Human Pride & the World's Oldest Lie

This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is no one else." What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.
Zephaniah 2:15

These words were written about a city that God at one time spared when they repented: Ninevah. You can read about their story of repentance in Jonah. But at this stage, human pride had crept in. The Assyrians were proud and cruel. This city had attitude. They felt they were the greatest thing on earth. The new city slogan was one that only should be said of God: I am and there is no one else. This was hijacking the glory of God.

God promised complete desolation to that town, and that is exactly what occurred. Ninevah is now an archeologist's ruin. It became desolate and deserted. An empire crumbled. A city was overrun and destroyed. Only ruins exist and they had to be dug from the earth that swallowed them.

Human pride is very powerful and very temporary. It gets its instant of self-glory, but in no way does it compare to the eternal majesty of God. Eventually humanity's best efforts lead to ruin. We fall apart. Entropy and decay, disease, chaos, war, and poverty all take their toll. We cannot claim to be like God, though Satan continues to re-package that first lie to us (Genesis 3:4-5). Glory only belongs to God. And human beings are better only in worship of Him.

- Posted with my iPad. The Apple Kool-Aide tastes fine.

me first!

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

3 John 9

Whoa. Selfish thinking in the Body of Christ is highly disruptive It causes damage and division. It works against the plan of God. It short-circuits divine authority by exalting self. It is dangerous and also more widespread than we imagine. Diotrephes lives! Be very afraid!

There are a couple of dangers of selfish leadership shown here in this short section on Diotrephes (3 John 9-10). They serve as warnings. The first is an attitude, the second is an action. The attitude is personal arrogance. It is a self-loving, thick pride that exalts personality above scriptural principle. This attitude by the leader sees his role and his very personality as the pinnacle of all things important in the ministry. His books will solve all your problems. His teaching will give you your “best life now”. His success can be yours (for a suggested donation of $30). God only works through him… 8x10 glossies in the bulletin and if you make your donation today, you can get your photo taken with him in the lobby! The line forms behind him and your American Express card is more than welcome. This is the cult of personality now abused at the expense of the reputation and cause of Christ. Pick your evangelical worship center of choice or nearly any local retail Christian bookstore. It is proudly on display.

The actions from such selfish ministry are easy to spot. No one else gets a voice in or to the ministry. Diotrephes was so arrogant that he refused even apostolic authority. He spoke against the apostles (maybe in a best seller preceded by an “open letter”). He refused to let any other recognized teacher into the congregation. And if someone else internally in the church welcomed any other teacher than him, excommunication ensued. Celebrity is so out of character with the humble service Jesus insisted upon (Mark 9:30-37).

This sounds sadly familiar because the sins of Diotrephes always follow pride-filled leaders in the church. The remedy is harsh and painfully severe (John would confront it personally). But it is necessary to restore peace and the centrality of the gospel. When will we learn that the only person to be celebrated in the church is Jesus?

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Excising Pride

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 14:11

This is a principle that Jesus expects His disciples to live by. And it is a tough thought to force into modern American culture. It is a square peg in a round hole. We are conditioned to be driven. We are molded into proud achievers who take pride in self-reliance and personal accomplishments. We reward just about every kind of achievement (and in this day and age, educationally we now reward participation only) in some way. But humble service goes without applause.

I got an object lesson in this just last night. Aubrey has a high school class assignment to create her resume. Already, her 17 years of grand executive achievement are be be applauded (and definitely padded) on paper to a potential employer. She was looking for the “right way” to turn her service experience helping first grade Sunday School or volunteering in an inner city mission into marketable job skills! I smiled at first, then got irritated at the absurdity of it all. It starts so soon in America.

Jesus reminds us that God has a way of turning pride upside down. He brings down the lofty in His time. Self-promotion only works to a point in mankind’s decaying institutions! The most pride-filled and self-absorbed being in the universe (Satan, who aspired to be like God on His throne) is cast down and already doomed on this earth. He is still a hard worker. I am sure he pads his resume. Because Satan is at work with pride as his motivation, we are already at high risk when pride is the train we board for the destination of happiness. Jesus pretty much guarantees us with this statement that we won’t be ultimately satisfied. We will derail.

Humility is the path to satisfaction in life. I have to believe that. It is about hearing one rewarding statement at the end of my life: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” It is that line that has me willing to step back and to play may bit part. Jesus has the lead role. We are all just supporting players in the powerful drama of redemption that ends with a new heavens and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Technorati Tags: Luke,Jesus,Pride,Humility