Confidence is a good thing, arrogance is not. Confidence grows from a place of faith and trust. Arrogance is an expression of pride. When it comes to expressions of our spiritual life, confidence demonstrates the great hope and strength that flows from a life of faith. It is encouraging and inviting, expressing the reason for the hope we have in God. Spiritual arrogance amplifies attention on our efforts and abilities. Rather than representing the power of God in our lives, it points to our own power and accomplishments, and where confidence invites, arrogance repels.
Much of what drives people away from faith is rooted in spiritual arrogance. Consciously or unconsciously, our efforts to demonstrate how spiritual we are shifts the focus from God to ourselves, and creates an achievement-based comparison that causes us to feel superior, and others to feel inferior.
The Apostle Paul warned the Philippian Church, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) He knew the corrosive nature of spiritual arrogance, and he knew the antidote – put others ahead of yourself. Numerous people become stunted in their spiritual growth, discouraged, and even alienated as a result of their experience with people effusing spiritual arrogance. They feel like they are failing, unable to attain the model set before them. Sometimes, they even feel attacked and devalued.
Our goal is never to impress people by our spiritual accomplishments. Instead, we are called to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us as we love and serve others, humbly valuing others above ourselves. We are to be witnesses to the power of the Gospel. Witness point beyond themselves, by showing and telling what they experience.
Allow me to use a non-spiritual example. I love good coffee. A cup brewed from high-quality beans, freshly ground, brewed in the right way, and served at the right temperature is something to be savored. I frequently share my love of good coffee, and those around me know that it is a personal passion. The joy it brings me is evident as I savor each sip. I own good equipment, and occasionally tell stories of favorite coffees.
While I love to share the joys of great coffee, it is not my place to make others feel inferior for their choices. I am confident that they could also enjoy a great coffee experience, and I would be glad to help them have that experience. I want to share my love of coffee by letting them experience my joy, maybe even sharing my coffee. What I don’t do is shame people who don’t drink coffee, I don’t insult those who drink common, store-bought brands, or who gauge coffee by which diner serves the tastiest cup.
It is all too easy to wear our spiritual disciplines as badges of honor. We broadcast how many times we read the Bible, how long we spend in our devotions, how regular our attendance is for Sunday Worship. We point out how many Bible Studies we attend, how righteous our choices are, and what positions we hold in the church. Instead of pointing to such things to express our need for God to work in our lives, we allow them to be expressions of pride meant to impress others with the extent of our spirituality.
I am not immune to this struggle, none of us are. It is a narrow path that we must navigate carefully. We should share our passion for Jesus Christ, and be excited by the revelations we receive along our way, but our witness must be soaked with humility. I’ve watched people embrace faith in Christ and race past my spiritual accomplishments. I found some of the greatest spiritual insight in people who are young in their faith.
We are called to inspire others, not impress them, and we are at our best when we embrace the heart of John the Baptist declaring, “He must increase, I must decrease.” Avoiding spiritual arrogance actually strengthens our witness, putting our confidence in God, and God alone. May we all continue on our path, while we encourage others to walk their way, and may humble dependence upon God be the greatest sign of our spiritual growth.
The circumstances of my own life, having completed my allotted seventy years of mostly toil and trouble (Ps. 90:10), provide a peculiar lens through which to read your words: “We are called to inspire others, not impress them, and we are at our best when we embrace the heart of John the Baptist declaring, ‘He must increase, I must decrease.’ Avoiding spiritual arrogance actually strengthens our witness, putting our confidence in God, and God alone.” There’s nothing quite like confronting the shortness of life to shift the ground of one’s confidence from self to God and to change one’s life agenda from building, climbing, and achieving to fulfilling, deepening, and reaping. I’m still being stripped of the need to impress people, and I’m becoming more hopeful that my witness might grow more authentic and inspiring. It’s turning out to be a surprisingly good time of life.
Rich, thank you for your insight! While I am a bit behind you on the journey, I also appreciate the insight and clarity that comes with an awareness of the shortness of life. As we face challenges that remind us of the fragility of life, and come to see our days behind are greater than those ahead, there is an increasing awareness of our dependence upon others and upon God. I join you in the process of moving away from impressing others. It is amazing how our spiritual journey grows and changes with us.