There is nothing so likely to weaken a congregation, create disillusion among its members, and drive away the next generation as arrogance. This arrogance can be expressed or implied, real or apparent, verbal or attitudinal. It can be doctrinal or practical, personal or political. Arrogance is not limited to one particular denomination, personality type, or congregational size. One small, conservative denomination of which I am aware considers itself the only legitimate expression of apostolic Christianity; even the most orthodox and faithful of other branches of the church are absolutely barred from participating in its communion services. A larger group many would consider liberal or postmodern is known to characterize those of more conservative persuasion as “cultish.” Arrogance – and its cousins of worldly ambition, unauthorized exclusivity, and censoriousness – is not the property of any one group of believers. Sadly, its ugly root and bitter fruit can be seen throughout the church of our Savior.
While we need not blame this upon the age in which we live, cultural traits and circumstances can feed a particular sinful propensity. Consider: branding is ubiquitous. Everything worth anything has a slogan, an appealing logo, a carefully crafted marketing plan. We seem to be possessed of the idea that a meaningful existence depends upon the façade of superiority in externals – a better health regimen, a sleeker physique, a shinier automobile, a larger house, a better job. Since we do not usually possess all of these, the ones we think we have become our claim to fame. Each, moreover, is tempted to believe that whatever organization of which he is a part, whatever particular brand of clothing, cereal, or “church” he has found the most satisfying, is better than all others. At some level, we feel compelled to embrace this pursuit of brand recognition. Far from being a laudable characteristic of our culture, it is rather the fruit of reducing man to an animal, his existence to externals, his life to an image he portrays to others, whether of health or sexual virility, wealth or status, knowledge or relevance.
If this spirit once infiltrates a congregation, the consequences are varied and dreadful. If church members are told that God’s will is homeschooling, it is only a short step of logic to conclude that all who do not pursue this educational paradigm are enemies of God, unworthy of our respect, and unfit companions for our children. If church members begin to think of their local congregation as the religious brand of preference to be marketed and promoted, it will not be long before “discipling others to Christ” becomes synonymous with “making them members of our church,” which, of course, has the master key to heaven’s gates. If the pastor believes he has found “the model” of body life and church growth, or that his particular understanding of God’s truth is infallible, it will be difficult for him to avoid communicating a certain tone of exclusivity with a corresponding tendency to depict others as far less faithful, piñatas to be beaten to a pulp at every opportunity. If being a good Christian means voting in a certain way or adopting a certain political program, then it is opposite begins to be vilified.
Where does this leave us? One might conclude from this that nothing negative or critical should ever be said about another group of believers. This slides easily into the modern attitude of absolute tolerance, a fierce resistance to anything that sounds authoritative, and the acceptance of the adage: “as long as one is sincere.” This is the place the modern church largely seems to have rested. I like my brand; at best, I am indifferent to yours. If you were really walking with the Lord, you would probably embrace mine. Hence, we have settled into an uncomfortable détente with one another and with other denominations. Yes, they may finally wind up in heaven, but probably in the basement and only after they come around to our view of things. Heaven, we often think, will look like us.
There is a better way. First, there is a standard for legitimate Christian thinking and living, of evaluating our congregation and others. Paul gives such a summary in Philippians 3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” If we parse this, we learn that Paul defines the church in three ways: spiritual worship, Christ-centeredness, and dependence upon God alone. These are not so much foundational marks of the church as the fruits of the presence of those marks. If, for example, the preaching of full apostolic truth, God’s magnificent and sufficient word, reigns supreme, as it must in every healthy and faithful congregation of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42; 20:27), worship will be marked by a sense of God’s spirituality – it will not focus upon physical representations and externals, will be consistent with his revealed will, for as absolute and pure spirit, God alone can instruct physical creatures in the way we are to worship him rightly, and will emphasize the strengthening of the inner man by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:16). Body life will be focused upon Jesus Christ, the glory of his person preached in exhilarating, biblical fullness, the sufficiency of his sacrifice, and the authority of his reign over us. As such, it rejoices in him – not in our feelings about him or what we are doing for him, but in him and him alone. This, in turn, produces a defining sense of self-abasement, the legitimizing “he must increase but I must decrease” attitude. Body life does not promote its own body life, as if it is selling something or trying to convince itself of its superiority. It is wholly Christ-seeking, self-effacing, and self-doubting, always ready and desirous of further sifting by the Head.
Armed with this inspired direction, we may then pursue faithfulness without arrogance. Here we encounter a dangerous misconception. Simply because a preacher or church member speaks with authority, interacts with the sins of his own or another congregation, or expresses strong desire to see the entire body of Christ move toward greater holiness as defined by God’s word, this is not indicative of arrogance. Was Paul arrogant when he commanded us to judge one another within the body of Christ (1 Cor. 5:12-13), or our Savior when he said “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24)? No; they took the standard of God’s word seriously. We are not free to develop our local congregation, denomination, or preferred group according to our own desires. God’s word defines us. On this basis, we can speak with authority, even if it means calling one another to account for sins of doctrine, worship, or practice, as long as this is done not promote our own brand, preference, or self-assured sense of superiority, if it is done to exalt and honor Jesus Christ as the only Head, if his word is our only standard, and if his glory is our only goal. In fact, when these attitudes are growing within us, we cannot but seek the growth and faithfulness of the entire body of Christ and rejoice when we see his grace flowering in the broader body. His love for us will compel us to show love for one another in this way. The welfare of his body will be on our heart. Thus, we cannot be silent when we see the body weakened by various sins, whether our body or others, for sensing the true unity of the body in Jesus Christ, and rejecting the atomistic branding and hubristic sense of superiority that characterizes us in our pride, we feel grieved when the body suffers in various ways, whether in worship, doctrine, or practice. Our words, actions, and exhortations, seen in this light, are not veiled proclamations of our own superiority or indicative that we view ourselves as above challenge or improvement but loving, humble, even weeping calls for the church to grow together in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto maturity in him (Eph. 4:15-16). They are our hearts breaking with zeal for the glory of God and the purity of his Bride, all animated by a legitimate sense of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, as well as the necessity of seeking the unity and sanctification of the church according to his word.
Without these fruit of righteousness, any local body – rich or poor, small or large, new or old – will fall into arrogance. Self-promotion will creep in, even if it deceptively expresses itself as commitment to orthodoxy. The exaltation of our brand will require tearing down other brands. Worldly ambition will replace cross-bearing discipleship that has a tender eye toward the wellbeing of the whole body of Christ. Over time, finding that our cherished brand does not meet our every need, that its miracle cure has proven ineffectual, we shall certainly grow disillusioned. A new brand will be sought. The cycle begins again; the shine of arrogance never lasts. And at a deeper level, our children will sense this. Something ugly within us will drive them away – or they will become arrogant and exclusive with us, the multi-generational perpetuation of a kind of sin that is the antitheses of our Savior’s cross and gospel.
May the Lord grant us faithfulness without arrogance, strengthen us to promote him, in all his glory and fullness, meekness and gentleness. May he empty us of self, so that when we speak and defend his truth and pursue the unique gifts and calling of our particular congregations, we find our increase in his glory and in our humbled exaltation before his wondrous cross.