Moral Grandstanding

Don’t be hugging and kissing me,
if you don’t mean it.

If you keep trying to convince me,
I’m going to start believing,
that you really do.

Don’t be offering me your pity,
just because you’re feeling sorry for humanity.
Let me be, let me have my dignity.

If you’re doing this,
just so you can feel better about yourself,
don’t, don’t be a hypocrite.

If you can’t save me,
don’t imagine you’re making a difference,
all you’re doing is prolonging my misery!

“Loving your neighbor as yourself is found eight times in the Bible. Not once. Not twice. Eight times. Loving your neighbor as yourself is so important to God that He not only repeats Himself, He makes it a command. And not just one in a list of many commands. Jesus coupled the command to love your neighbor as yourself with loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. James calls it the royal law. It sounds beautiful, and it is when we obey it. But loving your neighbor as yourself isn’t always easy. That’s why God made it a command. He knew we’d struggle. Making it a commandment is actually to our benefit. How is that? We have to do it on purpose, be intentional about it. Sometimes even out of our need.”
Excerpt from: What Does it Mean to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself?

“Moral grandstanding can be defined as ‘the use and abuse of moral talk to seek status, to promote oneself, or to boost your own brand.’ A moral grandstander is therefore a person who frequently uses public discussion of morality and politics to impress others with their moral qualities. Crucially, these individuals are primarily motivated by the desire to enhance their own status or ranking among their peers.
Let’s face it: Moral grandstanding seems to be everywhere these days. As clinical psychologist Joshua Grubbs notes, “Perhaps, just perhaps, part of the reason so many of us are so awful to each other so much of the time on here is related to a desire to show off to like-minded others. In essence, sometimes we behave poorly in an effort to gain the respect and esteem of folks like us.” Excerpt from: Are You a Moral Grandstander?

Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” “All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. Bible, Matthew 19:16-21