Go up to anyone and ask them this question, “Do you think you are better than me?” And the automatic answer from most everyone will be an emphatic, “no!”
But our hearts tell a different story. We just don’t want to be different than others, we want to be better than others. We establish our self-image not on the basis of who we we are, but where we rank:
- We rank ourselves by how many people know us and like us (popularity).
- We rank ourselves by our perceived intelligence.
- We rank ourselves on ability to be open and loving.
- We rank ourselves on our political ideology
- We rank ourselves by assuring ourselves that we are not like the people who hurt us.
A biblical author calls this “the boastful pride of life.” We find a way to position ourselves. Is it any wonder we have such conflict and fear?
If you have to be seen as morally superior in any area, then you will fight when others are not recognizing your positional worth, that “you are not like other men.”
Fear arises when you will not be able to maintain your rank or achieve your desired position. That is why the inability to even live up to our own standard is so devastating. We are afraid that we will be seen as “mere men.”
And don’t you see that religion can be just another avenue to boast? We think if we return to God’s ways and values, then God will reward us with security and a way to feel good about ourselves.
But Christianity is different — it is much more honest. It states that we are too evil to think that we can turn to God’s values and earn His pleasure. But the gospel is not just more honest, it is good; although we are more evil than any dared believed, we are accepted, not because of our position, but because of Jesus’ position with God that He gives to us as a free gift.
