Is it a sin to be excessively pious?

Question

How can we tell when we ourselves or someone else has become excessively pious?

Answer 1

Matthew 22:36-39 states:

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"

He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Pious means having or exhibiting religious reverence; earnestly compliant in the observance of religion; devout.

It seems to me we are called to obey both of these commandments.

If you are so busy exhibiting religious reverence that you do not show proper love of neighbor then you are probably sinning.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Piety
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Piety is a desire and willingness to work toward spiritual goals through our actions in this world.

Some people consider piety a way to win the favor or forgiveness of deities, that is, to "propitiate" them.

Others consider authentic piety something that engages more than the physical body of a person. In this view, the heart and mind of a person are engaged in an intimate, revitalizing, deepening relationship with deities.

It results in external signs, such as humility and pacificity before God or 'the gods'.

Pietism as a movement within Lutheranism, was strong from the late-17th century to the mid-18th century

Some issues an article on piety could discuss:

(1) Is it really a virtue? Is it a necessary? (2) The different kinds of pieties. It is not just a religious phenomenon. There is ideological piety, institutional piety, tribal piety. Some forms of patriotism could be regarded as a kind nationalistic piety. Environmentalists are often pious about our duty towards nature. People are pious about many secular values: human rights, "freedom"... etc. (3) What are the key traits of the pious attitude. (4) Is there a psychological phenomenon at the heart of piety - perhaps it is one of those unconscious mechanisms for attenuating cognitive dissonance. (5) Pious attitudes seem to be linked to the notion of taboo. Piety is a kind of unquestioning reverence for something while taboos involve a kind of unquestioning disgust. Blasphemy only exists where there is piety.

So it depends on WHAT you are being pious about.

Answer 3

Judging piousness is very difficult. Many of the actions of saints would be considered excessive by 'normal' standards. So, I'd say its certainly not a sin to be excessively pious: by religious standards there is no such thing as excessive piousness. Socially though, excessive piousness does exist: when piety starts interfering with 'normal' life.

Answer 4

If you are "pious" just so that everyone will remark that you are pious (look how good he/she is) it is hypocrisy. Jesus was not a big fan of hypocrisy.
St. Dominic Savio was very pious and constantly wanted to do penance, more and more, out of LOVE, not for SHOW. It is not really a sin if you are very pious but are not doing it for show. Just don't overdo it.

Answer 5

Not if being excessively pious is all that's going on.

Answer 6

The concept of sin hardly applies in this case. Having said this, I would say that any excess is to be regarded with circumspection. What is the difference between excess and exaltation in religion? I doubt if people mad in adoration of God please Him, just as much as those who let their limbs deteriorate through disuse, or starve themselves, live up trees or inside caves or preach doom !

Answer 7

Self Centeredness. Righteousness is imputed to us from Jesus Christ. If we claim to be pious on our own merit, then we are being self centered and prideful. So to answer your question, yes.
It can also lead to legalism other sins.

Answer 8

Excess of anything can be considered a sin, and whether or not its easy to tell would be considered by religous affiliation.

Answer 9

You mean overly-righteous?
It brings problems.
Ask yourself, is there real humility?
A critical spirit?
Judgementalism?
Depending on works
Hypocrisy?
The fact you asked tells me you are very careful, and I think if you are, you will take steps to right yourself.
I think you will do well.

Answer 10

God says that he hates people who act "holier than thou" - He says they are like a smoke that gets into your nose, and irritates you all the day long.
What do you do when smoke gets in your nose?
You get rid of it. And He will.