Dear Christians, if you desire to obey Jesus, have you ever been accused of bein

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   MissMelissaKposted 10 years ago

   Dear Christians, if you desire to obey Jesus, have you ever been accused of being self-righteous?
   
   I find this more and more that if you stand up for what is right, people will knock you down and your called self-righteous.On the other hand, if you sin with no remorse and no need to repent, you're considered quite normal.  Isn't that twisted? So if you stand up for your convictions, you'll be accused of being self-righteous and I dare say a Pharisee but the guy next to you who hit up some girl in the bar and knocked her up is considered the true Christian because he knows he's nothing but a sinner. So did I WASTE years thinking it was important to obey? Should I follow Joe Schmoe's example?

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   ReneeDC1979posted 10 years ago

   Hi there,
   I don't think the question about being called self-righteous should matter because people are gonna call you what they feel they should. The question, in my opinion, should be what will we answer to.  When we sin, we should be humble enough to accept the fact that we were wrong and disobeyed.  We should challenge ourselves to figure out why we gave in so easily and determine the work we have to do to make a change so that we do not succumb to sin.

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      Dave36posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      A good point you make Renee, about challenging ourselves etc..Everyone who's ever lived made 100's maybe even 1000's of mistakes in their lives, but only the one's who learn from them get on well in life..Mistakes are normal, but repeating them isn't

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   sheilamyersposted 10 years ago

   I'd ignore whatever names the person threw my way. Ultimately, I only have one person to answer to and that is God. I'd rather be called self-righteous or anything else by the people who don't like me, than to have to stand before God and explain why I didn't follow his commandments.

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   MikaMadKittyposted 10 years ago

   Hello MissMelissaK,
   
   To answer your question, some people tend to mock others because they feel like they are being judged. No one likes to be judged especially from another human being who is supposed to be on the same level of sinning as they are. When someone stands up for what they believe in, there will always be people who will try to bring you down or make you be silent. Perhaps you are preaching in a way that looks like you are judging them instead of loving them. If you are standing up for what you believe in, do it not just because it is right, but because you care. To quote a famous verse, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
   
   To make a connection, I've once seen a man stand on the sidewalk of a busy street of a city. He continuously yelled the gospel at all who passed by. Not one person stopped to listen. I actually saw one person walk up to him and started yelling back at him and persecuting him. I bet that man did not win any hearts that day. We are here to win hearts just as God is every day.
   
   You should read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Paul gives us a helping hand on how to share the gospel or what you believe in. He blended in with whom he was talking to, though he did not take part in any sins. In a way, he was accepted and as such, those around him were open to listen to his words.
   
   One last thing, when people try to bring you down, don't take it to heart, for there will always be people who will mock you and that is just evil's way of trying to make you stop. Hold fast and trust in Jesus.

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      MissMelissaKposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks.  That was very good advice.  You're very wise.

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      Dave36posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      When people try to bring me down all i do is see it as practice for me, practice to see if i let what they say bother me..After 6/7 months practice controlling my emotions/feelings, nothing anyone can say will faze me.

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   Bk42authorposted 10 years ago

   I don't believe that makes a person self-righteous at all. I consider a person to be acting self-righteous when they act as if they are better than the other person or turn their nose up at them. For example, I have a relative who is very religious and doesn't believe unmarried people should live together. Fine. However, she'll refer to the woman as a "slut," say all kinds of nasty things about the couple, be very cold when interacting with them, etc. Umm...did Jesus treat people that way? Speaking up for what you believe...whatever you believe...is a right that everyone has. If people are coming across to you in that way, by calling you self-righteous and you're treating them with the respect that everyone deserves then they're just projecting their own insecurities on to you. That's just my opinion.

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      MissMelissaKposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's true and you made a good point.

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   SirDentposted 10 years ago

   Many call believers self righteous because they have no idea about it all.  Others do it simply to mock and poke fun at believers. 
   
   About wasting your time, no your time was not wasted.  The Bible says, "To obey is better than sacrifice."  Jesus followed for 30 years before His ministry began.
   
   I am reminded of a quote I once read, "A great leader comes forth from a great follower."  Don't recall who quoted it.  The point is, how can you lead someone when you haven't been down that road before?  Jesus went down that road and knows how to get us to the right destination.
   
   Jesus is the righteousness of God and we must put on His righteousness.  Without holiness, no man shall see God.

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      MissMelissaKposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Very well said.  Thank you so much.

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   Dave36posted 10 years ago

   The way i look at it mate is that most "normal" people around today are far from normal, which is easily proven just by seeing what they want to talk to you about..Probably rubbish off the T.V or some Celeb crap etc!lol..So if most people think your not "normal" then well done to you, as you must be doing something right..Your right about it being twisted, & the whole world is twisted..This year the football world cup is on in Brazil, & their probably spending 30/40 billion on it..Kids are starving every where, but their spending 30/40 billion on football..So conclusive prove if we did need it, that the world & the people in it are not "normal"..I bet there's something inside you that wants to do the good/right thing all the time, & i bet you get frustrated because most people don't want to do it themselves..Also it's hard to keep being good to people that we think don't deserve it etc, but we have to because we're doing it for ourselves..You know who you are because of your standards & morals etc, but what about the people you know?, & how would you describe them?..Take for example the rich guy that's conned & cheated & lied his way to a fortune of 100 million dollars, does he really know deep down who he is like you or i would do?..Or has he not got a clue who he is, because he can't define himself as he's got zero standards or morals..I would just say that if a person was always doing the good/right thing because their obeying the bible, i would say their wasting their time..If on the other hand they was doing the good/right thing because they wanted to, then that would be the way to go in my opinion.."Forgive them for they know not what they do", & "Judging others is only judging ourselves" are 2 of the very few passages i know from the bible, & i spent a couple of weeks thinking about those 2 passages..They speak of peoples ego minds, & that's what's responsible for all the wrong doing in the world today..So basically "normal" people don't know any better, & their mostly brainwashed by governments/media & celebs etc.

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      MissMelissaKposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting way to look at things.  Thanks.  Imagine Mother's Day.  You have two people seated in front of you.  One obeyed the Lord and tried to do the right thing ended up with no family.  The one who sinned blatantly got the wife and baby. Why?

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      Dave36posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well the one who sinned blatantly is obviously operating from his ego mind only, & whatever he's got isn't what he really wants/needs in life..The one who always tries to do the right/good thing, will eventually get what they really need/want.

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      MissMelissaKposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That was an excellent answer.  Thank you Dave36.  And the irony is I remember this person saying "I hate kids!"  Go figure God keeps giving him more.   Meanwhile many desperately can't have them.  I believe God has a plan and I must trust him.

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      Dave36posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder if the guy who "knocked" the girl up he met at a bar really loves her, or has he made a mistake he'l/she'l regret?.The thing you've got to remember about people is they can't handle the truth, never if it's about them.So don't tell them!lol

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   TJenkins602posted 10 years ago

   I don't think I have been called "self righteous" in those words, but I have had people (other Christians) imply that I was. However, I make it clear that I am nothing without Christ. However, lately, I've been feeling led to bless others. One of the reasons I try to help others is because it gives me peace.
   
   Now, since I've been more active in trying to help others, there has been a little more opposition from other believers. However, they are a little passive aggressive. They act like they are okay with me, but I can sense some kind of tension. I try to make it so they know that I do not see myself as better than them. They talk about this joy and peace that they experience, but I never experience that unless I am doing something for others.
   
   When you try to follow Christ, you will find opposition from all sides.

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