You’ve found yourself in a mini-series on Rebranding the church. If you missed it, then I recommend reading the introduction. Essentially, we believe that followers of Jesus should be most recognized for what they contribute to the world instead of what they are against in the world. Each week we tackle something the church must demonstrate they support.
Although we have lost a drive to gain knowledge, many Christians today seem to think they’re smarter and better than everyone else. Spend a few minutes reading comments in controversial blogs or religious discussions, and you will undoubtedly see someone claiming to be a Christian and then telling everyone they’re idiots because they believe in evolution or something.
I have to admit, in my younger years I was often guilty of this. I thought my logic was irrefutable, and I said many unloving things to people when they didn’t agree. Not surprisingly, those unloving things only pushed them further from the faith.
It really does not matter how smart you are, God is crystal clear in the Bible that we must be humble.
Furthermore, even though I do not believe in evolution, I know for a fact that the scientists who study it are anything but idiots or stupid. Labeling them this way makes me seem judgmental and foolish. They may not be correct all the time, but their IQ is far higher than my own.
But it is not just about knowledge, some Christians tend to be rather proud of their own behavior. There is a perfect example of this in Luke 18:9-14 (ESV):
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
That really says it all. We must remember that the only thing that separates us from the wicked people of the world is Jesus. We are not smarter, more righteous, better looking, or better anything. We were not able to save ourselves, and it is the Spirit who works righteousness in us.
Jesus has changed our lives, we did not do the work. Because of that, we should live a life of complete humility. When we look down upon others for their sin or beliefs we have forgotten that our own righteousness is completely the work of God.
Instead of looking down on people, look up to Christ. He is our model, and humility will come naturally as long as we keep our eyes on him. Most people today find Christians to be both judgmental and hypocritical, and I am convinced that some good humility will heal both of these perceptions.
Your turn: Why is it so hard to stay humble?
