Copyright\u00a0 by Shea Oakley<\/p>\n
All rights reserved<\/p>\n
A sense of superiority over others is a lie of the soul. It is part of fallen human nature to think ourselves better than many if not most of our fellows. We see the failings of the people we share our lives with and almost automatically judge them as wanting while either consciously or unconsciously forgetting our own faults. We walk in pride in this life almost as easily as we breathe.<\/p>\n
Salvation opens our eyes to this dark part of our character but salvation does not banish it. What we are often left with initially is a terrible realization of just how bad we really are in regards to thinking ourselves better than those around us. Having one\u2019s spiritual eyes opened can be a frightening thing for just this reason. What once seemed acceptable, or not even thought about, suddenly is recognized as sin and there appears to be no “silver bullet” that will kill that sin off within us. This is because there isn\u2019t one. Only the work of the Holy Spirit can alter this basic aspect of who we are in the flesh; and His work is the work of a lifetime. Sanctification is an ongoing process in which we crucify our personal sin with His help. Our tendency to judge others is often one of the first things we are convicted of in this sanctification because pride is at the base of all other transgressions.<\/p>\n
Some will object at this point and raise the issue of individuals with “poor self-esteem.” Whatever poor self-esteem may be one thing it is not is a guarantee that a person so afflicted will be truly humble. Most of us have known (or been) someone who has struggled with personal worth while simultaneously thinking themselves better than others. Some of the most insecure personalities throughout human history have also been the most prejudiced. Since the fall of Adam no one has lived a life utterly free from a superiority complex with the exception of Jesus Christ, ironically the one man who had a legitimate right to such a sense of superiority. No, this complex is present in all men and women. It is simply a matter of degree.<\/p>\n
The Bible tells us to think of others as better than ourselves. To do so consistently is the ultimate goal for this aspect of a believer\u2019s maturation. How do we accomplish it on a practical level? Perhaps the first step is to acknowledge our inability to accomplish anything in the power of our flesh. First we must specifically petition the Spirit to enable our transformation in this area. Asking His help is, in fact, basic to our victory over any kind of sin but it seems especially true in regards to the sin of pride. Next we have to remain consciously aware of our bent in this direction once our eyes have been initially opened to its presence. Anytime we experience a sense of moral superiority over someone else we must be ready to resist it. In addition to internally renouncing our conceit we have to remind ourselves why we are doing the renouncing, because in the eyes of a holy God we are as flawed in our own way as they are in there\u2019s. Even Christians are never far from gross sin except by the grace of God. Further Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that our thought life can be sinful even when our external actions are not. Realizing these two truths can go a long way towards humbling us in regards to the faults of others.<\/p>\n
Another action that can help is to look at the best qualities of each human being we encounter instead of the worst. This might not be easy at the beginning, especially if we have a tendency to see the glass as half empty rather than half full. A habitually negative frame of mind can be difficult to overcome, whether it is negative towards ourselves or others. Again, the answer is to rely on the empowerment of the Spirit over time. When we learn to seek out the best in others we will begin to see them as precious persons, created in the image of God, who have great potential for good. We might also start to see where they have admirable traits that we do not, as yet, possess. It is good for our growth in humility to gain this perspective. It gives us something else to shoot for in our own Christian life.<\/p>\n
By facing the truth about ourselves, and practicing these methods with the potent help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our arrogance and come to love and esteem those persons who we once disdained. In doing so we will please our Father; and continue to be transformed into the image of His beloved Son. The power of this lie of the soul will be broken in our lives and we will be free to leave the judging of people to God alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Copyright\u00a0 by Shea Oakley All rights reserved A sense of superiority over others is a lie of the soul. It is part of fallen human nature to think ourselves better than many if not most of our fellows. We see the failings of the people we share our lives with and almost automatically judge them… <\/p>\n