Christians are in danger of self-righteousness. No, really. We have all the ingredients that can form a big tasty bowl of self-righteous soup.
Wondering what the recipe is? Good! I will share it with you:
- 1/4 part doing things that you know God likes.
- 1/3 part seeing yourself as a really good person.
- 1/8 part of telling yourself that you are no longer committing those “habitual sins”.
Bring to a boil and let simmer.
- Add in how you agree with all God says in the Bible.
- Mix in 1/4 cup of seeing others as sinful and ready for God’s wrath to smite them.
- 3/4 teaspoon of a judged pagan who you think will never come to understand the grace of God.
- Garnish with the adoration you received when you taught your last Sunday School class.
Serve alongside of bread made with the yeast of the Pharisees.
There you go! A soup boiling over with your own pride.
Perhaps you think you don’t possess such ingredients. Check your pantry. Your pronouncement that you don’t have what is needed indicates that you have several of the ingredients already.
I wonder if the Pharisees were startled when Jesus said to them:
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” Matthew 23:25-26
Nobody ever thinks the inside of their cup is dirty (and by the way, such a cup is perfect to serve the soup in!).
So, how do we spoil the broth?
- Read God’s Word – there are none who are righteous in His sight, so why are you righteous in yours?
- Read God’s Word – the good things you do are done only because of His power working in you and because He prepared them for you in advance.
- Read God’s Word – you would be the object of His wrath this very day if Jesus did not save you from your sins.
- Read God’s Word – what you know (and what you teach others) was given to you. It is not like it is your material, or that you could have every learned it without God.
- Read God’s Word – He cleansed you from your habitual sins and gave you the ability to overcome them.
Righteous broth spoiled.
So, next time you are ready to sit down to a big bowl of self-righteous soup, read God’s word and leave the kitchen. Self-righteous soup may taste good at first, but it will quickly turn bitter, and so will those around you.
For Jesus,
Rob