Blind Spots: Lacking Humility
Early in my campus ministry vocation, I remember being convinced that I and another campus pastor had the right approach to doing Spring Break trips. I won’t go into the details, except to say I was really proud of the way we did them. It seems rather silly now, but back then I was convinced this was an important marker for my ministry and I was convinced other ministries should follow our lead. What I lacked was humility, thinking that I viewed everything correctly.
When I was a young Christian, I was surrounded by teaching that viewed the “Charismatic Movement” as, at the very least, biblically in error, and, at worst, of the devil. That was reinforced in my seminary training. I remember a few of the professors making fun of the more extreme iterations of that movement and we students joining in over lunch in the dining hall. Fast forward several decades and I meet a woman who is a strong charismatic believer. She soon became my wife. Although over the years I had become much more open to the working of the Holy Spirit, I had not really associated with any full-on charismatics. She helped me see deeper into the things of God and into those who were more of the charismatic bent. I realized that many of my perceptions were skewed. I had been influenced by the stereotypes that were passed along to me.
When we moved from the mountains, we became involved in a charismatic church. Throughout our marriage, my wife had gone to the churches I wanted to be involved in. I decided I needed to let her find a church community where she could thrive. I admit it has been a stretch for me on several fronts, but what I have learned is that the people love the Lord deeply, they have been extremely kind and generous to us, and while we may disagree on some aspects of our theology, we are in whole agreement in our love for Jesus. In other words, they are family and I consider myself privileged and blessed to share in community with them.
What so often creates disunity in the Church is our lack of humility. We know we’re right and we expect everyone to get in line with us. And if they don’t, we can be so quick to judge and condemn, particularly in this age of social media. Everyone has an opinion and we believe wholeheartedly that we have the right to share it. And we do with total confidence that we’re correct. However, if I asked, “are you always right?”, it is likely that most of us would acknowledge there have been times we have been wrong.
If that is the case, then it would be wise for us to acknowledge that fact with an attitude of humility. This doesn’t mean we can’t have strong opinions, but we do need to have the sharp edges of those beliefs smoothed by the knowledge that we could be wrong or not have a full understanding of the issue. In this cultural climate, there seems to be little of that. Perhaps it’s because we feel threatened by the forces at work; thus, we need to respond with a certainty so as not to give the other side an opening.
Perhaps it would be good for us to read Job 38-42 where God puts Job in the dock and questions his understanding of things. The Lord begins by saying, Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. (38:2-4)
He follows up with dozens of questions, none of which Job can answer, which is the point. God was seeking to humble him. At the end of the questioning, Job does humble himself and says, My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. (42:5-6)
Humility is a necessary aspect of the Christian’s life. If we are to love each other, to share together in the broader community of believers, we must humble ourselves and recognize that we do not have the corner on truth. There is only One who can make that claim and we would be wise not to claim it for ourselves.
© Jim Musser 2023 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.
