It’s a good thing you aren’t self-righteous, or this would be a tough article to read.
…so, I had a fascinating discussion with a friend about “modern-day Pharisees” in the church and what can be done about it.
(This issue extends far beyond the church and people of faith. In short, we may and do all suffer from self-righteousness somehow because we all fall prey to self-deception.)
There’s no way to recapture the conversation I had, but I hope that my noting the highlights is interesting to you.
Summary: Self-Righteous, Pharisee-types seem to be what other people are…this little twist makes getting rid of the problem very hard.
• In short, a pharisaical person is self-righteous.
– The assume they are in the right, doing right, alright. Am I right? Right!
• Most people think they are right most of the time.
– Few people think, “I’m usually wrong and you and others are usually right.”
• People feel they believe the truth, not lies. (Sounds obvious, sure, but consider the greater implications.)
– Obviously, we can’t all be right, but this doesn’t really entering our minds as applying to us.
• Most people believe that OTHER people are self-righteous / pharisaical, not them.
(or if they are pharisaical, it’s only sometimes. The situation doesn’t really trouble them.)
• Self-Righteousness is a delusional episode of the sin pride. It pivots on one losing track of one’s own ongoing and un-remedied sinfulness, as well as one’s blindness to the guilt and weight of that sin.
(Thus, we become self-satisfied with our level of goodness and immune to the devastating implications of sin in any unmitigated form. I’m just great and I’m happy about it. I’m not like you!)
• Unhealthy pride is a universal human malady.
– Whoops, that means it applies to ME and YOU. eesh.
• Recognition of one’s sin that move one toward humility to repent (to God and others) is one of the only sure-fire cures, albeit a temporary one.
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If you care to weigh in on the topic, go right ahead.
What is the best remedy for pride, in your opinion?
-L