Quote:
From the woke Jesus thread: "Recognizing that we have blind spots towards others and the existence of histories and systems of oppression is self righteousness while ignoring that and insisting your way is the only way is not?"
Can a person believe something is true and be self-righteous?
Can a person believe something is true that is false and be self-righteous?
Can a person believe something is true and not be self-righteous?
A few claims within the Bible:
5 Thomas *said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
"I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun. That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
The Bible contains Truth claims. The nature of truth is that it's very small. Example: There is 1 answer to 2+2 = , There are an infinite number of wrong answers. Is it arrogant for a person to believe 2+2=4? No. Is it arrogant to believe 2+2=5? No.
Likewise it's not arrogant or self-righteous to believe that the claims of Christianity are true. Believing that they are true implies that the alternatives are false. It's the nature of truth. Self-righteousness is all about taking pride in oneself, merits or accomplishments.
Understanding who God is and what Jesus as done actually strips humanity of all self-righteousness. The only thing mankind brings to the table in reference to their salvation is their sin. Of all the worlds religions I believe this is the only one where this is no room to boast or brag because we do not earn or deserve God's favor.
Paul said it this way:
Romans 4: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered.
8 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account."
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
If you meet a self righteous person who claims to be a Christian, you may consider asking them. Why do you believe you are going to heaven? You may discover that they don't believe in Jesus and they are trying to earn God's favor through via their own strength and effort.