When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:8-11In the fun-house mirrors of modern culture, righteousness looks different depending on who's looking in which mirrors.
More righteous drinkin music @Wake_up_service http://t.co/pwuv4hbMZd
— Dissident (@HankusMackimus) March 14, 2015
Not every tweet a war to be waged; not every utterance an outrage to be discovered. But self-righteousness is strong with the Internet today
— Zombyboy (@zombyboy) March 6, 2015
I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell
— Kimberly (@kthor93) March 6, 2015
The problem with most of us is we flaunt what we do know and get excited and righteous because we have ignored the things we DON'T know
— Cuban Pete (@MelloWorldPeace) March 6, 2015
@iamcolinquinn still a distinction needs to be made between stealing as a righteous blow to authority vs stealing for the sake of the thrill
— Hrishi Somayaji (@HrishiSomayaji) March 6, 2015
When we make up our own definition of righteousness, it usually comes from our own standards of good vs. bad, mixed in with our experiences and influences from others, topped off with a little bit of pop psychology and whatever form of religion has managed to stick.
Religious people tend to set up their holy scriptures, whether the Bible, the Koran or something else, as the standard for righteousness.
For a follower of Jesus, the true image of righteousness incorporates the teachings of the Bible, but finds its perfect example in the life and character of Jesus Christ.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:1-3Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit will "prove the world wrong about righteousness." He doesn't say the Spirit will do so by arguing about right and wrong or by pointing fingers. The reason the Holy Spirit has been sent to prove the world wrong about righteousness is because "I am going to the Father." Jesus isn't around any more in the flesh to be a walking and talking example of the character of God.
The only way many people in the world will ever be able to look past their own image, their culture, or even their religion to see the true righteous image of God and Jesus Christ is when they interact with Christians. The Holy Spirit in the heart of each believer transforms his or her life into a mirror that reflects the clear image of God's righteousness, as lived out in the believer's personality.
Sometimes when I'm participating in the assembly of the saints it seems like I'm in a carnival's hall of mirrors, a fun house of oddball personalities and widely different versions of what it means to be a Christian. That's a good thing. That's how it's supposed to be.
Righteousness isn't about cookie cutter personalities or adhering to a certain cultural ideal. It's about the character of God being expressed through the diverse personalities of the people of the church. We're not like the mass-produced, perfectly identical mirrors you'll find at Walmart. You and I are uniquely formed and polished reflections of our personalities and the righteous character of the Holy Spirit within us.
What better way to be equipped to serve as an example of righteousness to a world filled with oddballs, non-conformists, and free spirits?
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