Article January 13, 2014 Issue

Goodbye self-righteousness, hello forgiveness

David Fowler

After I became a Christian Scientist, I was often critical of things and people around me. I stood on a self-righteous, lofty perch, thinking that my understanding of Christian Science had privileged me to be able to see deeply into the heart of things, and to discern the source of problems—with government, my community, my church, close relatives, and more.

Self-righteousness kept me from praying to resolve and heal the problems I saw. And so, without even realizing it, I continued to both unconsciously and consciously look for the “bad” in others. In fact, I accumulated a substantial list of people whom I judged. It completely eluded me that my motive for criticizing others was to make them appear small or unworthy in order that I might make myself look better by comparison.

I didn’t know it, but I had two distinct views of creation: On the “mortal” side, I placed those whom I saw as immoral and imperfect. And on the “spiritual” side, I placed God and those precious few whom I considered morally upright.