There is no shortage of accusers against self-righteous Christians, and the systemic self-righteousness of the institutional church. You have undoubtedly seen the bumper stickers, read the posts, and viewed the videos that portray most Christians as judgmental hypocrites. Unbelievers and believers alike take aim and hurl an avalanche of stones. The well-meaning believers who are “prophetically” (tongue-in-cheek) accusing their brethren of hypocrisy don’t seem to realize that they have also become “judgmental.” Self-righteousness goes both ways.
First, allow me to confess: Yes, there are mean-spirited hypocrites in the church – behind the pulpit and sitting in the pews. Yes, Jesus pronounced a series of “woes” and “judgments” against the Pharisees, not because they were religious, but because they were hypocrites. Yes, some Christians struggle with the “elder brother syndrome.” I’m referring to the story of the younger son who left home, squandered his life, and returned. When he returned, the father rejoiced and gave the returning son a party. The elder brother, the son who did not forsake his family responsibilities, refused to attend his brother’s party. Instead, he pouted in self-righteous pity (Luke 15:11ff). Yes, many Christians struggle with the sin of self-righteousness.
But again, self-righteousness goes both ways. Unbelievers and sinners enthusiastically embrace self-righteousness. Self-righteous means that each individual gets to define his or her concept of what is right. To be a hypocrite literally means to be an actor – one who wears a mask. Unbelievers boldly protect their freedom to determine their own personal morality and belief system. They walk arrogantly in self-justification: “This is the way God made me!” They refuse to acknowledge their sinfulness. Instead, they boldly proclaim they have no need or repentance. They resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit, reject the call to repentance, and deny the need of the Savior.
The truth is that all of us suffer from various degrees of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. We all suffer from the arrogance looking down on others, of making ill-informed judgements of others. Christians should be careful to heed the many calls in Scripture to examine one’s self, to daily confess and repent of our sins. Unbelievers should realize that Christians do not proclaim the gospel of Christ as those who have not sinned, but as those who were “sinking deep in sin” and lifted out of sin by the grace of Christ. The apostle Paul declared, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9ff). He addressed the story “to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.” The Pharisee boasts in his righteous deeds and is self-justified. His problem was not that he was religious, but that he was arrogant. The Pharisee certainly represents those in the church who “trust in themselves;” but he also represents those outside the church who arrogantly “trust in themselves.” The publican fell on his face and cried out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus declared, “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Casting stones and name calling is not a remedy for self-righteousness. The only remedy for Pharisee and publican alike is to fall on our faces before God, confess our sins, and cry out for mercy.
