O, what a good boy am I (isn’t the real plum line)
“What a good boy am I.” –Little Jack Horner as he sat in the corner of self-righteousness, practicing situational ethics and setting his own plumb line.
Feeling pious, doesn’t make me right. The feeling of self-righteousness is deceptive and makes us think we are morally better than we are. Self-righteous anger is is pride gone wild. It’s believing that you’re morally better than you really are.
Self-righteousness takes pleasure and pride in insulting people. Self-glorification isn’t greatness; it’s self-righteousness.
Self-righteousness is probably the easiest sin to commit. It sneaks up on us disguised as moral courage. (Daily reading the Bible, with an open heart, will demolish self-righteousness.)
Taking speeding laws seriously, pulls down my self-righteousness. I’m seldom able to make myself fully obey them, no matter how hard I try to.
Self-righteousness rarely admits defeat or apologizes. It needs no evidence to accuse people. It just knows they’re wrong. Grudge holding is self-righteousness — thinking you’re morally superior to the person who hurt you.
Self-righteousness feels no need for God’s forgiveness. It condemns those who disagree with us and praises those who agree with us. Self-righteousness refuses to see where it is wrong.
Self-righteousness is contrary to biblical Christianity. A self-righteous Christian becomes a religious Pharisee, (an unplugged TV) disconnected from the living Jesus.
Sermon hearing without sermon doing, is the seedbed for self-righteousness. It’s easy to profess Christianity; hard to obey Jesus and to “bless those who curse you.”
Feelings of spiritual superiority or supremacy are false. The Bible says: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” In the Bible, religious people were frustrated with Jesus, but broken people were attracted to Him.
One way self-righteousness manifests is as racism. It’s easy to self-righteously think, “I’m not racist.” It’s hard to admit, I’m not perfect in that regard.”
Beware of pious feelings, spiritual pride, and self-righteousness. Humble yourself like the epistle writer, Paul, did. He wrote: “O wretched man that I am.”
