Political, Social, National, Religious Superiority: This is a Heart Issue

God creates all human beings in the image of God: Genesis 1:26-27. God expects all human beings to be inferior to God our creator and to treat all other human beings as equals, whether they be old or young, whether they be male or female, whether they be one race or another, whether they be wealthy or poor, etc. However, unfortunately, many people on planet earth, individually and collectively, often they feel they are superior to other people and use various means to gain authority over other people. This is why there is much war and division between people. The Bible emphasizes this reality, and clearly declares that this is a HEART problem. 1. Some nations think they are superior to other nations. This was the attitude of Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of Germany in the 1930s and early 1940s. He declared: "We are the Master Race," we are superior to all other people on earth. Through history, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome felt the same way. Unfortunately, many people in the United States feel the same way. Such an attitude is a sinful heart issue. Yahweh through the prophet Isaiah addressed this issue in Isaiah 10:5-7 concerning Sennacherib and the Assyrians who destroyed 46 fortified cities in Judah. He said: "Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation [Judah] I send him, and against a people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tred them down like the mire of the streets. But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; but it is in his HEART to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few." Even though Assyria SEEMED to be overwhelming, Yahweh was always in control. In Isaiah 10:15, Yahweh explains: a. I am like a lumberjack; Assyria is like an ax to punish sinful Judah. The lumberjack is always in control of the ax. b. I am like a carpenter; Assyria is like a saw to punish sinful Judah. The carpenter is always in control of the saw. c. I am like a parent; Assyria is like a rod to punish sinful Israel. The parent is always in control of the rod. 2. Many people attain a leadership position and then feel they are in control of everyone in their company or church. This is contrary to God's picture as clearly taught in the Bible. If an elder or the eldership dominates a church, this is contrary to God's will. Elders, CEOs, presidents, the works, only have ONE function to work with all other people involved. God through Paul lays out this picture in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. In the human body, an ear is not more important than a hand; an eye is not more important than a foot. Every member of the body is very important. Each member of the body has a function for supporting the whole body. ONLY God through Jesus Christ is the head of the body. See also Ephesians 4:11-16. Any time one use the term "leader" in a superior sense, this is contrary to the will of God as taught in scripture. As one example, see Mark 10:41-45. 3. Many people and groups of people assume they are superior to other people spiritually or religiously. God has CHOSEN Israel to be his own people, and God has CHOSEN the church to be his own people, but he has not done this to make such people superior to other people, but to use them as God's instrument to attempt to save all people. 1 Peter 2:9-10. Jesus emphasized this truth in his parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14. This text says: "He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were rightous and regarded others with contempt. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." Many people and churches have fallen into this sin. They think they are superior to other people. This attitude is a HEART issue, which must be addressed. Share YOUR insights and dreams and failures and shortcomings with others. Let me hear from YOU. John Willis