Christians think they're okay. - Are they?

[St. SteVen]

I have observed a state of superiority in Christians that is rather disturbing.

They view themselves as saved and somehow members of an elite group.

With that elitist attitude comes a level of pridefulness that is smug.

They like to look down on others and condemn them.

To be clear, it's not all Christians, but an alarmingly high percentage.

Has anyone else noticed this? What will happen to these folks at the judgement?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. - Luke 18:10

 

[Hiddenthings]

No one is immune from smugness, not even the author.

Even God laughs at the foolish!

 

[Aunty Jane]

I have observed a state of superiority in Christians that is rather disturbing.

Was it the same attitude that Jesus had towards the Pharisees? Did he look down on them.....and for what reason did he do so? They were all Jews...men of supposedly the same faith....Jesus exposed them for what they were.

They view themselves as saved and somehow members of an elite group.

Since God is the one who chooses his elect and also draws the sheep to the teachings of his son, the Bible itself teaches that there is an elite group who are heaven bound.....but not all are destined for a life in heaven....those chosen for rulership and priesthood will have earthly subjects who will benefit immensely from their administration. These ones are not volunteers, but chosen by God himself. The best government that humans will ever have! Humans are misled about what the requirement are for such a choosing....and what it really means to be “born again”.

With that elitist attitude comes a level of pridefulness that is smug.

There is a smugness that I see in some, but confidence isn’t necessarily smugness....unless you are continually consigning your opposers to a hell of eternal torment with a measure of glee.....that I find very disturbing...

They like to look down on others and condemn them.

Yes, but Jesus was sent to the “lost”....the sinners, and he never looked down on them....he appealed to them on the basis of hope. His disciples were not educated men but appealed to the lost because they were not part of the establishment. They were just their brothers in the faith....men and women like themselves. (Matt 10:11-14)

To be clear, it's not all Christians, but an alarmingly high percentage.

We will all find out soon enough how Christ has judged us because what humans think of one another doesn’t really count.

Has anyone else noticed this? What will happen to these folks at the judgement?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. - Luke 18:10

Yes, the tax collector was one of the lost who humbly showed that he was mindful of his sinfulness....the Pharisee was a prideful man who looked down on such a man, despised by the Jews because they collected money for the Romans whilst lining their own pockets with money extorted from their own brothers.....they were basically thieves. Yet Jesus saw something in Matthew and asked him to become his follower...the Pharisee saw the tax collector as a law breaker but was oblivious to how many laws their own doctrines broke....leading the whole nation astray. It’s not hard to see which one would impress God.

 

[Bob]

Thanks for introducing an interesting topic.

Some sound reasons why Christians can speak and should about their faith with (quiet) pride:

—started first hospitals and continues to fund them
—started and maintains prison ministry (unique to Christianity)
—faith is backed by an internally consistent theology
—teaches “Love Your Enemies” (may be unique)
—has given spiritual hope to millions across the globe
—perfect counterpoint to the secular thrusts for power, prestige, and sybaritic life styles
—perfect counterpoint to scientific hubris
—provided the perfect foundation for the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution
—engenders ideal community cultures

Unfortunately, some Christians have forgotten the importance of humility and compassion for those that are lost (including those that do not realize they are lost). Throughout this forum we see unnecessary cat fights and put-downs. A good rule is “seek to understand before being understood” (F Covey). Gentle Persuasion, not violent rhetoric, should be our watchword.

Blessings.

 

[complete]

'But the LORD said unto Samuel,
Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him:
for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the LORD looketh on the heart.'
(Sam.16:7 )

'Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's,
let him of himself think this again,
that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.'
(2Cor.10:7)

Hello there,
It is so easy to get a wrong impression of someone, especially when they are not known very well. Very often the most distant of people, who have a superior manner, are simply masking a deep inferiority complex, and put on this outward appearance as a defence mechanism. We are all saved by God's grace, and not by our merit, and therefore have nothing to boast about.

'For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.'
(Eph 2:8-10)

'My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:
the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.'
(Psa. 34:2)

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
Who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. '
(1Cor. 1: 26-31)

Praise God!

 

[complete]

'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.'
(1Cor 3:11-15)

 

[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:
I have observed a state of superiority in Christians that is rather disturbing.

Was it the same attitude that Jesus had towards the Pharisees? Did he look down on them.....and for what reason did he do so? They were all Jews...men of supposedly the same faith....Jesus exposed them for what they were.

No.
I don't think Jesus looked down on the Pharisees.
Corrected them? Certainly. And he said things that offended them.
Jesus' aim was always love.

Yes, the tax collector was one of the lost who humbly showed that he was mindful of his sinfulness....the Pharisee was a prideful man who looked down on such a man...

Yes.
That's the attitude I am addressing here.

 

[St. SteVen]

A good rule is “seek to understand before being understood” (F Covey). Gentle Persuasion, not violent rhetoric, should be our watchword.

Well said. Thanks.

 

[St. SteVen]

Hello there,
It is so easy to get a wrong impression of someone, especially when they are not known very well. Very often the most distant of people, who have a superior manner, are simply masking a deep inferiority complex, and put on this outward appearance as a defence mechanism. We are all saved by God's grace, and not by our merit, and therefore have nothing to boast about.

That's a good way to look at it. Thanks.

 

[Lambano]

There is a smugness that I see in some, but confidence isn’t necessarily smugness....unless you are continually consigning your opposers to a hell of eternal torment with a measure of glee.....that I find very disturbing...

Yeah. Me too. Very disturbing.

Although to be fair, they may be just perpetuating the same techniques they had done unto them. Like incest and child abuse, spiritual abuse may be generational.

 

[Lambano]

This one I need to be really careful about, because I've got it too. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

I pointed out a moment ago that the more pride one had, the more one disliked pride in others. In fact, if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, 'How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronise me, or show off?' The point is that each person's pride is in competition with every one else's pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise.

 

[Lambano]

When I was "volunteered" to be in charge of church communications, the first task was to redesign those "Welcome!" pamphlets we had in the narthex for newcomers. I looked at the old one to see what might be salvageable and what needed to go and what needed to be added, and this line stood out:

"We're a humble church, and we're proud of it!"

 

[Bob]

When I was "volunteered" to be in charge of church communications, the first task was to redesign those "Welcome!" pamphlets we had in the narthex for newcomers. I looked at the old one to see what might be salvageable and what needed to go and what needed to be added, and this line stood out:

"We're a humble church, and we're proud of it!"

Good one!

Related: Benjamin Franklin had a list of a dozen “values” or “behavioral attributes” against which he would review his own conduct (hard look in the mirror). One of those was humility, and he had to admit it was the most difficult one to evaluate. ”My how humble I was today” doesn’t sound too humble. Or, overly self-deprecating: “What was with all the attention on me today?”

 

[marks]

I have observed a state of superiority in Christians that is rather disturbing.

They view themselves as saved and somehow members of an elite group.

With that elitist attitude comes a level of pridefulness that is smug.

They like to look down on others and condemn them.

To be clear, it's not all Christians, but an alarmingly high percentage.

Has anyone else noticed this? What will happen to these folks at the judgement?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. - Luke 18:10

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV
5) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

You don't really have sufficient understanding to judge others, so best if you don't. You don't even have sufficient knowledge to judge yourself.

Much love!

 

[Aunty Jane]

St. SteVen said:

No.
I don't think Jesus looked down on the Pharisees.
Corrected them? Certainly. And he said things that offended them.
Jesus' aim was always love.

If you read through Matt 23, you won’t see a lotta love expressed there.....

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell [gehenna] as you are.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell [gehenna]?” (NIV)

His condemnation was absolute, that as a collective, they were headed for eternal death in “gehenna”.
He concluded with a prophesy....
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (NIV)

God has been waiting almost 2000 years for the Jews to accept Jesus as their Messiah....they will not get through the coming judgment unless they do. As individuals they can, just as they did in the first century....but as a collective they still stand condemned, still stubbornly refusing to accept the evidence.

Jesus’ love was directed at the “lost sheep”, because these were the ones he came to save. (Matt 10:5-6; Matt 15:24) These were lost spiritually because of the neglect of those who should have shepherded them but didn’t care about them, and treated them like dirt.

Jesus was the “Fine Shepherd” who cared deeply about those lost ones, because he knew that they were neglected and hungry and needed a place of safety and comfort. (Matt 9:35-36)
The Pharisees were no such thing.

If Jesus and his Father had loved the Pharisees, he would have been sent to them......but he wasn’t....but that didn’t mean that the Pharisees were incapable of changing their ways and attitudes, as Paul demonstrated, but he had to be struck blind to enable him to “see”.

 

[Nancy]

When I was "volunteered" to be in charge of church communications, the first task was to redesign those "Welcome!" pamphlets we had in the narthex for newcomers. I looked at the old one to see what might be salvageable and what needed to go and what needed to be added, and this line stood out:

"We're a humble church, and we're proud of it!"

Yes! C.S. said something like this in Screwtape. Went something like 'make the patient proud of his humility' LOL.

 

[Wynona]

They view themselves as saved and somehow members of an elite group.

The Bible says we're a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. So we are blessed.

It also says we are light and others are darkness.
But to who much is given, much is required.

 

[St. SteVen]

But to who much is given, much is required.

Agree.
Some seem to view it as...
But to who much is given, NOTHING is required.

 

[Wynona]

Agree.
Some seem to view it as...
But to who much is given, NOTHING is required.

True.