What is Christian humility?

Is it to be debased, dishonored, shamed, unassuming, self-effacing – to be meekly quiet, thus, eradicating self, removing self from the world’s presence and influence – lowly and of no worth?  That’s our global society’s desired definition of humility and the place for Christlikeness.  To be a disciple of Christ, active in discipleship, is someone who is a “follower” or learner of Christ and His ways and truth.  We, in turn, share, teach others the same truth. 

 

How’s humility work? 

 

1^st:  We know that Christ was humble, so humble he faced an undeserving execution by beating and death on a cross.  That is the courage of humility (Phil 2: 3, 5-8), it is not an abandonment of faith in God through Christ Jesus.     

2^nd:  We know he was bold, he faced – indeed challenged – the leaders of established religion who had removed and replaced faith in God with what they could do to be godly – in their own way.  Jesus presented the truth of God’s salvation, the trump over religious rules of mankind. 

3^rd:  We know Jesus received who society had rejected, it is in humility that He accepted those who were:  children, women, or men – anyone who was:  with an unclean illness, morally corrupt, a despised tax collector, a thief on the cross, uneducated fisherman, slaves, rich, poor, and even a Roman Centurion – he cleansed them, healed them, received them as His own.  In humility they had approached him, and in humility Jesus received them.        

Humility isn’t giving up life, it is receiving life.  Humility is sharing Life with those who we normally don’t have in our life – those rejected by others (everyone is rejected by someone).   Humility is gentleness, kindness, acceptance, yet, it is the strength and courage to confess Christ.  Peter encourages us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

 Owen <><