Humility 4

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The band director at our local school honored me several weeks ago with a “Band Booster of the Year” award. It was an expression of gratitude for my presence at the school this past year during the two times students died in car accidents. I truly appreciate the award, but honestly do not feel I deserve it. I was one of many area pastors who responded to the school’s needs.

I am also no expert in grief counseling. In fact, I feel hopelessly lost when it comes to offering comfort. If I am able to provide comfort I know it is entirely due to God working through me, and not any skills of my own.

In his letter to the Corinthian church Paul expresses some humility in his ability. How does he describe himself? What was his attitude? What did Paul show the church?

Sometimes churches that are successful in ministry can lose sight of the source of their ability. They can begin to think they have accomplished all of it on their own.

Many churches, on the other hand, have stopped daring and risking and moving forward. Instead they have become quite content with exactly where they are. They have done ministry and now rest on the glories of past successes.

In both cases a successful past becomes a downfall for the church. A successful past and praise for good work becomes a stumbling block, or an obstacle that cannot be overcome.

All of us need to take on the attitude that Paul has assumed in this passage. We must go out into the world knowing only Jesus Christ and the message of salvation. We must go out into the world with no pride in past successes and no fear from past failures. Instead, we must equip ourselves completely with the faith and knowledge that we may be an instrument in the hands of a powerful God. Then, any successes we may achieve are due to the Lord and not ourselves.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you or your church demonstrate the power of God this year?

Humility 2

Luke 11:52-54

It is hard to take criticism. As a pastor and an aspiring writer I need to be edited all the time. I need someone else, usually my wife, to look over what I have written and give me an honest evaluation.

Corrections can feel painful sometimes. It is almost hurtful to see that what I thought was brilliant is actually erroneous or weak and requires rewriting. But it is for the best.

Jesus has a final comment for the experts in the religious law. What have they done? What is the reaction?

Jesus says that these experts in the law “have not entered.” We must assume that what they have not entered into is the knowledge he speaks of in the previous sentence. We can further assume that the knowledge is knowledge or awareness or enlightenment about faith and God.

These experts have taken away the opportunity for others to understand God better, and they have not worked to understand God themselves. It seems that they are very secure in what they believe and how they have always done things, and they are not open to any correction or change.

But in fact they needed to change. They should have seen the errors of their ways and been willing to look at things with a new perspective, but their pride evidently prevented any editing.

As we look at our current society we must be aware that the church no longer has the influence and authority it once had. Most mainline denominations are in serious and dramatic decline. Misguided and mistaken theologies appear to be on the increase along with the number of people who simply have no religion at all.

It’s time for an edit. We can be proud of our past and proud of the good work the church has done over the centuries, but we need to humble ourselves and admit that change is needed. We must be humble enough to realize that new approaches and new attitudes are called for so that we can continue in the good work of building God’s kingdom and serving God’s children.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What would be one thing you would change about your church? What would you change about yourself?

Humility 1

Luke 11:47-51

While doing research of our previous church in preparation for their centennial celebration I gathered all manner of photographs and documents about the church’s history. It was fascinating to see all the changes which had occurred and look at all the people who had been part of its growth. Then one of the members told me that our church had for several years been host to meetings for the Ku Klux Klan. It was a shocking revelation, one which I would like to have erased. But there it was.

Jesus continues in his list of woes against the religious leaders of his time. What have they done? What is God’s attitude toward them?

Christian congregations have a rich history that traces back to Christ and his disciples. We were birthed from the earliest meetings of faithful believers, and “The Church” was further nurtured by the faithfulness and good works of tremendous men and women. The church grew and expanded with hard work and ministry, and continued in spite of the death and persecution of its martyrs.

Each individual church has its own history, usually filled with stories of sacrifice and goodness. Most members can recall the stories of ministry and outreaches from years past. And this is something that can give us all pride in where we are.

But there is always the possibility (and probability) that there were times when mistakes were made. There is likely some errors in judgment and simply wrong-doing intermingled in our pasts.

Jesus points out the fallacy of being too proud of all that has been done. The priests and teachers and Pharisees should have been aware that the leaders of the faith have not always been perfect.

Jesus concludes with the statement that “this generation will be held responsible for it all.” But before we get weighed down by the guilt of the past, we may want to consider what could be inferred from this comment. Rather than our responsibility becoming just guilt, the responsibility may be that it is up to us to be certain we correct any past mistakes – if possible – and be certain we work to avoid those mistakes.

The pride we have as believers must be mixed with a strong sense of humility. And that humility can guide us in making wiser, more informed, more merciful and positive decisions in the future.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What mistake has your church learned from?