Self-righteousness

[Heneni]

If we try to get a righteousness of our own, in other words, if we want to make ourselves right with god by our own efforts, by how we think it can and should be done, we end up becoming self-righteous.

There is only one way to get right with god, and that is his way.

When we were in the world, we learnt how to please people, make them dance to our tunes, or make them like us. We soon realize that there is something we can do, to make people like and accept us. When we become Christians, we could try the same thing to get into gods good books. To get favor from him. Those are self-efforts to become righteous, in other words to be in right standing with god. Sometimes we are snobs and believe that for people to get into right standing with us, they have to deserve it. And so that same kind of attitude people bring to god. They feel they have to deserve getting into his presence and then imagine that they are.

If we continue along this path, we would start to imagine that we have actually succeeded in getting into gods god books, or have acquired his favor, because we have been such good boys and girls or because we have been in sackcloth and ashes before him. Neither does the job.

What does get us into gods good books is not anything we can do, but everything that Jesus did. So god puts us into right standing with him by his effort and not by our own. When we are in right standing with god, and there is nothing between us and god, there is reconciliation and we let go of our ideas of what god would fancy we do to make him happy, and rather we let go and let god put us in that right standing and keep us there.

This is love...that HE loved us first. That puts us in right standing with him. Not our works, not our love for him, not our goody two shoe behavior, not sackcloth and ashes (without a change in heart), nothing humanly possible can put us in front of god, with him smiling down on us through our worldly wisdom of how to get on the 'inside'.

Its because God has put us in right standing with Him, that we can approach the throne of grace. Nobody that tries to approach that throne of grace by thinking they have deserved it, will be able to stand there for long enough. Not even those who come there in sackcloth and ashes with a hard heart.

When we stand in front of the throne of grace thinking that we have some reason of our own to be there, we fall from grace. Self-effort will never make us right with god, self-denial is the way to life. When we approach the throne of grace empty of self, we shall be firmly on the path of getting to know god, and as we get to know him, sin is purged out of us, because god wants to keep us in right standing with him, and wants to keep the relationship going. The reason we should be anti-sin orientated is not to become a super Christian race, but simply because it hurts our relationship with god. And when we sin god sees it, and he will purify us from it, so that we can remain at the throne of grace and have fellowship with him when we repent.

But if we have OUR own idea of what god will like, and by that come to the throne room of grace, we stand there wholly filled with pride and self-congratulations. And such a person, would simply be somebody god does not know.....and they are sent away. God recognizes the people he works inside. He knows the people that seek him. He keeps them in right standing with him, because they hunger and thirst for HIM. They let go and let god make them into what brings him pleasure. Not because they want to look great, but because god makes them great. They dont even want to be great, that is just something god makes them into by way of being close to him.

The happiest people are those that are just simply themselves before god, and before they know it, god has made them into the likeness of his son. When we have our eyes, heart and mind wholly locked onto god, the flesh, our ambition, our self-effort, our desire to be better, or our desire to put ourselves down, none of it matters. The only thing we hunger for is him. And he does the rest.

As long as we are simply ourselves with god, with a heart turned towards him, he will make us what we ought to be.

To be ourselves we don’t think:

1. Lord I am a worm...but help me anyway. - False humility?
2. Lord I have been your faithful servant for so long, please do this for me - Self-righteousness

When we are ourselves before god, his greatness so overwhelms us that we completely forget about ourselves and we think:

1. Wow...god is really awesome...look at what he has done today!
2. Gee...god is really somebody i can look up to
3. Yikes...i serve a MIGHTY god
4. Man...how I hunger and thirst for him.

That all packaged together will give us little thought as to how pathetic or great we are. JUST BE, and LET GOD. Our focus is on God, not on ourselves. Its that focus that gets us to really feel remorse for our sins, and make us into the likeness of his son.

How can we further avoid being self-righteous? What is the appeal of self-righteousness? Any ideas/comments?



Heneni

 

[DavyCrocket2003]

Wonderful wonderful post! That must have taken a long time and a lot of thought and effort. Good for you Heneni. At first I wasn't sure I agreed with your post. But after reading the whole thing I can see that it is exactly what I believe, though I would have phrased it a little differently. This was a profound part of your post in my opinion:

The reason we should be anti-sin orientated is not to become a super Christian race, but simply because it hurts our relationship with god.

I think that our own efforts can help us draw closer to God. But the key is why we are doing it. You are right, we can not make ourselves perfect. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." But when we try to do what is right because we love God and want to obey/follow him] he helps us become more like him. I believe that you are right. The knowledge of who God is and our relationship with him is key to everything else. Once we realize who he is, we naturally want to come unto him. Sorry, my words are ineloquent and disorganized but yes, I agree with what you have said.

 

[Heneni]

Wonderful wonderful post! That must have taken a long time and a lot of thought and effort. Good for you Heneni. At first I wasn't sure I agreed with your post. But after reading the whole thing I can see that it is exactly what I believe, though I would have phrased it a little differently. This was a profound part of your post in my opinion:
I think that our own efforts can help us draw closer to God. But the key is why we are doing it. You are right, we can not make ourselves perfect. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." But when we try to do what is right because we love God and want to obey/follow him] he helps us become more like him. I believe that you are right. The knowledge of who God is and our relationship with him is key to everything else. Once we realize who he is, we naturally want to come unto him. Sorry, my words are ineloquent and disorganized but yes, I agree with what you have said.

Hi davy!

Its liberating when you know that god is the one who works in us to will and to do for his good pleasure. And what greater pleasure is there but to know that we please him. I have gone through many years of trying to do that on my own. I wasnt trying to be self-righteous i was just trying to do good. But then in a twist of events something happened in my life (an event) that made me realize that all my efforts had been for nothing. I was 'sincere' but sincerely wrong.

I realised that i was trying to please god before he had had a chance to work in me to will and to do for his good pleasure. Its like i was bringing god chocolates out of the good intent of my heart but he was in reality allergic to it. LOL. So...i then realised that unless god worked in me to do and to will what will be pleasurable to him, i would never satisfy him. And that is what many christians struggle with I think. They come to a point where they think 'im never good enough, i cant live this christian life, im hopeless and useless'. And well, yes we are absolutely incapable of pleasing god unless he shows us how to please him. And what i have learnt, is that i please him greatly if i let up and let go of my own effort no matter how sincerely wrong they were, and to let him get on with the work he wants to do in me. It is gods job to make me holy and his job to make me perfect. Its my job to let him do it, and its my job to resist the devil.

That simplified things greatly and i am better of for it now. Im a work in progress, but each day that goes by im finding it easier to let god get on with what he wants to do, that which brings him great pleasure. He delights in me and I delight in him. There is PEACE between us.

Good to hear from you
God bless
Heneni

 

[DavyCrocket2003]

I think I know what you mean. It's like, we know what the commandments are, and we know we are supposed to live them. So we can spend all our time trying to keep all the commandments all the time and we'll just burn ourselves out. We of ourselves can't do it. You want to, but you just can't. We are not capable. Even Peter, the Rock said when first approached by Jesus "depart from me, for I am a sinful man." A scripture that accurately expresses my beliefs is this: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Heneni, you are coming to realize what it is like for God to have all the glory.

This path can be a lonely one, secularly speaking, though we are not alone. This is one of the signs we are very close to the end. Many men and women who claim to know Jesus and to be saved only do so from a frame of mind that they had something to do with it.

Sadly this will never do, and God teaches this is the wrong path. It is very difficult to see churches abundantly teach salvation can be gotten whenever "your" ready, but the bible does not teach that.

Furthermore, the bible is becoming less and less important, as filling the seats in church takes priority. As such, sound teachings are being done away with. It is a very sad time we live in.

I'll tell you a story I thought of last night after reading your post. I imagined the same person waking up from a deep sleep over and over throughout time. In the beginning this person woke up to see who all loved God, they looked around and found no one really did, it was sad and the person went back a sleep.

Every hundred years this person woke up to see, who loved God, and sadly found very little people who did. All the way up to today, it is no different. When we are reborn and awaken out of our sleep of sin, we find ourselves just like the person in the story looking out over the landscape.

We are that person, and with that person looking around to find very little people that really love God.

I know many won't understand that, but I know you will.

Have a great weekend.

 

[ayani]

How can we further avoid being self-righteous?

personally, i find prayer and Bible study to be two of the best ways to keep myself realistic, humble, and focused less on self.

i remind myself of who i was before i met Jesus, and that i was no less lost than everyone else around me, and that i still mess up a million times a day, like every one else.

i ask God to point out my sins and quirks to me, and nudge me to activey listen to and help others. it's a fine line to walk between recognizing and identifying sin, and being self-rightous abut it. but it's a line Jesus promises to help us walk, if we walk by His light, and not our own judgement.

the Bible keeps me humble, reminds me who i am, and to whom i owe everything. it encourages me to rejoice in and seek God, and offer everything back to Him. prayer really, really, helps. vocally seeking His will, asking His help, and thanking Him for what He's done. praying for people instead of judging or lecturing them is also great. it's humbling, and brings the focus to them and to God. it also frees your heart from the bitterness gunk that tends to build up when we look down on others.

 

[Kathryn]

"9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12

I think this is an interesting take on the matter of personal weaknesses, humility, persecutions, etc.

For me personally, when I realize that deep down inside, even my "good" acts usually stem from less than noble sentiments, it's very humbling. I don't believe any of us can do a thing to earn God's grace. Our most lofty plans, schemes, and ideas are dust compared to His holiness.

I don't believe this makes us as humans any less valuable or sacred - after all, God made us in His image and sent His Son to redeem us, so obviously He values us. What we often miss in the equation is that God values OTHERS as much as He values US - that's where self righteousness trips us up.

Heneni, by the way, wonderful OP - thank you for sharing your beliefs so eloquently.

 

[Heneni]

I think I know what you mean. It's like, we know what the commandments are, and we know we are supposed to live them. So we can spend all our time trying to keep all the commandments all the time and we'll just burn ourselves out. We of ourselves can't do it. You want to, but you just can't. We are not capable. Even Peter, the Rock said when first approached by Jesus "depart from me, for I am a sinful man." A scripture that accurately expresses my beliefs is this: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Exactly! And i undestand that feeling of 'i want to but i cant'. So then I started to think that im not saved, i couldnt have been. What was most frustrating i think, was the fact that i knew i had to trust god, but then i found myself having to trust myself to get it right. And that just made me a looser. HEHEH....

So when i finally understood that god commands stuff i am completely unable to do, i realised that he has to do the work in me, change me from the inside out, in order to be acceptable to him. And so, its really a matter of trying to give up control, and let god get on with what he does best. Change people, transform them. I mean who can be like jesus by trying? That would be like fred astair said 'I did it MYYYYYYY WAYYYYY'. And well, it just wont be good enough.

Its a process. But i know god cannot fail, so he is pretty much on track with me and his other kids, nomatter how i look to myself or the rest of the world.

I love him for sticking it out with me! He is determined to reflect his glory through me. Nuttin will give me greater pleasure. :angel2: I can trust god now cause im happy to not trust myself in this regard.

Peace brother!
Heneni

 

[Heneni]

Heneni, you are coming to realize what it is like for God to have all the glory.

YEH!!!

This path can be a lonely one, secularly speaking, though we are not alone. This is one of the signs we are very close to the end. Many men and women who claim to know Jesus and to be saved only do so from a frame of mind that they had something to do with it.

Dangerous mindset indeed.

Furthermore, the bible is becoming less and less important, as filling the seats in church takes priority. As such, sound teachings are being done away with. It is a very sad time we live in.

Yeh you see people all over the world discrediting the bible as well. And shamelessly using it for their own profit. No good trying to weild the bible to suit our needs, we have to use the bible to understand what god wants. And of course there are so many people who feel that they are doing a spledid job at discrediting the bible by pointing out supposed errors. I dont pay much attention to that, because, well, everytime i read the bible i get more out of it. EVERYTIME. I mean its an endless cup of wisdom dont you agree?

Have a great weekend

I am thanks. Its raining cats and dogs here with the occasional fish coming down as well. HEHEh.... love the rain. Love english wheather wherever it might pop up in the world.

Heneni

 

[Heneni]

personally, i find prayer and Bible study to be two of the best ways to keep myself realistic, humble, and focused less on self.

i remind myself of who i was before i met Jesus, and that i was no less lost than everyone else around me, and that i still mess up a million times a day, like every one else.

i ask God to point out my sins and quirks to me, and nudge me to activey listen to and help others. it's a fine line to walk between recognizing and identifying sin, and being self-rightous abut it. but it's a line Jesus promises to help us walk, if we walk by His light, and not our own judgement.

the Bible keeps me humble, reminds me who i am, and to whom i owe everything. it encourages me to rejoice in and seek God, and offer everything back to Him. prayer really, really, helps. vocally seeking His will, asking His help, and thanking Him for what He's done. praying for people instead of judging or lecturing them is also great. it's humbling, and brings the focus to them and to God. it also frees your heart from the bitterness gunk that tends to build up when we look down on others.

Lately i have come to undersand prayer a little better. At first i thought.... what shall is ask for? Did that ever happen to you ? Cause i really wanna get what i ask for so that my joy might be full. I ask for grace grace grace. I was planted in grace and i can only grow in grace. And i ask to be humbled as well, and i ask for joy. Those three things god seems to be adamant to give me! And so im happy cause i get what i ask for. Its so great to have your prayers answers. Praying is a deep subject, its really at the core of our relationship with god.

I'll post here what I recently found about prayer: Im sure it will bless you

Prayer persues God's glory by treating Him as the inexhaustible reservoir of hope and help. In prayer we admit our poverty and God's prosperity, our bankruptcy and His bounty, our misery and His mercy.

''Ask, and you will receive...that the Father may be glorified in the Son and ....that your joy may be full''

God bless
Heneni

 

[Just_me_Mike]

i read the bible i get more out of it. EVERYTIME. I mean its an endless cup of wisdom dont you agree?

I couldn't agree more, I even went and bought the bible on CD so I could listen while I drive (I drive a lot for my job) So I am blessed all day long with God's word.
Sometimes though when I am driving, I hear or learn something so mind blowing I have to pull over to relisten to what I just heard. Anyway, just when you think you know something you find you haven't scratched the surface. Humbling yet rewarding!

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Lately i have come to undersand prayer a little better. At first i thought.... what shall is ask for? Did that ever happen to you ? Cause i really wanna get what i ask for so that my joy might be full. I ask for grace grace grace. I was planted in grace and i can only grow in grace. And i ask to be humbled as well, and i ask for joy. Those three things god seems to be adamant to give me! And so im happy cause i get what i ask for. Its so great to have your prayers answers. Praying is a deep subject, its really at the core of our relationship with god.

I'll post here what I recently found about prayer: Im sure it will bless you

Prayer persues God's glory by treating Him as the inexhaustible reservoir of hope and help. In prayer we admit our poverty and God's prosperity, our bankruptcy and His bounty, our misery and His mercy.

''Ask, and you will receive...that the Father may be glorified in the Son and ....that your joy may be full''

God bless
Heneni

I'd like to comment on prayer as well. One day I realized that the word prayer actually meant thought. So as simple as it seems I realized that everything I think is a prayer. That means the good and the bad thoughts are all going to God, and that quickly humbled me.

In other words prayer was not an excercise that you sometimes do, but for those that understand it is a mindset ALL DAY long while you are awake. Very quite humbling.

 

[Heneni]

"9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12

I think this is an interesting take on the matter of personal weaknesses, humility, persecutions, etc.

For me personally, when I realize that deep down inside, even my "good" acts usually stem from less than noble sentiments, it's very humbling. I don't believe any of us can do a thing to earn God's grace. Our most lofty plans, schemes, and ideas are dust compared to His holiness.

I don't believe this makes us as humans any less valuable or sacred - after all, God made us in His image and sent His Son to redeem us, so obviously He values us. What we often miss in the equation is that God values OTHERS as much as He values US - that's where self righteousness trips us up.

Heneni, by the way, wonderful OP - thank you for sharing your beliefs so eloquently.

Yes, self-righteousness would be thinking that my value is more than someone elses value, and i would aslo agree that if gods value is not supremely valued above all other things, then my value will become over exaggerated and therefore i will become lofty in my own eyes. Its in our human nature that in order to feel important i have to look down on somebody else. It wouldnt mean that i had much value it would just mean that i think i do. So we try to convince ourselves that we are better than others, really only in an effort to make ourselves look and feel better.

Since god is committed to his own instrinsic value, and he is detemined to show that value by reflecting his glory through his children, he deliberately chose the 'not many of you are wise, and of noble birth'' type of people, so that we will never think god chose me because im somehow greater than others.

Many hugs!
Heneni

 

[Heneni]

I'd like to comment on prayer as well. One day I realized that the word prayer actually meant thought. So as simple as it seems I realized that everything I think is a prayer. That means the good and the bad thoughts are all going to God, and that quickly humbled me.

In other words prayer was not an excercise that you sometimes do, but for those that understand it is a mindset ALL DAY long while you are awake. Very quite humbling.

WOWSEE yeh that will sober one up! LOL.

''Think as if your thoughts are written in the sky for they are''. Someone said that - cant remember who...

:yes:

 

[the_naturalist]

whether it is religious laws or natural laws, we all must adapt to stronger forces, or else...