All the king’s men
Posted on December 18th, 2007 by kyrie
Humility is the greatest fallacy of all the worlds’ religions. I have not known a religion that preaches humility and heartily practices it - Christianity is no exemption. Just when you hear religions preaching humility; think of the wars that have been fought for the sake of it. Countless hours have been consumed trying to prove each other wrong. A lot of words were crafted just to give the other side a name.
To have a concrete example, we don’t have to look beyond the corridors of the Christian faith to see shining examples of this ineptitude. Big Churches were built merely to flaunt the numbers. Popular gospel preachers travel in private jets and live in grossly expensive mansions. Priests and bishops dress elegantly and love the praises of men and the glare of the spotlight. If that doesn’t appear ridiculous enough, take a look at this perceived leader of the Roman Catholic faith- the pope always ride in a bullet-proofed car crowded by security men. I guess this is just in preparation in case God fails to protect him from harm, isn’t it? I believed it’s so easy to preach humility when you are not practicing it. I think it is difficult to be humble where you’re the most popular or the VIP.
This is probably the reason why Agur said this request to God before he dies in Proverbs 30:8-9 – “Keep falsehood and lies from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘”Who is the LORD?”, or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Indeed, it is so easy for me to criticize and judge the people I have mentioned above because I am not the one on the pedestal of power and fame. Ultimately, I have judged these people according to their appearance and practices. By doing so I have done something the Bible prohibited me to do: judging others. Oh I pity my soul. But on the second thought, how do you think we should react to the actions of these people without being haunted by our conscience for judging them? Who is going to be stopped: the one doing it or the one criticizing?
Now, the whole Christian community is celebrating the birth of Christ who albeit being God: was born, have lived, was persecuted, and died like a man. For him was the perfect example of humility.
“None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.” ~Benjamin Whichcote
