How arrogant
By Denny Dillman
Years ago, I witnessed a terrible display of human behavior in a nice restaurant one Friday night. Mr. X and his wife were perturbed by the fact that they would have to wait for a table. Their reaction was quite rude, to the point of being belligerent. Upon entering the restaurant, the hostess informed them it would be at least a 40-minute
wait. Mr. X declared to the hostess that a 40-minute wait was unacceptable. The hostess apologized, stating there was nothing she could do. Mrs. X asked the hostess, “Don’t you know who he is?” and demanded that they be seated right away. The restaurant manager was called out to resolve the situation, but to no avail. The couple
stormed out of the restaurant.
How arrogant!
When I was serving as a youth minister in an urban church, we took a group of students to a youth revival. A young “evangelist” spoke, presenting a message that had little Gospel but lots of emotion. Several of our students reacted to the invitation, including many who had already been baptized. Afterward, this young preacher
informed me of the number of my students that he led to Christ. I remember thinking, “This guy knows nothing about these kids! We have struggled in the trenches with them for years. They have already made decisions for Christ. Who do YOU think you are, sweeping in here with an emotion-driven message and walking away,
claiming more ‘saved’ notches in your belt?!”
How arrogant!
At the main entrance to a mall near where I live, after the light turns red for the left turn lane, three or four more cars will push through the intersection, blocking the pathway of oncoming traffic. Of course this always happens when I am running late on my way to church.
How arrogant!
And speaking of church, have you noticed the trend of people chit-chatting during worship, like they are sitting in a club visiting with each other while the band plays in the background?
How arrogant!
My family participates in a Family Bible Fellowship. It is an amazing gathering of families dedicated to encouraging each other in the effort of being godly families in an ungodly world. Recently we had a discussion dealing with the topic “Persecution Is Coming: Are We Ready?” I researched and presented anecdotal evidence of
“persecution” right here in America. You know, the stuff that makes you mad and inspires you to write letters and sign petitions and pick fights with your unbelieving neighbor.
Then I looked at evidence of persecution in the rest of the world. Suddenly, for me, the study took a new turn. There was the pastor in Uzbekistan whose wife and daughter were killed in an attack on his home. And the Christian in Korea who has been in prison for months, kept in solitary confinement until he nearly lost his mind.
I read about a church that meets under the cover of darkness, praising God and being distracted by every sound outside of the door, as it easily could be the police coming to arrest them for the crime of being Christians. As we studied, I began to realize that I was arrogant in my fear of persecution. Luke 21:17 says “All men will hate
you because of me.” Why would they hate me? Don’t they see how cool I am?
God began to work on me. I could almost hear Him say to me, “How arrogant!” I confess, even on my best day, I am a selfish, arrogant jerk. I think I deserve to be treated as royalty when I go to the restaurant. I take too much credit when someone around me makes Jesus their Lord and Savior. I push through intersections, even
when I know the light is orange (yellow + red). I have spent time in worship, totally distracted by my own selfishness. I have complained about inconveniences in my life that I labeled as “persecution.” I have gone for months without lifting even a word in prayer on behalf of my persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.
How arrogant!
What label do I wear, what banner do I wave, declaring how amazing I am in my walk with Christ? And yet, on my best day, I am nothing but a filthy rag in the presence of a holy God. How many have been turned away from the cross by my arrogance? How many have missed out on experiencing God’s mercy because of my
arrogance? How many have not enjoyed forgiveness simply because I am arrogantly unforgiving?
God forgive me. I repent of my arrogance. Set me free by Your grace. Direct me in Your path. Help me to desperately love You, to love others as You love me, and to humbly serve. Lord, deliver us from the evil of our arrogance. In Jesus name.