Doing Revisited 2

In my previous post, I described a situation which I think can lead to a form of self-righteous inaction. It is the attitude that I will not intentionally do good works unless certain circumstances are in place. The self-righteousness comes in because, although I am not particularly compassionate or doing many intentional good works, at least I feel good that I am not like those do-gooders who have the wrong attitude or motive. Is this a kind of twisted logic?

Back to the methaphor. This inaction is like falling off the cliff on the right side of the ridge path. Doing good works with the wrong motive is like falling off the left side of the ridge (political reference unintended :).

Jesus did warn about the left cliff in Matthew 5. “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Wow, strong stuff. But later on in chapter 7 he warned about hearing and not doing, which I think would include this self-righteous inaction (he gives four warnings about this at the end of 7). Equally, if not stronger stuff. Note that he does talk about a narrow path!

Theologically, do you think being off the path on one side is better or safer than being off the path on the other side?


I still haven't gotten to my hard-to-articulate idea yet, but I have to lay some ground work. It will come (I hope).