Thought for the Week: Are you a good person?

Apparently, though, Mr Wormwood is not alone. A recent survey conducted by the US Cultural Research Centre revealed almost half those questioned believed that they themselves were the best person they knew. Someone is deluded.

“God I thank you that I’m not like other people, extortioners, unjust, adulterers; I pray, I give.” Jesus tells us that’s how one man went to the temple to pray. 

He thinks he’s in credit with God. He was deluded. The problem? His standard was ‘other people’. Self-righteousness had blinded him to the Holiness of the One to whom he prayed.

That’s the problem with human judgement; judging ourselves good but condemning others. Have you found yourself doing that over some item of news this year?  

“Thank you God that I am not like others.” The bible tells us we are! “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” 

It tells us we can’t fix it by ‘being good’ either. The cross was the only way to pay for human sin, we’re worse than we ever believed... But the news is good. Another man was praying that day in the temple “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner”. That man, Jesus told them, went home justified by God.

Reverend Mark Jasper, Campbeltown Community Church.