The Path of a Righteous Man: Embracing Faith & Virtue in a Decaying World
by Donavon L Riley
In a world encircled in the grip of godlessness and hedonistic decay, righteous men are nearly extinct. Yet, those who embrace spiritual and moral righteousness stand tall as beacons of unwavering faith and virtue. But this is not an easy thing. The path of the righteous man cleaves through false saviors and the turbulent seas of moral bankruptcy, and is often met with incredulity, scorn, and outrage. But this is nothing new. The Stoic philosophers of Greece and Rome were often ridiculed for their pursuit of righteousness as were the warriors who adhered to the Bushido ethos in late 19th century Japan, and Christians have always been scorned, and even executed, for their testimony that Jesus is their ultimate righteousness. But why?
The Stoic Warrior Amidst Moral Chaos
In the face of a society adrift in moral ambiguity, the righteous man is akin to a Stoic philosopher in the latter days of the Roman Empire. Stoicism, rooted in self-discipline and rationality, were his armor as he navigated the murky waters of temptation and degradation that offered themselves to him on almost every street corner, in every business and personal interaction, and extending into the bacchanalian court of the emperor. So, to resist temptation, the Stoic embraced the maxim that his internal values mattered more than external circumstances – a mantra that rendered him invulnerable to the corrosive forces of society.
Even today, in the Stoic ethos, external influences may buffet like violent storms, but the righteous man stands firm like a mountain unmoved. Amidst the clamor of hedonistic sales pitches, he remains steadfast in his virtue, unswayed by fleeting pleasures or superficial norms. Through the Stoic worldview, he recognizes that the source of his strength lies within his own choices and how he reacts to others who are outside of his control, so that his righteous deeds serve as a testament to his unyielding character.
Bushido: The Code of the Noble Warrior
Like Stoicism, Bushido — the ancient code of the samurai — presents a similar way forward to the one seeking righteousness. Bushido teaches him that righteousness is not a mere abstraction; it’s a way of life to be embodied with honor and dignity. Just as the samurai pledged allegiance to their lord and served with unflinching loyalty, the righteous man pledges allegiance to the timeless principles that affect his morality.
In the pursuit of righteousness, he impresses Bushido’s virtues upon his every choice: rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. And for a man today, living in a world where honor seems a relic of the past and loyalty a rare commodity, the righteousness taught by Bushido provides a clarity that defines his inner meditations and outer engagements. In this way, a righteous man faces the morally compromised society he inhabits with the unwavering courage of a samurai, carving his path with honor and standing fast against the temptation to contribute to the moral degradation he sees all around him.
The Righteousness of Faith: Biblical Wisdom
However, in our pursuit of virtue, we cannot focus solely on earthly righteousness. We must at some point turn our attention to higher matters. We must investigate the life-changing, hope-inducing righteousness of faith, as illuminated by the Bible. The righteous man’s path is not a solitary endeavor; it’s a trek undertaken with the God-man, Jesus. A righteous man is not righteous in himself. Instead, his righteousness is determined by his relationship with God. So he seeks guidance from Scripture, praying for strength to stay on the path of righteousness from the testimonies of ancient patriarchs, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He listens to the preachings of Holy Spirit-inspired prophets like Isaiah, Zephaniah, and Amos. And he follows the accounts of Jesus and his disciples, who were called to walk with their Master, The Righteous One.
More than that, through faith in Jesus, texts such as Proverbs 20:7 reveal that in our relationship with Jesus, the righteous man lives a life beyond the mirage of superficial pleasure: “The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.” So, in a world intoxicated by hedonism, the righteous man’s life exudes blessings that transcend generations because he walks with the One who makes him righteous.
The Bible also illustrates the triumph of God’s righteousness against spiritual and moral decay through the tale of Noah. Amidst a society steeped in sinful corruption, God delta red Noah to be a righteous man. Through his unyielding faith in God’s command and promise to save him, Noah built an ark, preserving not just his family but also the seed of righteousness in a world drowning in wickedness. Through Noah, God saved a remnant, from whom Jesus would be born, in order to ensure that Noah, and all those born after him, never have to question or doubt the path they are called to walk.
One Foot in This World, One Foot in The Resurrection: Guided by Wisdom & God’s Righteousness
The path of the righteous man may cleave through the turbulent seas of moral bankruptcy, but his map and compass, his strength to move forward, are based in Stoic wisdom, Bushido’s virtues, and the Bible’s teachings. These make him an indomitable force against the societal tide of godlessness and degradation. His stoic resolve shields him from external influences, allowing him to stand firm in his moral convictions. The essence of Bushido molds his thoughts and actions, as he embodies virtues that are both noble and unwavering, even amidst a world that has forgotten their value.
Furthermore, the righteous man finds his strength amplified by the righteousness of faith in Christ Jesus. He finds encouragement in the Bible’s narratives of unwavering commitment, like Noah’s, that inspire him to hold true to his principles and to God’s promise to never abandon or forsake him. In faith, he finds solace, trusting that he is not alone on the path. Just as Noah was guided by God’s promise to save him from destruction, the righteous man is guided by God’s faithfulness, which transcends the limitations of his mortal existence, leading to the resurrection to eternal life.
Stay on The Path: The Triumph of Righteousness
In a world rife with godlessness and moral decay, the righteous man is the embodiment of faith and virtue, a sentinel who watches and fights against corruption and evil. Through Stoic wisdom, he gazes inward, cultivating resilience against external temptations. By embracing Bushido’s code, he walks a path marked by honor and loyalty. And in the righteousness of faith, he is fortified by God in body, mind, and spirit so he can navigate through the wilderness of sin and unbelief.
The righteous man strides through this world, a servant of righteousness and The Righteous One. And so, he is never alone. He walks with Stoic philosophers, Bushido-molded samurai, and faithful believers in every generation – they are united with him. And with them ready at hand to encourage, challenge, and strengthen him, he stands fast, a living testament that in the midst of darkness, there exists a beacon of light – righteous men who dare to defy obstacles and opponents, showing the way for others, that the path of the righteous man is the only way to be satisfied in this life, and in the life to come at the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day.