by miss magnoliaEvery once in a while I'll come across Christians who flaunt their faith... and not in a good way.
I've met Christians who genuinely have a heart for Jesus and you cansee God's love overflowing from them without them talking about alltheir accomplishments. However, I know Christians who are constantly talking about God and howtheir faith is and how great the things that they do are and how theiractions so greatly affect others. It just bothers me sometimes and itturns out that what they're doing not a blessing to me.
I feel as though it's not about all the works that we've done, but whether or not we truly believe and live out our lives the way God calls us to. We can do as much as we think is necessary, but when we start boasting about it, that kind of stuff starts to bother me.
Am I wrong for feeling this way?
Comments (23)
yes, i agree with all of this. i think if we're all honest we all have at one time or another pat ourselves on the back. it's wrong b/c God is the one who needs to get the glory, not us.
There is nothing wrong with doing lots of good works. But talking about doing good works is not the same thing as doing them. It is like saying on a street corner, "I thank you God that you did not make me a sinner like everybody else."
I guess it depends on if they are answering a question or just down and out boasting.
I think you're correct to think like that and to feel like that, especially on whether or not we truly believe and live out our lives the way God calls us to.
When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may
have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their
reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
I've never been one to trumpet my good works. When I see someone who does, I must ask the purpose of his works, to really help someone, or perhaps merely to assuage a guilty conscience. Good works are to be done to ease someones suffering, to the glory of God, not for "karma" or to make the giver feel good.
Jesus said that the things you do should be done in secret. For the things that are done in secret, the Father will reward you. But those who brag about the things they do, thier own self-righteousness and self-pleasure is their reward.
You are completely right to feel bothered by it... because even Jesus was...
No you are not wrong for feeling that way. Matthew 6:1-4 states the following:
" "Be careful not to do your
'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you
will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So
when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by
men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
However, don't let this feeling of unease create within you a desire to put down these other people, for then you would be falling into the same snare they have fallen into (pride).
I don't think you're wrong to feel that way. People who boast about their good works are trying to call attention to themselves. But that doesn't really make sense that they should want to draw attention to themselves, when they're good works are only a result of Christ in them. 1 Corinthians 1:28 - 31 speaks of this matter:
28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[a]
Anyone who thinks they have anything to boast of before men and before God, is delusional.
Is your story inspirational? Does it inspire others to do similar works? What's your intent of sharing? Is it:
Hey! Look at me and the amazing things I did!
Hey! Look what God can accomplish through one humble servant.
Hey! God did great works and i was privileged enough to witness it.
Hey! I learned so much through this experience and I want to share my knowledge with you.
Hey! I am a better Christian than you.
I agree with what you're saying.
I'll add here that when people post testimonies of good works I sometimes have mixed feelings about those for the same reason. I think there's a fine line here. We are to be encouraging one another and when we share how God has helped/equipped us in some way, that can be an encouragement, but it can also come across in the wrong way and seem to be boasting. And there are times when the very same testimony might be helpful and God-glorifying to one person and may appear to be boastful to another.
I try not to let anyone know about all the good things I do. And seriously, there's a ton. A lot. More than anyone else I know.
My church beliefs are that it is through faith you are saved, not through your works. Now that doesn't mean you can be a jerk the rest of your life and for you to be looked upon in the same light as people who try to act like Jesus.
I feel the same way you feel. Currently, there are a large amount of "these people" (those who flaunt their faith) that I have to deal with in my church group. It has caused me to stop going to church functions because I am sick and tired of leaving with the feeling that I'm not good enough.
One of the issues that spurs from this is that I wonder how GENUINE their works are. Sure, they are doing good things for other people, but are they doing it because they honestly WANT to help these people or are they doing it so that they have yet another thing to boast about? *sigh*
@Theophilus166@xanga - You just contradicted yourself...just thought I would point that out. Don't know if you were doing that to be funny?
@GirlMeetsWorld0407@xanga - That was the point 8-) I was trying to be ironic.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
It is always too much when the glory is stripped from God and put upon any man. God says in Isaiah 48:11 "...and I will not give my glory unto another."
The 1st commandment is not to have any other gods before God. When we glorify ourselves, we are taking God's rightful place. Being expected to do good works and obeying is one thing. Boasting about them is another!
Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing and all that... but sometimes it is important for a Christian to know what to say when others ask what they are up to.
For instance, I work for a Christian organization and when I meet people who don't know the organization, they will ask me what its all about. So I start bragging on the organization, all the good things we do and all the good things I am able to do with them, however, my bragging is really about God--the glory always goes to him. He is the reason I can do good, the reason I want to do good, and the reason my good deeds ever make any impact.
So, I think bragging is great, as long as you're bragging on God, not on yourself.
If you're being an annoyance, if you're making me want to puke, that's too much.
You can never do too many good works. However, there is a difference between "sharing" your works and just boasting.
@Theophilus166@xanga - I'm very slow with humor.... :)
Nope, you're right on. :] Remember reading something about "and when you do good works, don't even let your right hand know what your left hand is doing"? Not that it's wrong for people to know something you've done, or even for you to tell them--to an extent. I don't think it's wrong to tell someone about an experience of yours if they ask about it, if they're looking for examples of something they themselves could do, if they're close friends and you want to share with someone how the experience changed you. But as soon as it crosses over into "Hey! Let me tell you what I just did!" it's bad news bears. And puts as much negativity back into the world as the positivity you just tried to put into it. Fail!
I've felt the same about those who boast about their faith just for show. In a sense, I think that's why some people see us as either hypocrites or just plain boastful, like we think we're better than them. Like we think we'll get salvation by doing good works when it's the exact opposite. The scary thing is that what keeps people away from Christianity. There really is nothing wrong about sharing our faith, just do it with humbleness and not as a theater project.
Your answer is in the Bible, as redshad, and viola1032_v2 has pointed out. Personally, when I am listening to someone that is talking about all their good works, I start thinking that they are bragging, and end up not even listening to what they are saying.
@viola1032_v2@xanga -
I thought of the same verse as you! There are some verses after the excerpt you quoted that are also relevant:
Matthew 6:5"And when you pray, do not
be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the
truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But
when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your
Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you.