Genuine piety can be a wonderful thing. Piety can be true devotion to the holy and living God. Piety can be self-less service to God’s people. Piety can be feeding those who hunger for the Spirit and thirst for righteousness.
But what begins as piety can easily turn into pettiness when we begin to see things not as God sees them, but according to their outward form.
I had a woman come up to me after church one Sunday very upset. One of the Scripture readers had his shirt tail hanging out. And, to top it off, he had “ring around the collar.”
I know a man who each year at a special Church outreach dinner insists that the servers set aside a piece of mince meat pie for him because he doesn’t want any outsiders coming in to have a chance at it.
I’ve served churches who were okay offering food to people struggling with poverty, but they became a little unsettled when someone started bring them to worship.
I know some church leaders who go out to the town diner, the beauty shop, the barbershop, just about anywhere you’d find a gathering of Christians (and non-Christians alike) and, while they’re there, loudly complain about various church business, all in the name of a “prayer concern”.
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The religious leaders in the days of Jesus were into piety.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
But when it came to applying to principles of piety, somehow they turned to pettiness.
Too often, we put on piety in worship and replace it with pettiness as we leave. And this can do tremendous damage to the faith community.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote –
I just came across your post and just wanted to say AMEN! All too often, Christians give Christianity a bad name. We do things in the name of Jesus that Jesus would condem. I believe this is because too many claim to know Jesus, and they really have no clue. Our pastor was just saying this week that knowing “about” someone and “knowing” them are 2 different things. All too often Christians have a moving experience and they equate that with intimacy with Jesus. Anyway, great post - simple, easy to understand and the pictures match perfrectly!
Briggie ^i^
The Pistol fires back: Glad you enjoyed it. I hope you’ll come again soon and often.
What you say is very true.
As a pastor said on Sunday, if you can’t just simply love folks, then you need to check yourself (a nice way of saying that perhaps you haven’t quite got the Christianity thing down).
Jesus ministered to some of the most undesirable people of his time. He loved everyone, but gave special attention to the naked, the outsider and the poor.
We Christians seem to fall into the idea sometimes that our affiliation with Christ Jesus entitles us to treat those who don’t differently. That we are somehow better than others. Being a Christian doesn’t put you on some type of special pedestal. In fact, you automatically take on a very heavy burden.
It’s corny, but really, would Jesus the Christ complain about some dude having his shirt tail hanging out or having ring around the collar? Would Jesus ask the host to leave a special part of the meal aside for him? Would he throw pearls before swine? That is, complain about his people in front of ‘foreigners’?
We all need work. We all need to check ourselves daily.
The Pistol fies back: Excellent points. Thanks for dropping by.
“The only good argument against Christianity is Christians.”
There is the same argument about Muslims and Islam too. Isnt it interesting? ;)
The Pistol fires back: Yes, those who profess faith and who don’t live by faith standards do great damage to the faith itself.
As an imperfect Christian who is sometimes petty, I must concede an “Amen” to this post. As a Catholic, I must say “Bingo.” And, by the way, GREAT pictures.
The Pistol fires back: Love the BINGO reference.
Actually, I’d have real trouble applying the Chesterton quote to Islam. Although Pete was too polite to point it out, there are plenty of other good arguments against Islam. Of course… Islamists themselves are still the most immediate and persuasive argument.
The Pistol fires back: I think it’s perfectly acceptable to self-critique the religion one professes. Far from being merely polite, I find it very refreshing.
Amen and Ouch!
Ouch? Maybe I misunderstood myself. Was I saying that people of faith shouldn’t examine their own faith?
Am I just thick and dim-witted?
Chesterton said that the only valid argument against Christianity were the imperfect practioners. The quote was then applied to Islam, as if the only valid argument against Islam were those who practice it. Is it verboten to note (as I did) that Islam can be subjected to numerous valid and (dare I say) devastating critiques?
If it is… then zing! Yah got me.
The Pistol fires back:
I didn’t mean to zing you. I get your point about the numerous valid arguments against Islam. I was just trying to convey that I think Chesterton’s quote had a fair amount of hyperbole. Right or wrong, there could be many arguments against any religion. As Christians, we are people of the Truth, but the truth we convey (both in words and in deeds) is far less than perfect. In this way, we are like practioners of many other faith traditions.
Again, your approach and mine differ. I am building a relationship with Shahrzad in which together we approach Truth. I trust the Holy Spirit can, should God desire, lead us there. I find this to be more fruitful than simply responding with a list of problems with Islam.
[...] Pistol Pete writes about piety and pettiness. Genuine piety can be a wonderful thing. Piety can be true devotion to the holy and [...]
The Pistol fires back: Thanks, Shane, for making me one of your items of interest. I am honored.
I’m a big fan of hyperbole, but whether Chesterton meant this as hyperbole hinges on what he meant by ‘good argument’. If he means “arguments which are challenging,” then sure. But if he meant “arguments which present real problems for the integrity of the faith,” then it is not hyperbole.
Please note that I didn’t respond ‘with a list of problems with Islam’. I merely said I couldn’t endorse the assertion that the writings and doctrines of Islam are impervious to ‘good arguments’ - by either of the definitions mentioned above.
But, this is clearly not the place to address such things so I’ll keep a more prudent tongue.
The Pistol fires back: You are always welcome to address anything you are led to do. You are a very logical person and a strong defender of the Christian faith. I value your feedback.
[...] Pistol Pete, a devout Christian blogger, who happens to have bipolar disorder, writes a very nice piece on piety and pettiness. [...]
The Pistol fires back: A very nice tribute, though undeserved.