The Righteous and the Self-Righteous

The Collect for tomorrow, the Third Sunday after Pentecost:

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I focus on the words, "think those things that are right, and ... do them." That brings to mind the word "righteous," a word that most often has a positive connotation. What does it mean to be righteous? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as "acting in accordance with divine or moral law." In the Old Testament, God is righteous, but some people are also referred to as righteous, beginning with Noah and Abraham. In the Prophets, righteousness is often tied to social justice, as a covenental obligation. In the Psalms, righteousness is grounded in the character of God. He is righteous, His law is righteous, and He alone credits righteousness to man. In the New Testament, the concept of righteousness is applied to Christ, and Paul urges believers to offer themselves up as" instruments of righteousness."

OK, now we've got a bit of a handle on what it means to be righteous. What about "self-righteous," a term that has a very different connotation. Back to Merriam-Webster, it's defined as "convinced of one's own righteousness, especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others." The Pharisees were self-righteous because they were convinced that they were holier than other Jews. But Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)

Christians who act as if they're better than everyone else aren't living by the teachings of Christianity. Christianity says that all people are sinners, and none can be righteous on the basis of their own behavior. Jesus said that we shouldn't act like we're better than others just to get noticed. This kind of "holier-than-thou" attitude is strongly condemned in the Bible, and is antithetical to the charity, humility and forgiveness that Jesus taught to his followers.

The opportunity for self-righteousness isn't limited to spiritual things. The "good things" mentioned in the Collect can turn into bad things if they are accompanied by too much pride. Are you a vegetarian who looks down on anyone who eats meat? Do you chastise those who don't share your political views? Are you the sort of person who volunteers at a soup kitchen, and then makes sure that everyone knows about it? Have you ever been self-righteous about something in your life? I know that I have.