Sanctimonious-ness

Is this something you think of often?

I have to admit it is an offputting trait that I see in some people and I wonder how others can live with someone who always thinks themselves as 'better' than others or more moral

I was out with someone and we were just walking down the street in our own neighbourhood when she just started remarking on someones lawn that hadnt been mown for a while, and then to my annoyance started judging these unknown occupants on their moral laziness.

I was quite distrurbed by her flat judgements on people she DIDNT even know.
why the need to busybody into other peoples business? Maybe their lawn mower broke down, or someone has been sick or whatever. But even if they were lazy, whats the point in telling ME about it when I dont know them and cant do anything about it.

The grass is going to grow and the weeds will grow anyway, and maybe it will be a haven for wildlife and increase oxygen to the atmosphere because of increase photosynthesis! Is there something morally wrong with an uncut lawn? Was she going to knock on their door and say Im so sorry, I noticed your lawn was uncut. Would you like me to call a mower service for you? It is offending my eyes. By the way, you are lazy. I just think you should know I condemn you for not getting on to it.

Yeah I hear ya. It sure is annoying. Almost as annoying as when people complain about a country they have never been to and only know from TV show stereotypes.

huh I wonder what country would that be, Ive been to quite a few lol!

if you put yourselves on tv its usually advertising a certain lifestyle, but most people know its fake whats on tv. Even reality tv has a certain angle. Anyone who works on tv knows its smoke and mirrors.

Actors and actresses are trained to lie after all. Thats their job.

Tv documentaries are marginally better, but they do sometimes reveal more than they intend.

scripted shows usually are designed for peoples entertainment, not for their judgement. People on tv need to be aware what they do would be humiliating for them in real life, so thats why many wear masks.

Though I dont really get my kicks from watch drunks get called over by the cops on Police ten 7

Im not sure its thats THAT entertaining watching that over and over. But their faces are usually blanked out on screen. If drunks are aware of being drunk, they may even boast they had 15 second of fame on tv.

A lot of what is on tv is rubbish anyway, but, I think cop shows try to show cops in a good light. They do get a lot of bad press. (the cops) But only if they fail to do their jobs properly. Then its on the news.

we dont have it in nz but in some countries they have shows like Peoples Court and Judge judy, where people are invited to judge, and talent shows, where you can phone in to vote your favourites. So wether they are stereotypes or not....they actually are inviting viewers to sit in judgement.

I thought that since my friend was a social worker, maybe it was part of her job
But then I have another friend who is also a social worker and she doesnt go round commenting on everything she sees is wrong. More likely she is the one to do something about it, as she was telling me she was doing laundry and fixing curtains for someone who had lost their husband and had just about given up on daily living.

Then I thought maybe its a pommie english thing. or an american thing...cos I recall an american friend said that too. she was riding in my car and saying as we got near my neighborhood something derisive about the houses..and then the people...and then I thought ok they may live here, and they used to maybe 'better standards' in their original homelands. my mum does that too.

but thing is they chose to live here. so they not just visiting. Or maybe its just EVERYBODY except themselves they look down on. my mum will say that about church people especially when they on the news for swindling others. She'll even say shes better than God, that she believes in herself more than God.

I mean ok, here I think who died and made YOU God? And if you were God, maybe you'd have mercy and compassion on these poor people trying to make a living in this fallen world instead of judgement and condemnation.

actually, not sure what the full story is with the church swindlers. I think dont be surprised cause wolves like to go after the church.

What? We were all thinking it.

Jesus said be careful not to do your works of righteousness before others to be seen of them. if you do you'll have no reward from your Father in heaven

Jesus was talking about Pharisees who prayed loudly and long on street corners, instead of quietly and in secret in their closets.

So when people kind of complain about not having prayer in schools, I wonder why because prayer in schools is actually often done in front of others for show. especially by teachers...?!

I guess praying in public is meant to be seen as the 'right thing' to do for some people. But wouldnt the people praying in public be kind of sanctimonious.

Perhaps they learn it from people on christianchat . Seems to be regular occurrence

or maybe its just people just watch too much tv and dont read any books or do any research whove got nothing better to do... armchair critics? who knows. usually people on tv actually cant hear you lol

I had come across the whinging pom a few times but they really ought to save their moral crusading for writing directly to the Prime minister or letters to the editor, or, if they believe she'll answer, the Queen and then maybe someone of influence and importance will read it and take action.

Ive often thought that such people perhaps need to mind their own business first before telling others how to do their jobs. Or maybe pray and take it up with the Almighty.

The teachings on praying and doing good works are about what the Christian is doing it for.. If you are praying in public as a way of getting the praise and approval of other people then God is against that.. But some people pray in public as a way to help other people or a way to share the will of God.. In the case of God works if Christiasn are doing the good works to get other peoples approval and to boost their social status then God is against that.. But if they are doing it with the idea of hopeing that people will tank God for the good being done then God appoves of that.. It's all about the motivations behind the person doing the works or praying..

Jesus said about good works::
(Matthew 5:16) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Jesus also Said about good works::
Matthew 6
6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

See how the above two scriptures can seem contradictory if you are not paying attention to the different motivations being described in the verses

Robertt, just mow your lawn already, would you? There's nothing worse than an uncut lawn! It makes me think of moral laziness!!!

thinking i should cut another mans lawn for once .. LOL

I suppose shining a light and sounding a trumpet are two different things...

Maybe give an example
say you decide to cut your neighbours lawn for them...do you go on twitter and announce this so everyone can see what you are doing
Or you just do it and dont tell anyone so when someone walks past they will go isnt that a beautiful lawn God is so good.

sometimes I read gardening magazines, There are different kinds but the ones I like are the humble gardeners who talk about the plants but then theres articles in upscale magazines who invite people to their homes and gardens to show off how wealthy they are, but they havent done any gardening themselves, they pay someone else to do it and then take the credit. But then I suppose they arent doing anything charitable unless they are opening it to visitors and fundraising

however lots of charities nowadays want everyone to go on facebook and advertise their good deeds.

I recall Oprah Winfrey came under fire when she was giving free stuff away on her show, or she gave lots of money to charity and she would announce it to encourage others to give. Most people saw this as a good maybe Godly thing she was doing though some grumbled and said she was doing this to boost her status. I dont really know if what she was doing was shining a light or was she sounding a trumpet?

is it glorifying God? Is this the reason for things like 'secret santa'. You dont know who the gift is from, it suddenly appears in your Christmas stocking. Its just says its from Santa.

I think prayer when done in public ought to glorify God
but, often it seems to be that its done and someone thanks the person praying and says what a nice prayer. rather than praying along with the prayer and thanking God.

Theres also repetitious and vain prayer, like the muslims sound the muezzin I think its five times a day, and they have to drop everything, get down on hands and knees, face mecca and pray. The muezzin is like a trumpet.

The jewish people had a shofar, and old time churches had a bell.

One thing that I notice that, ok I get a bit annoyed over is hyper religious people. Though I supoose it is inevitable on a Christian forum I suppose

its when people draw attention to all the stuff they DONT want you to do.

Cos, you know the sin will get on you if you do!

so, you might be looking at this forum thinking ok I wanna be encouraged in my faith but all you see are posts about how awful everything is. And there will be posts on these topics...porn, guns, violence, war, divorce, lust, the govt, how the church is so rotten, and how much hyprocrites people are lol

Rural communities where people mind their own business are awesome. Overpopulated villages and cities bring out the worst in people.

There is always some ordinance in urban/suburban districts that says you have to cut your grass, because people are so worried about the "aesthetics" and the value of their property... as if the average length of grass in the village is the ultimate factor that leads to happiness and quality of life.

I suppose if everyone let their grass grow long- insects and other bugs do like to take refuge in longer grass. Plus if you let it grow up against your house it can obscure structural damage or deficiencies, if it is grown high enough. So, there is some value in cutting your grass, for yourself and community.

But I feel like if you're going on a rant or rampage about somebodies grass, especially if it isn't really affecting you that much... you probably need to get a life, because there's almost definitely something else you can focus your energy on. Either that, or the person is really angry about something else that they don't want to talk about.

But sometimes, when people's needs aren't being met, or they're suffering from something, they lash out against the world, because... well, the world is garbage. That's not what we're supposed to do as Christians, but that's what people tend to do when they don't have a strong walk with God, and don't turn to him when their circumstances get bad and out of control. Every perceived transgression against them will become magnified- and people that really transgress against them will become targets for wrath.

So... you are annoyed by people... that are annoyed by people.

I get it, though.
There is a lot more tearing down, than of edification. Even in the scriptures themselves- there is a lot of tearing down. De-construction of false doctrine, and knocking down the enemies house is important, but every Christian is called to edify and build up.

I try to be a glass is half full rather than half empty person...I think after having suffered depression in my early years and knowing how negativity can be such a downer Id just rather be positive about things.

So I try to limit my contact or rather exposure to peeps that are constantly negative and critical. A little can be ok, as far as being realistic is concerned, but its really how you see things.

Also maybe that friend just needs more prayer to help her see the positive side of things. After all she landed in a country thats not her birth homeland, her son ended his life, shes been through 2 failed marriages, she now lives on her own on property she can barely maintain alone...so on the face of it, not much to be positive about.

I do now see a lot of properties being torn down now cos there is a housing boom and being replaced by six storey blocks of flats. And now there is barely even room to have any grass so that becoming a bit of a luxury.

so grass growing wild and free is to me quite wonderful lol

Solomon turned out to be a dummy, which is funny considering how often we quote what seems to be darn good sense.
Proverbs 12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Ephesians 4
28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need. 29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

I find there are two general types of people who claim to be Christain in this world. Those who are pure-breeds by lineage, who have spent their whole life in a church, and know they are saved because they can recite scripture. And those who are desperate to be holy, because they have been in a swine-pit most or all of their lives, often of their own making.

If you've ever been in the latter camp, I think we may agree, it's amazing how easily those who claim to really get the Gospel, seem to want to throw swine-droppings with carelessness.
The reality is that all fall short, and all are in need of grace. Some of us just already fell into the pit that others want to play on, and we know what happens.