“How to Be the Church: Being Humble”
October 8, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
As we head towards another Election Day in just a few weeks, and as we have witnessed turmoil in our government in the past week, we are surrounded by competition, and not friendly competition either.
Both locally and nationally, we have witnessed name-calling, finger-pointing, and blaming, both from candidates and those already in elected office. There have even been accusations leveled back and forth that if one votes for or against one proposition or the other, or supports one particular candidate or the other, or if one supports a certain political party, then one is not truly a Christian. The last of which is especially a grave insult against us Christians. As Christians, we are identified not by our political, social, or economic allegiance, but only by our allegiance to Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Our hope is not in political leaders or parties, but only in the Kingship of Jesus, who has the name above every name and before whom every knee should bow. And, as Christians, especially in this divisive, heated, and inflammatory age, we are called to both model and live an alternative. And that alternative is to live according to the example of Jesus, in humility, looking to the interests of others, and having an attitude of seeking peace and being alike in mind and purpose.
I will preface much of what I am about to say by saying that nothing is meant to be directed towards anyone in particular, nor is it meant to be said in any sort of spirit of superiority, which is what we’re going to be talking about in just a minute. Indeed, in much of what I’m about to say, I freely include myself. As I’ve talked about before over the years, I’ve also had many personal experiences which have humbled me and have forced me to take an honest look at how my attitude and approach to life have affected my relationships and even my ability to minister effectively. I’ve also had to do much personal repentance over the last few years. Instead, as we head into a season where God has been continuing to restore us to where we were before, and we look forward to how He will be blessing us with renewal, new outreach, and new growth, it is important for us to hear honestly what God’s will for us is in terms of the attitude we are to have going into this new season, and how we can be mindful of any obstacles to God’s will we may have to face and overcome.
Unfortunately, one trap that we have to be on our guard against, because it is more common than we realize, is a superiority complex that can be caused simply by being Christian. Sometimes we may have a tendency to think that because we are Christian, we are superior to others. We may also think that because we belong to a certain denomination or tradition of Christianity, that that makes us superior to others. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth: true religion does not create a sense of superiority, but instead a sense of compassion and a desire to serve, which comes out of a recognition of the common humanity, as children of God and people created by God, which we all share in common. To try to create privileges or advantages from being Christian is to miss the point of what it means to be a Christian. Indeed, in many parts of the world, to be a Christian means to be disadvantaged, even persecuted. We also ought to refrain from presuming our importance anywhere we are. In our daily lives, whether it be in our workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, even in our own homes, we are to recognize that we share lives with family members, classmates, workmates, and neighbors, and so we are to look out for the best interest of all those we know, and think of what would be the greatest benefit or the greatest good for everyone.
If we have fallen into this sort of attitude for any reason, then it is time for an attitude check. In today’s First Reading, God, speaking through the Prophet Ezekiel, urges us today to turn from sin and repent. This especially means any sort of attitude we have had which has caused us to assume that we are more important or superior to others for any reason, because by doing so, we have fallen into the trap of selfish ambition and vain conceit. It is pride for which we need to ask for God’s forgiveness, and His help in overcoming. As Jesus also urges us to consider in today’s Gospel reading, there is no time like the present to take an honest look at ourselves; to delay no longer coming to God looking for a change; and no longer to delay seeking God’s will, turning from the attitude of the times, and instead asking God to help us have His attitude.
Fortunately, Jesus died to free us from any attitudes of pride into which we may have fallen. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all our sins. He has been exalted by God above everything else, and placed in a position where He is able to forgive all our sins. To everyone who repents, He offers forgiveness freely; His grace is given unconditionally to everyone who asks Him for forgiveness and a change in life. He also died so that anything we have done out of a desire to assert ourselves over others, can be forgiven, and we can be restored to a new way of thinking, a new way of being, and a new attitude. This attitude is exactly what Paul encourages us to have in today’s Second Reading: Our attitude should be the same as Jesus Himself. He did not seek power and prestige for Himself, even though He was the King of the entire universe, the earth, and all creation. He did not look out for His own self-interest, but instead was concerned about the interest and well-being of others. In humility, we are to consider others better than ourselves. This does not mean demeaning ourselves, considering ourselves worthless compared to others, or damaging our self-esteem, but instead to regard others as being equal to us in value, and the interests of others as being just as important as our own. In fact, the more humble we become, the greater we can become, because we can become more noble, compassionate, and even more appealing. We are to imitate Jesus by being like-minded: having the same love for each other and others that Jesus does, and being one in spirit and purpose. We are to emphasize those things we share in common, especially in our one common mission: telling and showing Jesus’ love to all people unconditionally. This also means that we are to recognize, and cast aside, everything which would cause personal division or conflict. In this way, we can truly model and live the alternative we are called for: Ultimately, to exalt and honor Jesus above everything else, by thinking like Jesus, acting like Jesus, and being like Jesus. To seek superiority not for ourselves, but to make Jesus superior in our lives and over all the world. And may Jesus bless us and help us by His almighty power, as we live to become like Him.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
