Is Christian a self-righteous?

A Christian friend once approached me and talked about Christianity. After a long conversation, she went on talking and rhetorically questioning, “Why does some people accused Christians as a self-righteous being?” Then a tear fall down on her face and went sobbing.

Righteousness is a subtle word that is often misquoted and misunderstood. We try to do things of what we believe is right and build our own righteousness. I'm not saying that it is wrong for us to do good works but building our own righteousness make us become self-righteous. Why I say so? Because of my own experience. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6). I try to please people and even to God but it ends up to nothing. I still indulge in my sinfulness and eventually fall. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”(1 Corinthians 10:12).

Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to live a holy life. “For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”(1 Peter 1:16). And in Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship”. Notice the word in view of God's mercy. As we offer our bodies to Him we must first view the mercy of God - “THE CROSS”. Apart from the cross we can't please Him. We know that God is so holy and is set apart from all His creation. But God humbly comes down from heaven to be crucified for the restoration of the broken relationship between man and God because of sin. Remember what the Lord Jesus said. “"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We can do our own righteousness but apart from the cross it is all in vain.

The cross is the expression of God's love for us. It is the finished work of God for salvation. As what Christ said on His last breath on the cross “It is finished” (John 19:30). We know that He was risen from the dead and showed Himself to His disciple. And as He ascended to heaven He told His disciple “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). If you are a genuine believer in Christ who put your faith to God; and surrender yourself and make Him as Lord and Savior of your life; you will be saved and will go to heaven. But there's more, the Spirit of God who rose Jesus from the grave is now reigning in you. And the Holy Spirit will change you from glory to glory.

Christianity is not just a religion but a relationship with his God and Lord Jesus Christ. But why does some people think that Christians are self-righteous? So, I asked some of my friends why Christians are self-righteous. And here's there reply; some Christians think of themselves as so good and thought that they were very righteous; some are hypocrites, good at the outside but was dirty at the inside; some think that they know all and thought that only they can be saved.

Honestly, when I heard their response, I was ashamed and then reflected if I was also like that. And I must to confess I too was a self-righteous.

Is God commanded us to become self-righteous? Let’s take a look of what the Scripture has to say.

• “Christian thinks of themselves as so good and thought that they were very righteous.” But the Bible say “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). Righteousness comes from God and if we are in Christ we will have righteousness. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Do we have to boast that we are righteous? By no means. Let the boasting be on the Lord Jesus and not of ourselves.

• “Christians are hypocrites, good at the outside but was dirty at the inside”. Indeed, lots of professing Christian does this thing. If we are one of them, we must to doubt our Christianity. Is this what God intended us to be? In Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” You may ask, I try to change myself but I still fall. So what is the problem with me? Friends, we will never be changed if we are only been challenged. Let's ask God's help and surrender our all lives to Him and by His grace, we will surely be changed from glory to glory.

• “Christians thinks that they know all and thought that only they can be saved”. We know that salvation is not of our works but only by the grace of God; the death of Jesus has brought us life. If you believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior of all your life you will be saved but is this indication to boast that only we can be saved. In Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast”. Remember, “if anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). And if you think that you know all, you are claiming to be God. As God said "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).
  

Many are claiming to be Christian but are they truly genuine? Lets face the fact, there are lots of professing Christian who goes to church, and was so religious but still continue in sin. They are merely of talks but without deeds. Because of this, people who looks to them stumbles and concluded that Christians are all “HYPOCRITES”.

If you are truly a Christian be careful. Don't let yourself conformed to this world but you must live in Christ and in Spirit. But you may ask, how can I live in Christ and in Spirit, I am so weak and is sinful in nature? One thing is for sure, God made us weak to see how great and mighty He is. If we only allow God to be used and changed, He will surely transform us beyond what we can do. And the Spirit of God will reign in us and will bear fruits for us. “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other”(Galatians 5:22-26). Remember, the world is watching over you, waiting for your fall to justify their own wickedness. But if you will be mocked because of Christ, you must to rejoice. In 1Peter 4:12-16 it says “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Friends, if you think that some Christian are self-righteous. Don't allow Satan to tempt you and make you to sin because of them. Though many professing Christian continue blaspheming the name of God, don't make yourself do the same. Have faith in Him and repent for all your sins. Not all Christians are self-righteous nor hypocrites they are only human that commit sins and were struggling because of sin. Instead of looking to them why not look to Jesus Christ and believe only to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

W. Medel