Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness was defined as the conviction that one’s behaviors or beliefs are correct, especially in contrast to alternate behaviors or beliefs.About two weeks ago I had a little problem, I had told a friend of mine that I was thankful for helping me to advance in my walk with the Lord. That’s when suddenly this friend started to really tear apart everything I said. She analyzed every word out of my mouth trying to find something wrong with what I was saying. Also that friend, decided to tell me witnessing to people who did not believe in the same Jesus I did was, not biblically correct. I was also told that asking God to forgive me, if I was wrong in any of this fiasco, to show me and forgive me, was totally biblically incorrect as well.A few weeks later I told a friend, who runs the Christian fellowship place where I normally go to hang around, with what I thought were like minded friends, That I was proud of him, and the following couple of days later he told me I was dead wrong about how I saw Revelaions 21:4, I was insulted but figured well ok whatever he believes. Then this same person told me that the last person I spoke of in the previous paragraph,said that women are not to teach men and having this site was wrong for me a woman, just who did I think I was to have a site that is teaching people something, When I am merely a woman. And then this friend compounded the insults by saying he agreed whole heartedly.
Also this person told me that I was implying, (somehow with out ever saying anything to imply such a thing), that I think of myself as a modern day prophetess, and that I had better get down on my knees and beg Gods forgiveness.
For a couple of weeks prior to all this going on, the Lord kept telling me to my heart, come away from there. I asked the Lord to please make me understand why I needed to come away from those people. Not all but two people in this place I visited three times a week, and before that 5 times a week. He showed me boy did he show me.
I started to become very self righteous. It snuck up on me without my even knowing. Oh Satan is very wily, people. He sneaks in when you least expect him, and from the tiniest crack in your armour. The Lord showed me quite a few things and all of them fantastic, this one here please read it. It is a drip drop long, but so worth the read, especially if and or when you see yourself in this article. Why would seeing yourself in this article be a good thing? Because then it takes a whole boat load of blocks out of your eyes, but more importantly It wakes you up, to your not being totally completely right with the Lord, so that you can then, mend your relationship with the Lord.
http://www.faithalone.org/news/y1999/99jan1.html read then come back here.Please?
This paragraph right here, really got to me, it hit to the heart of me. Christians who have long served God run a serious risk of falling into the psychological and spiritual trap in which this older brother was caught. We may sweepingly survey our years of service as praiseworthy while conveniently forgetting the numerous failures, large and small, that have occurred over those years. It is even surprising how committed Christians can sometimes rise to high levels of indignation about the failures of others when, in fact, perhaps years ago they themselves exhibited the same or similar failures. In their criticism of others, they may exhibit a lack of patience or compassion of the type they themselves once needed both from God and from their fellow believers. The danger of becoming self-righteous about our Christian commitment is quite real and our memories often conveniently block out recollections that might seriously puncture our self-satisfied perspective. Indeed, we can sometimes even forget our present deficiencies and failures!
First I saw it in those two friends of mine. Then the Lord showed me myself in that pragraph. Ouch!! But then again I asked the Lord to show me, to bring back his spirit fully into my life, and to show me how I was wrong, in what way. He did not show me that I was wrong to be hurt, and to come away from those friends.
Then I read this paragraph,(Sadly, the self-righteous Christian is often very much at home in the company of other self-righteous people with whom he can spend time commiserating about the low estate of the church, the faults of other believers, etc. Were God Himself to walk in on such a gathering, it would “spoil the fun” since the spirit of the self-righteous critic is truly a great distance removed from the spirit of a loving heavenly Father who longs for the return of His wayward children.)That was another ouchy! But oh so true.
I was never like that before these people came into my life. I was devistated to realise that I let others, demons come and infect me.I knew and know better than this, and yet I had not seen it happening. I thought I had learned so much. But praise God in heaven, when we ask him to show us the error of our ways, he wakes us up in a hurry.
Now I am not saying these people did this to me,oh no!! I let myself get caught up in it. I let myself think I knew enough to be able to tell other Christians how they should do things. Bigger fool me.
I have one more article that is super Long to read but more than worth even the previous one.
http://www.seekerstrove.com/guests/modern_day_pharisee.htm
Upon reading this article, I repented of my transgression, of letting myself even for a little while, become self righteous. I have turned the reins back over to, my God, my Jesus. I will read these articles probably for a while myself to make sure I do not see myself in these lines anymore. After hurting over being so stupid, I was once again flled with Joy,one that my God found it worth it to forgive me once again, and two that he loves me enough to set me straight, back onto the road that leads to life eternal. I should have known that when people tell you they are humble, they are really not. It should be seen without having to be said, in Christians.
We are told to think of ourselves as so much less than our brothers and sisters in the Lord,and for a good long while I did that,I dont know the time where it went bad,or changed in me, to stop doing what the Lord told me, and doing what I thought he would want me to do. I hope this helps someone.
Love in Christ Jesus to all my brothers and sisters,Prayer Warrior/Tammy