What does it mean to have a holier-than-thou attitude?

Answer

A holier-than-thou attitude is pride displayed through words or actions when people consider themselves more righteous or moral than others, based on their own standards of judgment. When someone has embraced a particular lifestyle or has strong beliefs about certain behaviors that are not necessarily shared by other Christians, they may start to view themselves as superior to those who disagree. A holier-than-thou attitude is a dangerous trap that can easily entangle.

God often gives us personal convictions as we mature in our faith. However, when we flaunt those convictions and openly criticize those who do not share them, we are demonstrating a holier-than-thou attitude. For instance, a Christian may feel convicted about attending movies in theaters. Due to the typically negative content of such movies, this individual believes it is inappropriate to financially support the theater. According to Romans 14:14, it would be wrong for them to go against this conviction and attend a movie. Nevertheless, this conviction is not explicitly mandated in the Bible, so if this Christian starts to condemn other Christians who do watch wholesome movies in theaters, they have developed a holier-than-thou attitude.

Many individuals with a holier-than-thou attitude also fall into the legalism trap. Legalists believe that adhering to rules will earn them favor with God, so they often prioritize outward behaviors over inner motivations. This contradicts God’s priorities (1 Samuel 16:7;Luke 16:15). The legalistic Pharisees in Jesus’ time exemplified holier-than-thou attitudes. They viewed themselves as experts in upholding God’s Law and therefore closer to God than others, but Jesus highlighted that they had completely missed the essence of the Law. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and

Dear Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

When we adopt a holier-than-thou attitude, it means we have begun comparing ourselves with other people instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus as our example “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”, (2 Corinthians 10:12). Those who enjoy their holier-than-thou attitude often gravitate toward those with whom they can compare themselves favorably. They keep this attitude thriving by thinking, “At least I’m not like So-and-So.” We see this attitude demonstrated on social media. Some people post photos of their open Bibles with a verse for the day, only to later make rude or demeaning comments on other posts. Holier-than-thou people don’t respectfully engage in discussions about ideas; they belittle, sermonize, and grow angry when challenged. They demand respect but rarely give it. They speak in absolutes even when the Bible doesn’t. And they often twist a Bible verse or two to prove that their opinion applies to everyone, even though the whole of Scripture does not support their idea.

While we should never compromise on the basic fundamentals of salvation, grace, and the divinity of Jesus, other issues not clearly addressed in Scripture can be the foundation for developing a holier-than-thou attitude. God defines sin; we don’t. Whether a woman wears makeup, jewelry, or bright colors is never addressed in Scripture, so such choices are between her and God. We tend to judge each other about everything from how children are schooled to whether or not one drinks wine in moderation. When we goBeyond expressing our thoughts as personal conviction and presenting them as rules for everyone else, we can develop a holier-than-thou attitude. When we begin to think of ourselves as better than other people because we don’t struggle with a particular temptation or because we maintain a high standard in one area of conduct, we are already acting holier-than-thou.

We should not confuse the prideful holier-than-thou attitude with a godly scriptural stance. For example, it has become fashionable, even among professing Christians, to champion homosexuality as acceptable to God. Those who oppose this thinking on scriptural grounds (Genesis 19:1-13;Leviticus 18:22;Leviticus 20:13;Romans 1:26-27;1 Corinthians 6:9;Jude 1:7) are often accused of having holier-than-thou attitudes. However, it is not prideful to lovingly show others what God’s Word says about a subject. It is in the way we declare that truth that can mark the difference between confidence in God’s Word and a holier-than-thou attitude.

Paul dealt with how to avoid a holier-than-thou attitude in Romans 14. In his day, the hot-button issues were eating meat offered to idols and which days to consider holy days. Paul instructs his readers to “stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister” (verse 13). Rather than developing a holier-than-thou attitude toward those who do not share our personal convictions about non-essential issues, we should look for ways we can limit our own freedoms to avoid offending a weaker brother (verse 15). Humility, not pride, should characterize the life of a believer.