoke, or wear THOSE kinds of clothes, etc.)

"I am better than that type of behavior, I would never do something so sinful!"

Basically its saying or thinking, well, acting like you are better than anyone else. We all sin. We all fall right when we think we are doing good in our walk.

Every now and then there is a fine line. I can choose not to hang out on a regular basis with people who live a wild lifestyle, or behave in a way I disagree with, I believe it is right to avoid seeing them everyday and being close friends with them. BUT, when times arise when I must interact with them, I should definitely treat them with love and kindness, and not look down on them, for that would be acting self-righteous.

 

[wiggbuggie]

i see thank you i need to change my opinion on some things, i get judgmental and uneasy thoughts when I hear a girl is pregnant before marriage etc.

 

[TrustingmyLord]

Yeah, we all have our moments of self-righteousness. Its a process of keeping oneself in check. Realizing we are all sinful, each of us in different ways, for we all have different weaknesses.

I suppose it is the difference between believing something is sinful, and looking down on those who do these things.

 

[LifeInChrist]

adjective confident of one's own righteousness, esp. when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.

Examples would be saying or thinking things like:

"I must surely be a better Christian than so-and-so, cause I dont drink alcohol." (or smoke, or wear THOSE kinds of clothes, etc.)

"I am better than that type of behavior, I would never do something so sinful!"

Basically its saying or thinking, well, acting like you are better than anyone else. We all sin. We all fall right when we think we are doing good in our walk.

Every now and then there is a fine line. I can choose not to hang out on a regular basis with people who live a wild lifestyle, or behave in a way I disagree with, I believe it is right to avoid seeing them everyday and being close friends with them. BUT, when times arise when I must interact with them, I should definitely treat them with love and kindness, and not look down on them, for that would be acting self-righteous.

Excellent reply! Mostly agree with it!

Self-righteous people can make fun of Christlike people just like the Self-righteous scribes and/or pharisees made fun of Lord Jesus Christ according to the verse below -

Matthew 11:19 - The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

And the verse states that "wisdom is justified of its children" meaning "God knows how to ultimately justify His children even though they may be ridiculed or despised for some of their idiosyncrasies or eccentricities".

The story of the Pharisee and the Publican is also useful to read in this regard -

Luke 18:9-14 - And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Lord bless.

 

[LifeInChrist]

i see thank you i need to change my opinion on some things, i get judgmental and uneasy thoughts when I hear a girl is pregnant before marriage etc.

Many of us are guilty of being judgemental and being self-righteous now and then in life.

"Good Living" or "Righteous Living" can make us judgemental and self-righteous.

Those who have failed to be righteous and good in the past are the ones who are usually not judgemental and self-righteous.

This is the reason the Bible has a verse of caution to those who think self-righteously, lest they might fall into sin.

1 Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

I had a strong judgemental attitude in the past years but God has reduced it over the years. This was also because of the numerous failures i have undergone in the past.

I still struggle with the judgemental and criticising thoughts and self-righteous thoughts which come into my mind sometimes.

Some Bible verses to think about -

Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

John 7:24 - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

May the Lord deliver us from such wrongly judgemental and self-righteous attitudes.

Lord bless.

 

[BeautifulWorshipper]

I'm not quite sure how to explain it sorry

Katie x

 

[TrustingmyLord]

Those who have failed to be righteous and good in the past are the ones who are usually not judgemental and self-righteous.

Amen to that. God teaches us. We learn. Self-righteousness is a form of pride. I am both. I am humble. I am proud. I struggle just like everyone else. Everytime I begin to think these prideful thoughts, take on a self-righteous attitude, can you guess what happens? I FALL. God then exposes to me all of my own faults and sins and I am reminded that I am just as bad as anyone else, yet loved just as much as well.

Many times when we fall into the trap of being self-righteous, no one knows it, just us and God. Even if we dont say what we are thinking, all these prideful thoughts really affect us and our relationship with God.

 

[JPPT1974]

I feel bad when I am judgemential
And act as better than thou!

 

[LifeInChrist]

I feel bad when I am judgemential
And act as better than thou!

Many of us become judgemental and also act as better-than-thou sometimes including me. I think it is a part or a phase in the Christian life and growth. But, feeling bad for it is what would be appreciated in the sight of God imo.

Lord bless.

 

[fieldlily]

Generally to me it is an attitude where we consider ourselves to be so right that we are not open to hear the viewpoints of others. It can apply to churches and groups of people as well as an individual. It is a narrowness of mind, but most of all heart in which the self-righteous person thinks they are always right and unless someone agrees with their point of view they are considered wrong.

I think a good cure for self-righteousness is to get right with God. Let His righteousness take over...how..???

Assuming one is already Christian and committed...we can get over ourselves by reading the example in the Gospels set by Jesus. By considering others better than our selves and, most of all, by daily prayer and growth in Christ and His Word and reaching out to others in Christian charity.

None of the above negates that we have healthy self-esteem. Once we begin to know who we really are in Christ and realize our identity is in "the Beloved." we grow in maturity, wisdom, and the righteousness of God.

Peace...

 

[wanderphilos]

hello, (excuze me for my terrible spelling) but can anyone give me an example of what is self-rightseness?

For me recognizing sin and jugment of sin and segregating the person from the sin is the finest line of determining self-righteousness. You can say it is a sin to steal, to rape, to murder, to envy, to partake in homosexual acts, to fornicate, to be adulterous, or gluttonous, or whatever...choose your sin. The individual doing the sin will undoubtably think that you are condeming them rather than the sin...always make certain to differentiate between the two. Even pointing out sin though can be considered self-righteous...it is a difficult thing. In the end all you can really do is point the finger to yourself and say what is sin to you and what you won't do...but not tell anyone else what they should or shouldn't do...just to avoid the pitfall of the stigma of being self-righteous.

 

[fieldlily]

For me recognizing sin and jugment of sin and segregating the person from the sin is the finest line of determining self-righteousness. You can say it is a sin to steal, to rape, to murder, to envy, to partake in homosexual acts, to fornicate, to be adulterous, or gluttonous, or whatever...choose your sin. The individual doing the sin will undoubtably think that you are condeming them rather than the sin...always make certain to differentiate between the two. Even pointing out sin though can be considered self-righteous...it is a difficult thing. In the end all you can really do is point the finger to yourself and say what is sin to you and what you won't do...but not tell anyone else what they should or shouldn't do...just to avoid the pitfall of the stigma of being self-righteous.

This is a very good example and brings to mind:

I think it can be self-righteous when praying for someone especially in their presence when we start preaching to them in the prayer. And I ask myself if I think about doing that...doesn't God know their hearts? Prayer is to lift their needs up to God...he is the one to change them not us by the preaching type prayer.

Preaching is preaching and should be done in that context. Those who preach in their prayer to others ears are sometimes doing more harm than good. Although sometimes if done with much love...it can be good to preach a little in the prayer. It is a sensitive thing in which we should be careful not to talk down to others in the prayers or give a long personal testimony instead of praying for them. Of course, if they ask for more than prayer...it can be different. Depends.

Always good to pray for God's will in these individual situations and not major on someone's faults by praying at them in a self-righteous way.

Hope this makes sense. I know what I am trying to say, but can't quite find the right words to say it.

Maybe my problem is with getting "self-righteous" in prayer. Sort of like the story of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee thanked God he was so much better off and probably better than the Publican. The Publican just acknowledged he was a sinner. One was proud and self-righteous. The other was humble and honest.

 

[JPPT1974]

I am not worth anything
Unless I am worth the Lord
And that He sees me as someone
That He can use in His Kingdom
And on the earth!
Servant of His!