What's Wrong With Being Holier-Than-Thou?

The previously mentioned gentleman who I’ve had Twitter conversations with has inspired me once again to write a blog post. My intention is not to tear him down, but to make sure that others are not of the same faulty mindset.

He has written: “God's word is communicated by preaching and by writing. His preferred way is reading and writing. That's why he gave us His Word-the Bible. So if we have a different idea we can check it against what He says. Preaching and speaking is for those around us. Writing and reading is for anyone.”

In some aspects, he is correct. However, let’s also keep in mind the power and need of preaching. Romans 10:14-15 state, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" I see nothing here about giving someone a written word, but I do see the need for preaching.

Secondly, he said that the New Testament writers each claimed to be “full-on” followers of Jesus and that we cannot find much about their personal bios in their writings.

I agree that they didn’t shy away from claiming to be followers of Christ, but they also shared about themselves openly. Paul himself wrote at length in Philippians 3:4-6 that, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” He states all of that before mentioning Christ in verse 7.

The afore mentioned gentleman also insinuates that by me not mentioning that I am a follower of Jesus in my bio, that I am watering down and/or removing His name and therefore “our opportunity to spread that name is lost.” Later he asks me, “Why do you not like holier than thou Christians? You just said that we are to love everyone. What does it matter if you get a bad name? It's not about you. “

Well, let’s think about this. If a non-Christian encounters a “holier-than-thou” Christian, they may paint all Christians as that way. That can have a negative impact on my ability to share Christ with that non-Christian. Even though Jesus had the right to be “holier than thou”, He wasn’t. If we are Christians [like Christ] than we shouldn’t be either.

Remember two things, my friends:

First, we need to make sure that what we say and proclaim is what God has said in His Word.

Second, just as Jesus Christ lovingly led others to the Truth, we must lovingly lead others to Jesus.