Self-Righteous - From One Degree to Another

You may not recognize this acronym, but its sinister hold is found in probably every circle of believers you encounter. What does it stand for? Thank God I’m Not Like. Too often, as believers, we pride ourselves on what we aren’t rather than what we’re for.

Growing up, I often heard that phrase — “Don’t cuss, don’t chew, don’t go with girls that do,” as embodying what it meant to follow Christ. Or, take, for instance, Harry Potter. While much wisdom and discernment should be considered in digesting this form of entertainment (we should be wise and discerning with every influence that might come our way), by and large the Christian community blasts people who enjoy it. Often this simply comes across as “Thank God I’m Not Like Those People Who Enjoy Harry Potter.” And, in making such a statement, our identity is found in Anti-Harry Potter, not the Gospel.

The Bible, however, is bent on making the Gospel the message of first importance. The Gospel is to define us. The Gospel is to shape us. This may mean we avoid certain things and embrace certain things, but our identity isn’t found in what we avoid or embrace, our identity is found in the Gospel, in who we are in Christ. This was the problem with the Pharisee in Luke 18 and why the tax collector was justified and not him. His identity was in something other than the Gospel. The Pharisee looked to heaven and prayed, “God I thank you I’m not like this sinner. I do…I don’t… I do… As a result, the tax collector, who beat his chest and asked God to be merciful to a sinner like him, went to his house justified and not the Pharisee.

Today, examine your life. Is your identity really found in the Gospel? Or have you let other things define you spiritually? Forsake TGINL and embrace JESUS.

The final message from our brief summer series on Luke 15 is now online. It was entitled “Compassionate Father and Lost Sons (3)” from Luke 15:25-32. This sermon was after the self-righteous tendencies we have as religious, elder brother types. I mentioned Jerry Bridges’ book, Bookends of the Christian Life, and how Bridges calls self-righteousness Gospel Enemy #1. Here are the questions Bridges gave to determine if we were self-righteous or not:

1) Do you tend to live by a list of dos and don’ts?
2) Is it difficult for you to respect those whose standards aren’t as high as yours?
3) Do you assume that practicing spiritual disciplines should result in God’s blessing?
4) Do you feel you’re better than most other people?
5) Has it been a long time since you identified a sin and repented of it?
6) Do you resent it when others point out your “spiritual blind spots”?
7) Do you readily recognize the sins of others but not your own?
8) Do you have the sense that God owes you a good life?
9) Do you get angry when difficulties and suffering come into your life?
10) Do you seldom think of the cross?
(taken from p.49)

The best remedy for our self-righteous thinking is the compassionate father and His unending love for us. Repent and turn to Him!

T.G.I.N.L.

Weekend Recap – Luke 15