6/26/22 - Note from Pastor

Beware of the temptation of self-righteousness, it’s more subtle than we often think.  Jesus was extremely hard on the self-righteous Pharisees, exposing their hypocrisy and rebuking their ways.  It’s easy for us to read the Gospels and tell ourselves that we’re not like them because we’re not arrogant or conceited or “Holier than Thou.”  However, the deceitfulness of sin is much more sophisticated.  We must not merely be reductionistic thinking that a self-righteousness heart is easily detectable.

In fact, as I was studying for the sermon this week in the book of Numbers, I was convicted of something that I had not seen before.  Self-righteous people aren’t always overtly arrogant, sometimes they are terribly fearful.  To be self-righteous is to believe that you have gotten where you are on the basis of your own resources.  One of the fundamental reasons the Israelites feared going into Canaan is because they were self-righteous. However, their self-righteousness did not take the same form as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.  It was much more subtle.

Therefore, beware of the temptation of self-righteousness.  Before you dismiss the idea that you could be self-righteous, do some introspection.  Look not only at whether you are arrogant, but also if you are fearful.  Consider whether you believe you have gotten where you are on the basis of your own resources or if you are wholly leaning upon the grace of God in Christ.
- Pastor Ben