Thought for Today

Genesis 18:26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake."  

Psalm 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.  

Matthew 25:45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."  

It probably should not be surprising to find that certain words recur often in the Bible. Certain human and divine characteristics are identified, extolled and their absence decried again and again. The These Days devotional guide this week has focused on a theme about God’s trustworthiness. Certainly, trust and trustworthy are familiar words often encountered in scripture.

This morning, however, I began to think about other often encountered words, especially the word righteous. Depending on the translation, righteous appears 130 – 304 times in the Bible. The Greek word so translated is usually δίκαιος. In the form righteousness, that characteristic appears as δικαιοσύνη and appears 116 – 311 times.

I’m wondering why a word so often used in scripture is so seldom used in ordinary conversation. When was the last time you heard someone described as being righteous? When was the last time you heard the word righteousness used outside of your church or synagogue? Both forms of that word are generally used today only in a derogatory sense to capture what we think of as self-righteousness.

When I think about words, their use and their meanings, I usually turn to a dictionary or lexicon. My Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines righteousness as, “Biblically the term embraces a number of dimensions relating to God’s actions in establishing and maintaining right relationships. Ethically it is a state of moral purity or doing that which is right.” (pg. 242).

I’m trying to imagine a politician at any level of local, state or federal government running for office with the slogan, “He’s a righteous man.” Would you vote for anyone whom others described as a righteous man? What would be your first reaction to such a political campaign? Doubt? Disbelief? Scorn? Suspicion? Ask yourself why! Shouldn’t we strongly support righteousness not only in politicians but in every aspect of life? Yet, I do not believe we would support anyone in politics, business or even ordinary life who was described as righteous. Sadly, ours has become a society seemingly embarrassed to embrace righteousness. Phrases such as ‘righteous politician’ or ‘righteous business executive’ seem to most minds to be oxymorons, self-contradictory phrases.

I am a Christian. Even further, I am a Christian minister. I know that Jesus, the Christ, prayed, "John 17:25 Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.” I have read the Bible. I have encountered those familiar, often used words. I am always thankful to know that our Creator God is faithful, righteous and trustworthy. Yet, I would never publicly claim myself to be righteous, even though I strive to be righteous in all that I say and do.

It seems a sad commentary on our society that those often-used words in the Bible have come to carry such negative semantic context in our everyday dealings with each other and with the world in which we live. I want our leaders in commerce and politics to truly be righteous, faithful people. I’m not concerned about their faith traditions, whether they are Christians or follow my denomination. What I want is for all of God’s children, whether or not they know themselves to be such, to live faithful, trustworthy and righteous lives.

I want to live in a world where we can trust each other, deal fairly with each other, respect each other. As a Christian, I know those other words of Jesus, his answer when asked about the greatest commandment, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." I believe we all deserve to live in a world governed by such love. I also believe it is up to us to make this world such a world.

Stay safe, work to make ours a world of love, trust God,

Pastor Ray