Are Christians Arrogant?
By Israel Wayne

Since Christianity is an exclusive religion (in John 14:6 Jesus said that no one could come to the Father except through Him), many pluralistic Postmodernists accuse Christianity (and by association, Christians) of being arrogant. They claim that since truth can't be known, no one can make a claim to absolute truth (which is, of course, self-refuting since that is itself an absolute truth claim).

I have tried to demonstrate in my previous articles in the series "Is Christianity Arrogant?" that simply making a claim to know truth (even moral truth), is not necessarily arrogant, but can be instead a most reasonable assertion.

The second part of the question, "Are Christians arrogant?" should be considered in more detail.

A Helpful Analogy
The gospel can be compared to one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.

There is nothing arrogant about that.

The problem is that the skeptic believes that bread does not IN FACT (moral truth) exist. He believes that bread is a social construct, an illusion that we created, to help us feel better about the fact that we have a gnawing ache in our stomach. His concept of bread (what it is and where it can be found) seems just as equal and valid as your concept of bread.

What ticks him off is when you try to convince him that the bread you had for breakfast was REAL tangible bread. He says this cannot be because that is in the Upper Floor, and only things on the Lower Floor are edible, or real (see part III of my series).

Why We Shouldn't Be Arrogant
God's wisdom is limitless. If wisdom were referred to as monetary wealth, God would have so many trillions of dollars of wisdom you couldn't count it all. Now, let's say that you are His servant (which you are if you are a Christian), and He gives you 50 billion dollars to invest. How do you invest wisdom? You do it in the lives of other people. You take what God has given you and you give it to others and train them to share with others. So what if someone thinks you are arrogant because you have so many "dollars" of wisdom? Well, actually, God found you lying face down in the gutter, penniless, hopeless, helpless and alone. He chose you and made you a steward. YOU DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

You have no reason to be arrogant, nor is it fair for people to accuse you of such (if indeed you know the money is not yours and act accordingly). You are broke if you lose His checkbook. So, in fact, if someone has a problem with all of that wealth, they are really only angry at God because He is so rich and they are so poor.

The good news is, we can share in God's inheritance.

Rev. 3:17-18: "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

Our goal is not to flaunt our bread, or our wealth (because we create neither), but merely to share with others the one Who has an infinite supply of "(E)verything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3).

1John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true--even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Luke 1:1-4 "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

How can this objective, absolute truth be known?

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31-32)

Copyright 2008, by Israel Wayne. All Rights Reserved.

Israel Wayne was home educated and currently serves as Marketing Director for the national publication Home School Digest, and the site editor for www.ChristianWorldview.net. He is the author of the book, Homeschooling From A Biblical Worldview, published by Wisdom's Gate. Israel and his wife Brook (also a homeschool graduate) have five young children. Write to: Wisdom's Gate, P.O. Box 374, Covert, MI 49043. 1-800-343-1943 or www.WisdomsGate.org

By Israel Wayne Click here for bio and archived articles