Righteousness Comes From Many Perspectives
M P K Kutty
|
Most scriptures agree that love is an important manifestation of a man's spirituality or religiosity The next virtue expected in a spiritual. person is holiness. Holiness is nothing but righteousness. When righteousness prevails in a society , its effect is justice and peace. But the problem is that the concepts of righteousness, of right and wrong vary from person to person; they are coloured by his world view, environment and other factors. In fact, while everyone is looking for justice and righteousness, conflicts arise as to what constitutes righteousness.Imperfect as human nature is, man is more inclined to be self-righteous than righteous in a real sense. Man has an infinite capacity for self-justification.This is at the root of all problems, violence and war. Our unrighteous selfishness prompts us to take advantage of others for our benefit.
For righteousness to prevail, we need to overcome the hate, selfishness and greed that devastate our hearts. Henry Clay said, “I would rather be right than president,“ an expression that is quoted to manifest the spirit of righteousness that dwells in the human heart.Abraham Lincoln risked near dissolution of the American nation when he stood resolutely for abolition of slavery. “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery , I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally ,“ the great emancipator had commented. Such boldness in standing for what is right is a rarity among politicians these days. Of course leaders had always endeavoured to go with the crowds. The Pharisees were a highly religious, righteous group who lived in the time of Jesus. Addressing them, Jesus had declared: “For I tell you 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) A World War II incident illustrates how the boldness of a righteous soldier saved the lives of more than 200 Jews. Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds served in the US army during World War II. He participated in the landing of the American forces in Europe and was taken prisoner by the Germans. Together with other American POWs, including Jews, he was taken to a camp near Ziegenhain, Germany . In line with their anti-Jewish policy, the Germans singled out Jewish POWs, and many of them on the Eastern Front were sent to extermination camps or killed. One day in January 1945 the German authority asked all Jewish POWs in the camp to report at a particular spot the following morning. Master Sergeant Edmonds, who was in charge of the prisoners, ordered all POWs Jews and non-Jews alike to stand together.When the German officer in charge saw that all the camp's inmates were standing in front of their barracks, he turned to Edmonds and said, “They cannot all be Jews.“ To this Edmonds (himself a Christian) replied: “We are all Jews.“
The German took out his pistol and threatened Edmonds, but the Master Sergeant retorted, “According to the Geneva Convention, we have to give only our name, rank, and serial number.If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes.“ The German gave up, turned around, and left the scene.After the war, Edmonds received many honours for saving the lives of Jews by his righteous stand.
For righteousness to prevail, we need to overcome the hate, selfishness and greed that devastate our hearts. Henry Clay said, “I would rather be right than president,“ an expression that is quoted to manifest the spirit of righteousness that dwells in the human heart.Abraham Lincoln risked near dissolution of the American nation when he stood resolutely for abolition of slavery. “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery , I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally ,“ the great emancipator had commented. Such boldness in standing for what is right is a rarity among politicians these days. Of course leaders had always endeavoured to go with the crowds. The Pharisees were a highly religious, righteous group who lived in the time of Jesus. Addressing them, Jesus had declared: “For I tell you 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) A World War II incident illustrates how the boldness of a righteous soldier saved the lives of more than 200 Jews. Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds served in the US army during World War II. He participated in the landing of the American forces in Europe and was taken prisoner by the Germans. Together with other American POWs, including Jews, he was taken to a camp near Ziegenhain, Germany . In line with their anti-Jewish policy, the Germans singled out Jewish POWs, and many of them on the Eastern Front were sent to extermination camps or killed. One day in January 1945 the German authority asked all Jewish POWs in the camp to report at a particular spot the following morning. Master Sergeant Edmonds, who was in charge of the prisoners, ordered all POWs Jews and non-Jews alike to stand together.When the German officer in charge saw that all the camp's inmates were standing in front of their barracks, he turned to Edmonds and said, “They cannot all be Jews.“ To this Edmonds (himself a Christian) replied: “We are all Jews.“
The German took out his pistol and threatened Edmonds, but the Master Sergeant retorted, “According to the Geneva Convention, we have to give only our name, rank, and serial number.If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes.“ The German gave up, turned around, and left the scene.After the war, Edmonds received many honours for saving the lives of Jews by his righteous stand.
