Superiority Complex.

[xDenax]

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

That my man, is Christianity. Just like I've been saying all along, weird phrasing or not, boasting bragging feeling superior about it is COMPLETELY removed. Just like our sin, nailed to His cross. Failing to figure that out creates all sorts of problems. (Like creating our own eccentric thoughts maybe?)

In my experience Christians do often have an attitude of superiority brought about by their belief that they are saved and others are lost. Perhaps I'm just surrounded by jerks...or Christians don't realize how they come across to others. It's as if they feel their "enlightened" state makes them just a wee bit better than those who refuse to accept Jesus.

 

[Riski]

All religions give believers a superiority complex because they have chosen or been given the one true religion, (that's you)
sadly for the believers of all the other religions they are all wrong. (that's you)

i don't believe that this idea is REALLY true, given that the "one true religion" is readily available to ALL who desire it.

May I ask which "one" that is? or are they all the "one true religion"?

 

[ephraimanesti]

In my experience Christians do often have an attitude of superiority brought about by their belief that they are saved and others are lost. Perhaps I'm just surrounded by jerks...or Christians don't realize how they come across to others. It's as if they feel their "enlightened" state makes them just a wee bit better than those who refuse to accept Jesus.

MY SISTER,(sorry!)

Either you are misperceiving or you are indeed "surrounded by jerks." ANYONE WHO TAKES PRIDE IN THEIR SALVATION (or "enlightened state") IS LOST.

God's Grace is equally distributed and freely available to all. Those who choose to avail themselves of His Grace and Love are enabled to draw nigh to God by their enabling Him to indwell them by opening the doors to their Hearts for His entrance. Those who choose to reject God's desires for this loving indwelling are left bereft of His presence. God loves both parties equally, irregardless of which eventuality they choose, so there can absolutely be no sense of Christians being "just a wee bit better." A harlot is as beloved as a Priest. All are of equal value in Abba's eyes--as all my children are in mine.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

May I ask which "one" that is? or are they all the "one true religion"?

MY BROTHER,

The one TRUE religion is the Way, the Truth, and the Life which has God the Father's stamp of approval as evidenced by His resurrecting from the dead the One who lovingly gave His life to teach and to demonstrate it.
"Seek and you will find." (Luke 11:9) Ask around and find the match.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[xDenax]

MY BROTHER,

I'm female

 

[ephraimanesti]

I'm female

Oh, wow--Forgive me!

ephraim

 

[xDenax]

Oh, wow--Forgive me!

ephraim

It's okay.

 

[ephraimanesti]

It's okay.

Perhaps we can chalk it up to age and senility.

PEACE,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

It's okay.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[xDenax]

Perhaps we can chalk it up to age and senility.

PEACE,
ephraim

 

[razeontherock]

I can't say I've met any Christians in my daily life that follow that philosophy. The main thing I notice is many religious people I meet believe they are morally superior to other groups. There's a holier-than-thou attitude.

What does G-d say about that?

"I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;" (Isaiah 65, v2)
Isa 65:5 who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day."

Did ya catch that?

Now what does the biggest contributor to the NT say about himself?

1Ti 1:15 "This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

 

[JohnCR]

MY SISTER,(sorry!)

Either you are misperceiving or you are indeed "surrounded by jerks." ANYONE WHO TAKES PRIDE IN THEIR SALVATION (or "enlightened state") IS LOST.

God's Grace is equally distributed and freely available to all. Those who choose to avail themselves of His Grace and Love are enabled to draw nigh to God by their enabling Him to indwell them by opening the doors to their Hearts for His entrance. Those who choose to reject God's desires for this loving indwelling are left bereft of His presence. God loves both parties equally, irregardless of which eventuality they choose, so there can absolutely be no sense of Christians being "just a wee bit better." A harlot is as beloved as a Priest. All are of equal value in Abba's eyes--as all my children are in mine.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

Honestly, I think anytime people are surrounded by like-minded people, they can get a little condescending or arrogant with their views. For example, I'm sure Democrats in one of the northern cities like Chicago are this way when pushing their political views. So, a Christian in the Bible Belt would probably be more "superior" than a Christian in a place like Iran or India where they aren't surrounded by other Christians. Also, like Dena said, I don't think people realize how they come across to others sometimes.

Even if God loves his children equally, his children might not understand it that way.

 

[JohnCR]

What does G-d say about that?

"I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;" (Isaiah 65, v2)
Isa 65:5 who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day."

Did ya catch that?

Now what does the biggest contributor to the NT say about himself?

1Ti 1:15 "This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

Then obviously some people are failing to practice what they preach. For me, I don't really care what the Bible says about it, especially if the Christians I'm around aren't going to follow it anyway (and many of them haven't even read it!).

 

[razeontherock]

In my experience Christians do often have an attitude of superiority brought about by their belief that they are saved and others are lost. Perhaps I'm just surrounded by jerks...or Christians don't realize how they come across to others.

There's a third and a fourth aspect of this that you're failing to account for. One is you don't really know how they feel, you only know your own perception. As big as that is, far greater is the realization the believer has to endure of exactly what they're facing, which shakes one to the core and needs to be tended to. Perhaps you've heard the story of Lazarus and the rich man?

 

[razeontherock]

God's Grace is equally distributed and freely available to all ... so there can absolutely be no sense of Christians being "just a wee bit better." A harlot is as beloved as a Priest. All are of equal value in Abba's eyes--as all my children are in mine.

Very well put. Is this guy great or what?

(Thanks for the help w/ trying to figure out how to put the concept into words)

 

[ephraimanesti]

Honestly, I think anytime people are surrounded by like-minded people, they can get a little condescending or arrogant with their views. For example, I'm sure Democrats in one of the northern cities like Chicago are this way when pushing their political views. So, a Christian in the Bible Belt would probably be more "superior" than a Christian in a place like Iran or India where they aren't surrounded by other Christians. Like Dena said, I don't think people realize how they come across to others sometimes.

Even if God loves his children equally, his children might not understand it that way.

MY BROTHER,

But the indwelling Holy Spirit FORCES us to "understand it that way." This is not an abstract theological anomaly, but a moment to moment driving force towards achieving God's will in thought and deed. If a Christian's thinking gets crazy or his actions get out of God's bounds, the Spirit loudly and very uncomfortably protests until the thinking / acting is brought into line with God's will. i experience this quite regularly, unfortunately, and it is not a pleasant experience, and one is forced either to remedy the situation by repenting or drown out the inner Voice which brings a loss no Christian, including myself, wants to experience twice--complete spiritual darkness.

You are, of course, correct that NOBODY is totally aware of how they come across to others--Christians as much as others. However, un-believers also misperceive where Christians are coming from because un-believers tend to view those who believe in God and in absolutes as being arrogant in their insistence that God does exist and does have clear expectations for His children. Make-it-up-as-you-go-along secular situational morality as opposed to God's revealed Commandments regarding right and wrong being a prime example.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[xDenax]

There's a third and a fourth aspect of this that you're failing to account for. One is you don't really know how they feel, you only know your own perception.

I've heard the words that come out of their mouth and it's been bad enough to nearly bring me to tears many times. I've been speechless as the horrible attitude coming from some of the Christians in my life. I don't know your experience Razor, perhaps it's nothing like mine. I have seen some Christians who are radiating with love and compassion for others (like my Grandmother) but I've also seen many who talk about Non-Christians like they are some sort of beast. Of course I cannot see into their hearts and I cannot read their minds but I presume the words they speak reflect what goes on in their head.

As big as that is, far greater is the realization the believer has to endure of exactly what they're facing, which shakes one to the core and needs to be tended to. Perhaps you've heard the story of Lazarus and the rich man?

Yes, of course I've heard the story.

 

[JohnCR]

MY BROTHER,

But the indwelling Holy Spirit FORCES us to "understand it that way." This is not an abstract theological anomaly, but a moment to moment driving force towards achieving God's will in thought and deed. If a Christian's thinking gets crazy or his actions get out of God's bounds, the Spirit loudly and very uncomfortably protests until the thinking / acting is brought into line with God's will. i experience this quite regularly, unfortunately, and it is not a pleasant experience, and one is forced either to remedy the situation by repenting or drown out the inner Voice which brings a loss no Christian, including myself, wants to experience twice--complete spiritual darkness.

You are, of course, correct that NOBODY is totally aware of how they come across to others--Christians as much as others. However, un-believers also misperceive where Christians are coming from because un-believers tend to view those who believe in God and in absolutes as being arrogant in their insistence that God does exist and does have clear expectations for His children. Make-it-up-as-you-go-along secular situational morality as opposed to God's revealed Commandments regarding right and wrong being a prime example.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

My disbelief does affect my perspective, but it doesn't cloud it as completely as you are suggesting. I understand that I can't hold you accountable for all Christians, but some have a tendency to think they are more special than non-Christians. How do I know this? I know because these same Christians have treated non-Christians like myself like they are the Devil's children and not God's. It often is followed by severe shunning.

 

[razeontherock]

Then obviously some people are failing to practice what they preach. For me, I don't really care what the Bible says about it, especially if the Christians I'm around aren't going to follow it anyway (and many of them haven't even read it!).

So you see the problem. Also in your previous post you mentioned them not recognizing that G-d loves His children equally. Again, for a Christian to smugly think they are loved by G-d because they're special is a trap they've fallen into, and they're at great risk.

 

[xDenax]

I understand that I can't hold you accountable for all Christians, but some have a tendency to think they are more special than non-Christians. How do I know this? I know because these same Christians have treated non-Christians like myself like they are the Devil's children and not God's. It often is followed by severe shunning.

I agree.