Don't Be Afraid of the Word, "Righteous"

Yesterday, in an email to the congregation I serve as pastor, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, I thanked people for being so committed to prayer. Then I mentioned this:

James writes in the New Testament, "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). And don't be frightened by that word "righteous." You don't have to be a stained glass saint to be righteous. A righteous person is simply a sinner who is right with God: they repent for their sins and trust in Jesus as their Lord. You can be assured that your prayers in Jesus' Name do great things!

Our righteousness doesn't depend on us. (Thank God!)