Heretics and blasphemers..or at least very poor Christians
Here on SW, you can’t turn around in a circle without someone justifying a political platform, an ideology, bad actions or outright crimes with religion. But what seems like testifying is really proclaiming.
I was raised religious, and I loved religion. Then I moved to an evangelical region where anyone who proclaims a dyed-in-the-saving-wool of Jesus Christ’s love is a Christian. And it was here I came to detest religion as it’s practiced. Nowhere else are people so willing to point out how they know the way, they know best, they deserve the best, they know how others should live, and they will flat-out tell you you’re going to hell because you’re just not as good as them, the chosen. Here and too many places, religion is simply a banner under which those needing to feel good about themselves gather.
So I got to thinking…I was sure there were some warnings against pride and that stressed humility. And lo and behold, the Bible’s chalk full of ‘em, but like so many Christians, people only follow that which makes them feel good. But for those “Christians” who’re rusty…
James 4:6–10
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Colossians 3:12–13
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Read More
Philippians 2:3–8
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jeremiah 9:23–24
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Read More
2 Chronicles 7:13–15
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
Deuteronomy 8:2–3
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Romans 3:23–24
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
I was raised religious, and I loved religion. Then I moved to an evangelical region where anyone who proclaims a dyed-in-the-saving-wool of Jesus Christ’s love is a Christian. And it was here I came to detest religion as it’s practiced. Nowhere else are people so willing to point out how they know the way, they know best, they deserve the best, they know how others should live, and they will flat-out tell you you’re going to hell because you’re just not as good as them, the chosen. Here and too many places, religion is simply a banner under which those needing to feel good about themselves gather.
So I got to thinking…I was sure there were some warnings against pride and that stressed humility. And lo and behold, the Bible’s chalk full of ‘em, but like so many Christians, people only follow that which makes them feel good. But for those “Christians” who’re rusty…
James 4:6–10
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Colossians 3:12–13
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Read More
Philippians 2:3–8
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jeremiah 9:23–24
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Read More
2 Chronicles 7:13–15
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
Deuteronomy 8:2–3
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Romans 3:23–24
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
