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Self-Righteousness: the civilized sin
by Rev. Belinda Perez McDanel
Phil. 3:1-11
Often I criticize other people. Not to their face, of course. I would never be so insensitive. But as I walk away from them, I make judgmental comments.
'Can you believe they said such and such? Did that? Implied the other?'
I think I'm taking a stand against something that is wrong. I'm clarifying. I'm pointing to what is right. I’m explaining how Christians should be. But really, I'm not.
Later, in my prayer time, God reminds me of my critical spirit. And His two-edged sword divides my soul and my spirit, and exposes my self-righteous intentions. Implied in my criticism is the attitude that I am better than them. I would not do what they did or say what they said. I am above that, you see. I am more spiritually mature. But in reality, my critical comment was based on a foundation of self-righteousness with deep roots of pride.
Dialogue with the Father:
“Consider others better than yourself.”
“Yes, Lord. I know I am supposed to consider others better than myself. But what if I am really better than them? What if it's obvious that I am? You wouldn't want me to lie about it, would you?”
The truth remains: Consider others better.
“Lord, how do I do that?”
Pulling out the roots
Reflecting on Phil. 3:2-11 causes my foundation of self-righteousness to crumble. 'We boast in the Lord Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.' Paul has every right to be self-righteous by the standards of his day.
If anyone else thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law, a Pharasee; as for zeal, persecuting the church, as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. Phil. 3:4-6
I have my own list of self-righteous deeds. I'm very proud of them. I am basically a good person, I think to myself. I don’t murder or steal. I don’t lie, most of the time. I am good.
But when I compare myself to Christ, my goodness melts into nothing. Christ was radical. He stood up against the self-righteous of his day and insulted them to their face. I would never insult someone to their face; I am too nice to stand against that kind of evil. How good am I, really? After all, I am self-righteous. Self-righteousness is not good, so I must have an illusion that I am good when in reality I have a bent toward evil. A civilized kind of evil. The Bible has a way of cutting through my illusions to the heart of the issue. Its truth reveals my lies.
But whatever was for my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. Phil. 3:7-9a
Self-righteousness is having a righteousness of your own that comes from being legalistic to man-made laws. It is easy to submit to man-made rules because man made them and man can change them. Also, if I don’t like one man’s law I can decide to follow another. God’s laws are another thing. His laws don’t change. I would never think to keep his laws: love your enemy, forgive others even if they hurt you 490 times. In fact, I can’t keep them.
Paul considers all his self-righteousness loss for the sake of knowing Christ. His righteousness is rubbish! The Greek word is much stronger than rubbish. The word means human dung. My self-righteousness is dung!
Dialogue with the Father:
He begins by saying, I want to pull a weed out of your spiritual life.
Sure, Lord, I am teachable and willing. Just show me which thing must be pulled from my garden. Which one?
The one in the middle.
But that's the largest plant in my garden. It's a weed?!?
Pull it; it's pride.
But I've been watering it!!!
Just like the moment of salvation, I come to God with nothing but my weakness, frailty, and bent heart. I have nothing to offer Him. He offers me salvation as a gift. He also offers righteousness as a gift. I cannot earn it. He gives it. He has given me Christ's righteousness. A robe that covers my nakedness.
I put no confidence in the flesh. So, if you see something in me that looks righteous, it didn't come from me. It came from Christ. If you see good works, love, consideration, generosity, kindness, truth, light, anything right, it came from Him.
My own righteousness is dung. I don't boast in myself. I boast in Christ. Christ chose me and forgave me. He made me completely whole. In my garden is a large tree in place of my weed of pride. I didn't put it there; God did. I don't have to water it because He does. It bears much fruit, all of which belongs to God; it's his tree, not mine.
Dialogue with the Father:
“Okay, Father, You are right. Even when I think I am doing something right, You reveal my true intentions. You are righteous and true. I have a bent towards evil me. I confess my sin of gossiping about that person. And I confess my deeper sin of self-righteousness and pride. Thank you for forgiving my sin. Please purify me and fill me with Christ’s righteousness. Make me like Him. I can’t do it on my own. I acknowledge the truth. You have given me Christ’s righteousness as a gift. Thank you for transforming me into someone I could never be on my own. Amen.”
Once again I am amazed at my Savior. Consider others better than yourself. This is easier to do now. I am no better than any other Christian. How can I be? Everything good that I have has been given to me.
If I see a huge weed in my brother's garden, I am not so quick to criticize. I understand. My Father, the gardener, is still working on him. My brother is still in the process. And so am I.
Rev. Belinda Perez McDanel
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