The Good Person Syndrome

It occurred to me recently that many people have the “Good Person Syndrome.” Now, I am not talking about what most of you may think. All Christians have talked to people about heaven and heard the response, “Oh I am a good person. I do good things in my community. I go to church. God will let me into heaven.” We all know being a good person is not what gets us into heaven. But today I am talking about something else.

“What else is there?” One may ask.

My reply, “I believe the “Good Person Syndrome” runs rampant among Christians.”  Let me further explain and encourage each of us to examine ourselves for this Syndrome.

First think about this – Disobedience:

• Have you ever been a parent? Most of us have and we know if we tell our children something to do and they do not do it – then they are disobedient.

Second think about this – Big Sins or Little Sins:

• God does not rank sin as a little sin or a big sin. People call sin a big or little sin. Only people think some sins are worse than others. But God sees all sin as equal. In Revelation, God puts lying along with sins that we would think are horrendous.

Rev 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars…”

Example: When I talk with a lost person about heaven, I have to get them past the “Good Person Syndrome” by seeing they are a sinner. So, from the verse above, they can see that God puts lying with what we would call horrendous sins. Now, the lost person starts to see themselves as a sinner. Great! They are now getting past the “Good Person Syndrome.”

Now, let’s put this together for Christians:

• First – God gives us (his children) a whole Bible as our instruction book. If we do not follow all his rules, we are disobeying God. Just like children who are disobedient to their parents.
• Second – The same set of ideas for the lost sinner applies to Christians. God does not see the Christian as sinning big or little sins. (Although I will still use the term ‘little or big sins’ for explanation proposes.) God sees all our sins on the same level and he sees us, the Christian, as a filthy rag!

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”

Next time you think, “I have done pretty good today. I have not sinned.” You are exhibiting the “Good Person Syndrome” and God is seeing your righteousness as a dirty rag.

God’s Word is our instruction book. If we disobey in one area – we have sinned.

So, “What ‘little’ sins might be making your rag (your life) dirtier and dirtier in God’s eyes?”

Here is a list of a few things (small sins, in our eyes, that we might not think about) that God showed me that would make us appear dirty before him.

1. Heb. 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him…” Wow! We are having faith in our Lord for our eternal salvation, but are we having faith in the Lord for daily problems? When is the last time you thought something like this, “Oh this is awful, I know God can take care of this though, but (in your mind you are thinking ‘yeah right’) If we are not having faith in the Lord for everything in our lives, our Saviour is unhappy with us, and not having faith in him is a sin.

2. Complaining – “Hmm, we tend to overlook this one.” Just read Exodus and all the issues God had with the Israelites and their complaining. Be honest, “Do you really go a day without complaining about something?”

Even if one does not verbally complain to someone, that does not mean one is not complaining in their mind? It might be a small complaint, but a complaint big or small is a complaint. And, remember, God knows all – even our complaints in our minds” Ps 94:11 “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man…”

3. Heb. 10:25 “…but exhorting one another…” Exhorting others. Now a days, it is easy to get caught up in negative conversations. “What is missed? Exhortation – Encouragement!” Think about this next time you leave a conversation, “Did I encourage or discourage someone?” As I see it, “There is a lot of discouragement from people during these times.”

4. I Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…” Come on ladies – we are to be peculiar – dress modestly! We all know we should be doing this, but many think “Everyone else is wearing this, I’m going to as well. I want to dress in modern fashions.” I whisper to you, “We can still dress in modern fashions and be modest.”

Many ladies and young girls want to fit in and not stand out in the world. But God tells us to be “a peculiar people.” When we try to blend in through wearing worldly clothing or showing off body parts that should not be seen in public (even through tight clothing) – we are sinning because we are not being “a peculiar people” for our Lord.

5. A few other things to consider in I Timothy:
   1. 5:12-13 “…know them which labour among you…And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Honor and respect your church leaders.
   2. 5:14 “…be patient toward all men”
   3. 5:15 “…follow that which is good…”
   4. 5:18 “In every thing give thanks…”
   5. 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

The list could go on and on from the front cover to the back cover of the Bible. I urge you to study God’s Word.

So, if you have the “Good Person Syndrome”, take it to the Lord in prayer. Think about Isaiah 64:6 and ask the Lord to show you areas you might be sinning and you never realized you were sinning. You might be amazed at what God reveals to you in your prayers. Then get things right and keep things right with God on a daily basis and crush the “Good Person Syndrome” in your life. Don’t be a dirty rag before God!