What does righteousness actually mean? And what do I have to do to be "righteous"? If you've ever wondered these things, you might have encountered worldviews that have given you a list of things to do or ways to go about life that can make you a righteous person. The radical thing about Christianity is this: righteousness is not a thing you do, but a Person you know. It is a relationship with a God that became a man and exchanged our interpersonal separation for right standing and restored life and love.