If the distinguishing mark of being a disciple of Christ is humility, and those things like love which flow from and through humility, then we need to be sure that we know what humility really is. What would happen to the automobile industry if someone began to replace gas with water and still use the word “gas” for what went in the tank? Cars would not run and many would probably be destroyed over a period of time. The point is that the very fuel that a car runs on would still be called “gas” but the nature of it would be changed into something that is destructive to the car. The same thing has happened to Christianity. Many things in the professing Church have changed in concept because of the biblical idea of humility has been changed to one of the world and then lost. There is no prayer without true humility, so the professing Church is weak because it is without true prayer. Sure it still does something it thinks of as prayer, but it is not true prayer because true humility is needed. True understanding of God and of His Word cannot take place apart from humility. All efforts to understand the Bible apart from humility do nothing but build pride in the soul (I Cor 8:1). Knowledge, that is, non-spiritual knowledge pumps the soul up with pride. Preaching is nothing but an act of self-glorification unless the preacher is truly humble. A non-humble preacher is one full of self and pride and even though he may preach orthodox sermons, he is preaching out of love for self. The professing Church has been devastated by the departure of true humility.
“When I look back upon my own religious experience, or round upon the Church of Christ in the world, I stand amazed at the thought of how little humility is sought after as the distinguishing feature of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and living, in the daily intercourse of the home and social life, in the more special fellowship with Christians, in the direction and performance of work for Christ,-alas! how much proof there is that humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the only root from which the graces can grow, the one indispensable condition of true fellowship with Jesus.” (Andrew Murray)
If humility is truly an indispensable condition for true fellowship with Jesus, then the professing Church cannot fellowship with Christ apart from humility. Surely this is part of the definition of eternal life and of what it means to be saved. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus says that a person must be converted and become like a little child to enter the kingdom. In the very next verse Jesus says that the greatest in the kingdom is the one that humbles self to be like a little child. But eternal life is to know God and His Son (John 17:3). I John 1:2-3 also has the idea of eternal life and fellowship with God as part of eternal life: “and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ Himself is eternal life and fellowship with Him is the way to have fellowship with the Father. Humility is utterly necessary to be in the kingdom and so is an absolute necessity to fellowship with God since He opposes the proud and will only give grace to the humble.
What has been mentioned in this short article should be enough to set alarms off. Humility is necessary for eternal life and fellowship with God. Humility is necessary for a true understanding of the things of God. Humility is necessary for prayer. Humility is necessary for true preaching. The list could go on, but this should make the issue stand out. Salvation is far more than a simple prayer or walking an aisle. Salvation is far more than getting people to agree to a list of orthodox beliefs. But instead, something must happen to the soul in order to do those things. The soul must be emptied of self and broken of its pride. II Chr 7:14 tells us that we are to humble ourselves and pray. Humility goes before prayer. Isa 57:15 tells us that God only dwells with the contrite and lowly of spirit. Yet we want to retain our pride and our self-esteem and be Christians at the same time. It simply will not work in reality though it appears to have many who adhere to that belief. It is so easy to go through the motions of Christianity and not be disturbed in the pride of it all. It is so hard to die to self and the claims of self in pride.
Biblical Christianity is at a very, very low point in the United States and many other places as well. While replacing the biblical concept of humility with the one of the world is not the only reason, it is certainly linked. Joined with that is the idea of the true God being gradually watered down. But of course this is nothing but the work of the proud heart in suppressing the knowledge of the true God. Whatever the case, until the professing Church reaches a point of utter brokenness and sees how impoverished it really is, not much will change. Until we grow tired of self and pride nothing will change. We may change a few things here and there, but until we are deeply humbled and broken we will not want real change. Instead, we will just want things to be a little better.
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