I Would Like Some Humble Pie

Holiness and Humility-Two of the rarest and loveliest jewels of Christian character. It is a mystery to me that we see so little of these God mandated virtues among self proclaimed Christians.

I am not saying they are not out there-I am saying they are rare. In fact they are all too rare in my own life many times. Just to give an example-if you go very far around the blog-sphere with the very popular blogs like Pyromaniacs and Justin Taylor(to name 2)you will find sometimes hundreds of comments at a controversial post. I have never seen anything like the braggadocio and name calling and one up-manship of some of these comments. I have to say I do not find much of this at the girl blogs-but women can be just as bad.


I remember one time at the Shepherd's Fellowship blog getting into it myself. It was about Mark Driscol and his bad boy image and bad boy talk in the pulpit. I joined right in-it was a shark fest-my opinion must be heard-all those young men who defended him MUST be set straight. I thought I said some pretty cool things and got in a few good barbs and looked pretty darn bright! To this day I still hold the same opinion about the issue-but I also realize the arrogance and condescending tone of my comments. I have been on the receiving end of this behavior too-and it is one of the ways God has shown me how ugly it is in me. Humility and speaking the truth in love go hand in hand for the Christian.

Please don't get me wrong-in the pulpit dealing with biblical truth-give me a John MacArthur-who will bring the truth thundering down with the authority of the Word of God. However- in my one on one interaction with believers that I disagree with on issues such as eschatology-may God grant me humility this year. In my one on one interactions with people who take a heretical view in doctrine -may God grant me the humility to realize that apart from his grace I would be there too. May God grant me a gracious manner to speak the truth boldly out of a love -not only for truth-but for those souls lost in false systems of doctrine. God forbid that I should consider myself superior to any one trapped in a false religion. I am what I am and who I am by grace alone. I know what I know of truth by grace alone. I am superior to no human being on this earth. To walk in humility is to treat every human being with respect and dignity. I want to contemplate the truth of Philippians 2 daily:
Phil 2:5-11
 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
NKJV

I want to ponder the truth of 1 Peter 5 daily
1 Peter 5:5
 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
ESV


Oh and this is a good daily dose against today's Super Star mentality in the Church
James 2:1-7
  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,  and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?  Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
ESV


And this should be required for every Christian to memorize
Isa 66:1-2
1. Thus says the Lord:
"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
2  All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
 But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
ESV

Please dear young know it all Calvinist-contemplate humility before you jump into the fray. Don't think you have to argue every jot and tittle-don't berate someone who is not as smart as you think you are.

And for us old know it all Calvinists-let's do the same.

Holiness can never be realized in a heart devoid of humility-please remember that truth. Since I took so much time on Humility-I will talk about Holiness some other time. I am not sure I have been able to express exactly all that is stewing around in my mind about pride and humility today. I am grieved-at my own sins in this area and what I see and read out there in cyber-space among others. I don't want anyone to think I am talking about being soft on false doctrine or handling false teachers with kid gloves. That is a whole different subject.

This got me pondering the subject.