Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: …
Today's Christian tends to lack humility, seeks righteousness not from God, but from their idolatrous trappings: their ornate church building, their “services”. Their fellow “Church” goers, you know 'Brother Jim and Sister Bobby Sue, they're always here every time the “Church” door is opened'. That kind of flattery really gets to some people's heads. Every time they're singled out as being faithful “Church”-goers, or tithers, they get another layer of self righteousness on them, pretty soon, like if you were to keep applying varnish to a table, it's going to take a massive sledge and chisel to break through it and find some humility in there! The self-righteous like to wear their best clothes, and they raise their hands the highest and sway prominently during the “praise and worship” sessions in their “Church”, maybe you've seen this type?
There's also another kind of self-righteousness or self-worship going on in Christendom. It's intellectual one-upping your brother or sister, for example, you correct them in a public way over some minor doctrinal point, and inside you feel a bit superior to them. Or, a group of people studying the Bible come up with a new take on a certain scripture, others disagree, but they refuse to reason through the scriptures regarding their “new” revelation. Instead, they utter phrases like “if you have ears to hear”, or something else, as if everyone but them has a spirit of stupor, or strong delusion because they “heard” from God. Now, of course we know there are cases of God revealing His Word to His people, and not to others, but you had better be able to defend your beliefs when called on, and not just give a flippant remark in response to an honest question (1Pe 3:15).
Still worse yet, others believe they have received a “Special” revelation from God and they are now going to charge the rest of us if we want to understand it! Of course, no matter how you try to justify it, it is merchandising the Word of God (Mat 10:8), and you should expect Jesus to be angry with you for it (Joh 2:14-16).
Worst of all is the person who thinks it's all a game, and they, being so much smarter than others, can banter about the true meaning of scriptures with people just to prove how much superior they are than you. They have no fear of God, don't really believe what they are saying, but they take pleasure in trying to make the Christian, who is studying his or her way to the truth, look like fools, as all who believe in God must be, according to these intellectual worshiping people.
A few examples of people whose basic problem is they lack humility. Pride is ruling the heart and mind, but the LORD has said:
Isa_13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
And Jesus speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven said:
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Bible is full of warnings to us: Humble yourselves, do not exalt yourselves, be meek and mild, do not boast, do not try to reign over your brothers and sisters, do not chase after the things of the world, these are the habits of the pagans, the heathens, those who are without God (Mat 6:32).
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Daniel Mark
Skype: dmark2012
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