posted
Are we allowed to feel it. Something got me to think about it. We talk so much about judging others and how we should never do that, that I'm wondering are we allowed to to (socially or doctrinally) or should we occassionally feel righteous indignation?
I think most would agree that if we're in company where God's name is taken vain very much and in a very bad way, we'd be ok telling the people not to do it - perhaps feeling that they really are blasheming and we need to step up and "protect" the name of God.
But that doesn't usually happen with members. So when a member for example would go and make sacred covenants in the temple and you'd know s/he'd make them knowingly sinning, like having an affair before in and continuing having an affair after it and never even intending to stop it while making the covenants (purely fictional situation here), would you be allowed to feel "righteous indignation" that someone is mocking God (and something, the temple, that is very important to you) or would that be considered plain judging and mind your own business. Talking about just feelings here, not actions. Then a different question, in a situation as such, when you really do know the facts and it's not just hearsay, should you speak about it with the person, or would that be considered judging again and a thing you shouldn't do?
Like said, nothing's happened and I'm not doing anything, just something happened that made me think if there is room for righteous indignation and if we are too concerned about being judgmental and if that sometimes prevents us from feeling or doing things we should feel and do...
Any thoughts on any of this.
Posts: 801 | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Of course we are expected to judge. The caution is to judge from a place of sacred truth. If we judge, we can expect to be judged by the same criteria. We make judgments all the time. In a theocracy, the preferred method of administration is by judges, as shown in the Scriptures.
Righteous indignation was expressed by Jesus at the temple for instance. It is part of what makes the believer get up and do what needs to be done to reorder the situation along correct principles. To right a wrong.
In both judging and righteous indignation, a good testimony, a solid understanding of the Scriptures and the Gift of the Holy Ghost are all necessary.
Unfortunately, mortals have weakness in one, two or all of the above criteria thus making it tricky to express either judgment,or righteous indignation and not slide right over into something else entirely.
Thus it is better to try and avoid the whole thing. Says she who gets bitten in the butt by stuff like this too often.
Posts: 5468 | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
If we're just talking about feelings, I believe that "tender loving sorrow" is usually a better internal reaction to strive for. "Love thy neighbor" is one of the two great commandments, on which hang the law and the prophets. All the other commandments to judge and act accordingly are standing in line behind that one.
My wife disagrees a little. She figures that once you reach the loving sorrow part, righteous indignation is sometimes appropriate.
(We are related to people who go to the temple one day, and shelter child molestors and lie in court about victims the next day.)
posted
Wikipedia has some good things to say about righteous indignation. IMO, the key word is righteous. If that word is applicable, then whatever follows must be good.
Posts: 10855 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I recommend trying the following before righteous indignation: Persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, lover unfeigned, kindness, pure knowledge, clarity of point, with neither hypocrisy nor guile. We can try the righteous indignation method after we have tried those other methods for as long as God has tried them with us.
I think "righteous indignation" as commonly used is an excuse to cover our own impatience and tempers.
[ July 25, 2012, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: Jason ]
Posts: 3493 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Perhaps I view it a bit differently, but to me righteous indignation doesn't focus on the person, but on the act. Like in the scenario given it wouldn't be about being mad that the person gets to go to the temple when he obviously doesn't care much about it, but feeling sad and furious that God is being mocked. More of a general feeling about a principle than a feeling towards a person.
quote:I recommend trying the following before righteous indignation: Persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, lover unfeigned, kindness, pure knowledge, clarity of point, with neither hypocrisy nor guile. We can try the righteous indignation method after we have tried those other methods for as long as God has tried them with us.
This would mean it's about the person and something you'd try doing something about. I see no problem with feeling righteous indignation about the matter and loving the person humbly at the same time. I think they absolutely go hand in hand, you can't have righteous indignation without the love. I don't know really why, but that's how I feel about it.
Being mad about someone doing something wrong nad voicing and opinion about it isn't righteous indignation really.
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