Supererogation Is Not A Superhero!

Sup-er-er-o-ga-tion is a big, old English word that has been lost to more modern times. For good reason? Perhaps, but, it needs revised. Sometimes words get in the way of the message but they certainly are fun to learn when playing scrabble; like the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! The complexity of that word was made easy through a song and a familiar musical, Mary Poppins. Have I lost you yet?

This term jump out to me the other day as I read the Discipline of Doctrine of the Episcopal  Church. It was in an early 1900 version of the Episcopal Conference Discipline. Yep, I am a church nerd.

This idea that people had was a belief of "going above the call of duty" to demonstrate acts of works (believing to be super spiritual). It is the idea that somehow God would be more pleased with us if we are doing more than expected. This act of supererogation mistakenly believes that it is a means of being justified (as righteous) before God. It’s an idea likened into a child behavior that whoever does good should be treated special for their public displays of goodness.

It is hard to believe that modern day people (Christians) believe this today! While it may be that as you exceed the expectations at your earthly job, and you may receive promotions and perhaps, even a better wage; yet, this concept is not the same in spiritual terms.

The modern Anglican and many Methodist still hold to this teaching as an article of religion. It finds it’s relevance among a belief that their works somehow make them more spiritual. It is a term that if lived out can falsely teach that we can become like spiritual superheroes! As if we were trying to make God like us more as we do more good deeds.

The teaching of this act (of works) was popularized by the Reformation; a time when the Catholic Church (perhaps inadvertently) taught that good works are stored up as a bank account or penitence for times when we may fall short. Many taught that even acts of supererogation can “buy one out of purgatory.

It is illustrated best from Luke 18:14. The story is of a religious man called a Pharisee who came to the temple and demonstrated his acts of righteousness in public ways and an act of another man who was a tax collector simply begged God’s mercy. The tax collector demonstrated humility and asked for mercy while the Pharisee showed loudly his acts of self-righteousness. The Lord concluded this parable by saying:

"I tell you that this man, (the tax collector) rather than the other, (the Pharisee) went home justified before God. Everyone who exalt himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14) 

How does this relate to you and me? If we are to understand this "superhero" word, we must apply the teaching that brings balance to humility & self-importance. We must recognize the arrogance of belief that somehow elevated our attitude above the righteousness of God. We might call this impiety; a lack of reverence of God.

Since our world is broken and people are human, it is important that we understand what God expects and the misguided idea that IF we do for God, He will reward us according to our extra good deeds. The act of good will does not prove spirituality nor does it show greater access in heavenly places.

Similarly we must also understand that self-righteous (acts of good) does not place us as more favored by God. We are not superheroes of some superior race of mankind.

Bottom line: There are no superhero’s in God’s economy. We trick ourselves to think that somehow God is pleased by our superhero good deeds. We, in error might think that we receive “quid pro quo” from God; an exchange of actions for payment or favor!

Paul, the Apostle tells us that our righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. (Isaiah 64:6)

The teaching of supererogation should be reintroduced to the church. We must recognize that for all the good we do (which is a act of worship for God’s Glory) does not mean that God will somehow elevate our status to super-ninja Spiritual-Superhero status.

The next time I pull a quote from an out-of-print Book of Doctrines (of Methodist or others) I need to remember that every good discipleship principle should bring me to a place of humility. Even demonstrating an impressive knowledge like knowing what super ovation means does not qualify me any more righteous or give me favor in God’s economy. I am one who is equally benefiting from the wonderful grace of God’s love! 

I love the saying that I read at a restaurant while traveling: “I always try to go the extra mile at work but my boss always finds me and brings me back.”