Part 2 of Super Spirituality: Are You a Faith Snob? continues … You can read Part 1 here.
What Should We Do?
As we better understand the impact of spiritual snobbery in our lives, how can we avoid being guilty of it? As with all elements of the Christian walk, we should cautiously approach any prescriptive path toward holiness. In fact, this often leads to legalism, which sits at the core of many people’s spiritual arrogance. But there are a few helpful action points toward refuting faith snobbery. And as my straightforward colleague Jason says, “We know it’s a problem. Now it’s time for us to get active and do something about it.”
Think it over. It’s vital to acknowledge that we are all at risk of falling into this trap. We should always keep this concern at the forefront of our faith as we seek to honor Christ in everything we do. In fact, it seems those who believe they are least guilty of spiritual uppitiness are often the ones who need to examine themselves the most.
Some have a better grasp on it than others, but it’s a never-ending struggle. In a moment of real brokenness, a buddy admitted to me, “I always thought of others as egotistic or prideful. Unfortunately, the Lord had to remind me that I was also slipping into looking down on others and thinking too highly of myself.”
Hang out with the right people. Though God has positioned you in the life of people strategically, be wise in picking who is closest to you. If the people in your inner circle are faith snobs, then you are at greater risk of becoming one too. If this is the case for you currently, step up and lovingly make it known to those individuals. If you need to, separate yourself some.
Seek God deeply and actively. It’s unrealistic to think that we can respond well in times of prideful temptation if we’re not prepared in advance. So actively growing in our relationship with God is critical. When we fill our hearts and minds with the things of God, we are also positioning ourselves to reflect character traits that please Him. Humility is not of our flesh. Our carnal self, the flesh, is manifested most when we aren’t walking daily with the Father.
In the words of C.S. Lewis, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.” Let’s not miss out on this opportunity because of our own spiritual snootiness. Let’s move beyond the things of our selfish pride and move toward loving God, loving each other, and loving those who desperately need Him.
Scriptures to Meditate On
- Proverbs 3:34—”He mocks those who mock but gives grace to the humble.”
- Proverbs 11:2—”When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”
- Matthew 23:12—”Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Romans 12:3—”For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.”
- Philippians 2:3—”Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4—”Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited.”
Pompous & Circumstances
Are you spiritually snobby? Answer these questions to get some perspective.
- Do you ever find yourself pitying others for their inferior spiritual wisdom or intelligence?
- Do you pray for others to “see the truth” when you aren’t praying the same thing for yourself?
- Do you make jokes about other believers or denominations?
- Do you spend more time thinking about what others think than what God thinks?
- Do you disregard your own sins in light of their apparent minor nature as compared to others’ sins?
- Do you carry a big Bible because you want others to think you are more holy, not so you can read the font more easily?
- Do you ever truly consider the spiritual well-being of anyone besides yourself?
If you answered yes to one or more questions, it might be time to ask God to help you change your attitude.