Q. Though I've managed a diligent Christian life and worked as a church worker, it feels like I am not growing spiritually and there seems no tangible fruit of blessing, so I feel distressed. What can I do in such a troubling situation?

A. You may have several reasons for your distress, but why not first check if you have self-righteousness and individually developed personal frameworks or 'self-frameworks'. You must demolish them to grow spiritually. Then, let me tell you about what self-righteousness and self-frameworks are and the cases where a person does not please God due to them. I hope you will check yourself.


Self-righteousness

'Self-righteousness' can be defined as insisting that a person's personal viewpoint is the right one. Namely, if we insist that we are right and hold fast to our opinions, it is self-righteousness. Even though men may think something is right, it is not always right in the sight of God. If we have this self-righteousness, we cannot completely follow the will of God.

One part of this self-righteousness is the worldly kind of righteousness which is clearly in opposition to the will of God. Another aspect of self-righteousness is the righteousness formed on the foundation of the truth. It is not easy to find righteousness formed within the truth for yourself. Such an aspect is usually found in those believers who have extensive knowledge of the truth and practice the truth to some extent. Why is that?

Many of them perform God-given duties and they can bear fruit in their duties. So, they sometimes consider themselves righteous and they are apt to overestimate their level of faith. Without noticing it, they think that their ideas are right and their actions are right. Because this form of righteousness is masked with the truth, the individual cannot really differentiate it from the righteousness of God.

Thus, it is harder for workers of faith to discover their self-righteousness. For this reason God sometimes allows trials for them so they can realize this self-righteousness and break it. Job is one of the examples of a case like this. Only when we break this kind of self-righteousness can we follow the will of God all the time and reap abundant blessings.


Self-frameworks

Self-frameworks are hardened forms of learned thinking that a certain way doing thing is the right way and only way. Based on their knowledge or experience, they harden their opinions as to what is right. But this framework is often not right according to facts or the truth of God. But most people discern between what they believe is right and wrong based on such frameworks.

The frameworks can also be categorized into personally developed worldly frameworks and frameworks formed with the truth. Such worldly frameworks are those that you make with worldly knowledge and social etiquette. The frameworks of the truth are the frameworks made in faith based on the truth, the Word of God.

Based on their frameworks, people persist in the belief that they are right; but this is self-righteousness. Those who have strong frameworks are likely to force their own thoughts on others or they have judges or criticize others saying that their thoughts are wrong. Thus, self-righteousness and personal frameworks are very closely related.

Some people are very introversive and they don't express themselves much, so it seems that they don't insist on their personal thoughts. But even these people might have very strong righteousness. For example, they don't actively show their self-righteousness, but if you talk with them, you cannot really have a meaningful conversation. Even though all others give them the same kind of advice, they don't accept it.

On the other hand, some people have outgoing characters with loud voices and they seem to strongly insist on their ways, thoughts and ideas, but they may not actually have a strongly developed self-righteousness. They may accept other people's opinions and accept different kinds of people.


Major cases of not pleasing God due to self-righteousness and frameworks

[Passing Judgment and Condemnation on Others]

Some people, seeing other people, might think, "He shouldn't be doing that! Why is he acting like that?" or they easily give advice or rebuke others saying, "You should do this." They don't really understand others' hearts or their situations. Yet they rashly pass judgment and condemnation on others. It is judgment caused by self-frameworks with thinking that their way is the proper way to lead a life in Christ. In their self-righteousness they may insist that because they know the truth so well their thoughts and way are correct.


[Disobeying]

When a superior gives an order for something to be done, some people disobey due to their frameworks. They say they obey, but they interpret the orders within their frameworks and act without understanding the meaning.

If they don't break their frameworks, the same kind of action is repeated over and over again and consequently they disobey. Some others disobey God although they know the will of God very well because their opinions are different.


[Making others suffer painful or difficult situations]

We are taught to humble ourselves and serve others, but some people make a framework with this word about service to others. They make some frameworks and teach subordinates saying, "The lower in the order has to unconditionally submit in obedience to their leaders. When a higher person visits the members, others are expected to serve him in a certain way."

Of course, it is not wrong to teach the ways to serve others. But, if they insist such things out of greed, they are being cheated even by themselves. Even though their subordinates suffer, they just think they cannot accept the truth in teaching because their measure of faith is so small.

Because each person has different measures of faith and different situations, if we don't accept others with a broad mind due to our frameworks, then others will sense our personal frameworks and not feel accepted.

God has poured down His love through the love of the cross and in the works of the Spirit so all men can reach salvation. If we feel this love, we cannot help but humble ourselves, love God and try to think of the things which are pleasing to God. Having this kind of thought in mind, as we always listen carefully to the Word of God and fervently pray, we can always feel God's great love and have longing for the heavy aroma in the scent of goodness. We hope you will discover your self-righteousness and personal frameworks through the Word of God and prayer to be able to demolish them. By doing so, may you grow up in spirit and be led by the Spirit in life-filled Christian life!