LEGALISTIC RIGHTEOUNESS
“…Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” – Philippians 3:6 (KJV).
I like Right Your Writing Association (RYWA) for its unique greeting (RYWA!), and response (The Right Group). For RYWA, any human activities including right writing must be done in the right way, at the right time (now), and with the right-self (passion!). RYWA also seeks to right human wrongs by inculcating the habit of real reading and right writing in real people to raise real leaders. Doing things in the right way usually calls for obeying some principles and procedures relating to a particular action.
Real judges and lawyers are practitioners of both principles and procedures in all or relevant fields of Law. In addition, real persons are law-abiding. They endeavour to obey the laws (with their procedures) of any society they may find themselves. Besides, parents mostly love their obedient children. Obedience is a great virtue! It can make and unmake a person; ask King Saul. However, obedience does not always denote real righteousness. Besides, lawfulness does not always denote real righteousness. For instance, right to sexual orientation (same-sex) as lawful as it may be, it can NEVER pass the real test of real righteousness (good morality and good conscience). It at best licenses naked demonstration of depravity of the human mind; ask God. God eventually rejects depraved minds. “All things are lawful but not all things are expedient…” Real lawyers like Apostle Paul know this. Law and order does not necessarily exalt a nation, real righteousness does! Constitutional governance is not a substitute for righteous governance. Real righteousness eliminates sin. Besides, it aims at promoting purity and integrity.
Real righteousness is being right with God. There are two types of righteousness-real righteousness and legalistic righteousness. Real righteousness is imputed upon human beings (born-again persons) by God based on His mercy. Thus such persons contribute nothing to acquire their righteous state. God favourably imputes it upon born-again persons and command them to live holy or pure lives towards their fellow human beings. Thus whilst real righteousness is towards God; purity (honesty) is towards human beings. Purity must be in the heart, at the hand, and in thought. It calls for integrity and honourable living. Besides, it demands living at peace with all persons. Thus real righteousness and holiness are one coin with two sides. Legalistic righteousness on the other hand is acquired through human efforts. It comes by knowing, practicing or obeying laws, even strictly. Whilst real righteousness is inward (towards God), legalistic righteousness is expressive or outward (towards human beings). The main product of legalistic righteousness is hypocrisy; ask the Pharisees and the Scribes. This means that legalistic righteousness is devoid of holiness. It is lawfulness divorced from integrity.
Apostle Paul was blameless or flawless in keeping the law. He obeyed it to the letter. Paul was admirably counted righteous for obeying the law. But his righteousness was legalistic. No wonder he later counted it as garbage for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. Garbage life is life outside Jesus Christ. Obedience to laws without Jesus is rubbish! It is vanity of vanities. True!
Richard Obeng Mensah, author of right your writing.
borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com
