Humility, Pride, and Group Dynamics
(Philippians 2:1-4)
1. Human beings have a dignity unlike other created beings.
2. Yet, ironically, snobby members of the intelligencia constantly degrade human dignity:
LONDON (AFP) - London Zoo unveiled a new exhibition -- eight humans prowling around wearing little more than fig leaves to cover their modesty.
The "Human Zoo" is intended to show the basic nature of human beings as they frolick throughout the August bank holiday weekend.
"We have set up this exhibit to highlight the spread of man as a plague species and to communicate the importance of man’s place in the planet’s ecosystem," London Zoo said.
The scantily-clad volunteers will be treated as animals and kept amused at the central London zoo with games and music. (Aug. 25, 2005).
3. On the one hand, society tries to tell us that we are nothing but animals; on the other hand, society applauds arrogance and vanity.
4. But the Christian position contradicts both of these views: We are truly special beings; every human is an amazingly designed creature in the image of God. Yet, at the same time, evey human being is to work in concert with others and under God.
5. But we have a problem: sin. And sin shows itself in different ways in different contexts. Relational or social sin often shows itself as self-centeredness.
Main Idea: Nothing exposes the selfishness in our hearts quite like living life with others.
We can either seek spiritual maturity and check our self-centered ways, we can let our selfishness run rampant and trash our relationships, or we can close ourselves up and try to conceal our condition. What we can’t do is get rid of it.
Humility: don’t leave church without it.
I. We Ought to Have Harmonious Church Relationships Because We Share COMMON Blessings (1-2)
• The word “if” can also be translated, “since.” In this case, there is no doubt.
A. The encouragement that comes from being UNITED with Him (1a)
• Encouragement/exhortation = speech calculated to help us stay the course
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• As we walk with Christ, He keeps us going when we want to quit
B. The comfort we find in His LOVE (1b)
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• Comfort=kind words to one in sadness
• As we walk with Christ, He holds our hand and helps us in our sadness
C. The fellowship we find with His Spirit (1c)
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• either a sharing with others the gift of the Holy Spirit, or brotherliness prompted by the Spirit.
• As we are filled with the Spirit, we have the things of God in common & have fellowship
D. The tenderness and COMPASSION that develop from maturity (1d)
1. Compassion means caring
2. To care for folks, I have to know them
3. To know them, I have to talk and visit with them
Touching in Church
What is all this touching in church? It used to be a person could come to church and sit in the pew and not be bothered by all this friendliness and certainly not by touching. I used to come to church and leave untouched. Now I have to be nervous about what is expected of me. I have to worry about responding to the person sitting next to me. Oh, I wish it could be the way it used to be; I could just ask the person next to me, "How are you?" And the person could answer, "Oh, just fine." And we would both go home . . . strangers who have known each other for 20 years. But now the minister asks us to look at each other. I am worried about that hurt look I saw in that woman’s eyes. Now I am upset because the lady next to me cried and then apologized and said it was because I was so kind and that she needed a friend right now. Now I have to get involved. Now I have to suffer when this community suffers. Now I have to be more than a person coming to observe a service. That man last week told me I had never known how much I had touched his life. All I did was smile and tell him I understood what it was to be lonely. Lord, I am not big enough to touch and be touched. The stretching scares me. What if I disappoint somebody? What if I am too pushy? What if I cling too much? What if somebody ignores me? O Lord, be here beside me. You touch me, Lord, so that I can touch and be touched. So that I can care and be cared for. So that I can share my life with all those others that belong to you. All this touching in church, Lord, it is changing me!
(from Pulipit Helps)
E. These blessings show themselves when we GET ALONG (2)
• The Christian faith is both an individual faith and a social faith
• When it comes to becoming a Christian, it is us and God
• But to grow evenly, I need a social environment with other believers…
• Some of the most supposedly “spiritual people” cannot get along with others…
• By definition, they are not as spiritual as they might think
• Being like minded, one is spirit….this is what Paul wanted to see, but the Philippians had their challenges in this area (not as bad as the Corinthians who made a science out of divisiveness)
F. When people have AGENDAS, conflict is inevitable
• When their agenda is glorifying God, wnning the lost, deepening believers, obeying His Word and loving one another, that agenda should unite us
• Even then, though, particulars can divide us; we have to ask how important something is before we fight over it
• Marriage: you learn to choose your fights…if you’re smart
Note: People who do not do anything in a church typically have no relational problems, just as dead people have no arthritis.
Humility: don’t leave church without it.
II. The Challenge: Selfish Ambition Must Be Replaced with HUMILITY (3-4)
A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church. Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision. They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. They awarded him the “Most Humble” button for his faithful service. However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on.
A. Evil motivations below the surface (3a)
1. SELFISH Ambition
"The word is related to a noun which originally meant a "day laborer." (Rienecker & Rogers, p. 549)
• Although he does not use this term, Jesus addresses the thought when he says:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep." (John 10:11-13)
• The idea here is that of using people or co-operating with people to our own advantage but not getting attached or concerned about those people…have you known folks like that? Are you one of them?
2. Vain CONCEIT (or what we used to call "vanity")
"a futile thirst for glory" (Colin Brown)
• Ideally, parents need to address this in childhood….
• John de Graaf, best-selling author and documentary filmmaker, describes childhood "affluenza" as a pervasive hyper-consumer virus characterized by these signs:
• * A fever for shopping and spending
• * Swollen expectations about material needs
• * Decreasing immunity to the assaults of advertisers
• * Self-concepts defined by brands of clothing
• * A rash of debt by the time they leave college
• The problem with affluenza, according to Gary Ruskin, executive director of Commercial Alert, is that it crowds out a lot of other more important values, like education, religion, and giving back to one’s community, country and world.
(source: Assemblies of God news service)
• Viewing vanity as a vice is no longer in vogue; but understand this: vanity is the enemy of humility.
• One definition of vanity is: "inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance: conceit"
• Many things that in balance are right become wrong when taken to an extreme…People with a little flare take the boredom out of life and can be a great blessing…to the extreme, it can replicate the sick egotistical mentality of many Hollywood and pop music stars….
B. A better motivation: HUMILITY (3b)
graphic
C. A Practical DEFINITION of Humility (4)
1. Looking out for number one, but not ONLY number one
1. What Paul does not say: " Each of you should look out for the interests of others but not your own."
2. He does say, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2. The Bible ASSUMES that we are looking out for ourselves
…and we should do so…some people have a deceptive form of pride where they are givers but not receivers…others are therefore indebted to them…
3. Looking out for others is LEARNED
1. Teach you kids by doing it yourself; model caring by praying for others, helping others with meals, being a listening air, visiting a nursing home, companionship, whatever…
2. But do not neglect your own family by being absorbed with others (reverse mentality); make it a "both and" rather than an "either or."
Humility: don’t leave church without it.
CONCLUSION
1. Our self-centered natures will not be eliminated until we are in heaven;
2. But we can find freedom from complete bondage to them by coming to know Christ, living for Jesus, and growing in Him….including participating within the social context of a church family
3. Next time we will look at the ultimate example of true humility as we examine how Jesus Christ emptied Himself for us.
4. Humility: don’t leave church without it.
