Holier than thou

Holier than thou

There are many people in this world that profess to know God, many of them ignorantly going about their life exalting themselves and condemning others.

The Bible says, “ You therefore which teaches another, do you teach yourself also? You that preaches a man should not steal, do you steal?” Romans 2:21

No one has the right to judge anyone else, for it is written, “ Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

But many people in their religious beliefs have become self-righteous, holier than thou if you will, forgetting that they too were once lost and in need of the direction of Jesus Christ.

Jesus once said to a crowd of people who were looking to judge a lady caught in the act of adultery, “ he that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” John 8:7

The crowd of people, being convicted by their own conscience, began to leave one by one until there was none. John 8:9

Jesus then asked the woman whom had committed adultery, “ where are your accusers, where are the people who meant to condemn you?

She responded, “ there are none, they have all left.” Jesus then said, “ neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” John 8:11

If anyone was holy enough to judge someone else it was Jesus the Christ, yet Jesus showed compassion for the sinner.

We have to be careful not to condemn one another, not to become wise in our own eyes, thinking ourselves to be holier than thou and looking down on others for it is written, “ Therefore you are inexcusable O man, who so ever you are that judges: for wherein you judges another, you condemn yourself; for you that judges does the same things.” Roman 2:1

The religious leaders thinking themselves to be holier than thou began to judge the disciple of Jesus Christ saying, “ your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.” Matthew 12:2

Jesus responded by asked them, “ have you not read?” Matthew 12:3

Jesus concluded with, “ but if you had known what this means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7

Jesus was letting us know that if we have truly read the Holy Bible and understood it, we would not become judges of one another, we would not deem ourselves to be greater than others, we would not act as though we are holier than thou.

We are to live our lives free from this world, we are not to be partakers of the evil in this world, but we are not to become condemners of this world for it is written, “ Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

And again, “ God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

There is a thin line between being rooted in Christ and being lost in religious beliefs, which leads to self-righteousness.

It is written, “ A man is not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Romans 12:3

And again, “ The disciple is not above his master, nor is the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.”
Matthew 10:24-25

Jesus could have acted holier than thou but Jesus did not act holier than thou, so neither should we.

So what are we to say about those who are clearly ignoring the ways of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, about those who have no regard for the commandments of God?

Jesus is our example on what we are to do for it is written, “ who so ever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Matthew 10:14

And again, “ shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” Luke 9:5

In other words let them linger in their ignorance and do not condemn them to hell, as if you have a heaven or hell to put them in, but leave them to the judgment of almighty God himself, not deeming yourselves to be holier than thou.

So what are we to say about those who profess to know God, but are clearly misrepresenting the ways of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, about those who have gone about creating their own form of righteousness?

Again Jesus is our example on what we are to do for it is written, “ When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they shall have their reward.” Matthew 6:5

In both examples Jesus did not make himself to be better than anyone else, Jesus did not condemn anyone, Jesus did not send anyone to hell, but he left them to continue in their ignorance until the Day of Judgment.

Jesus said that there is a day of judgment coming for us all, the question that you want to ask yourself is, “ do you want to be judged as a fool who thought that he or she was holier than others, or as someone who was wise enough to follow the example of Jesus?”

I pray that we all remain very humble and leave the foolish to their foolishness until the return of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, and until the Day of Judgment upon this evil world.

Until next time, I Love you

Minister Lamar F. Porter

Most High God Ministries

8/18/2010