Jesus said “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). As a Christian, how do you reconcile this profound affirmation and the absolute humility of our Lord and Saviour, with your own arrogance and narcissism?
For the last six years, I’ve had chronic jock itch with cracked scrotal skin, I often have blood in my stool from recurring issues with haemorrhoids, and the last time I had diarrhoea I soiled my pants. I’m very human with the same physical, psychological and spiritual conditions as the next person.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:8-10
I am someone who knows I have my flaws and seeks to be better. Sometimes people see my progress, other times people don’t. I certainly don’t think there is much evidence of a persistent pattern of boasting on my part. Happy for someone to compile a list that I can review, repent and ask forgiveness for.
What matters is what the people that know me well in my lives say about me because they have lived and shared a lot of life with me and see how I interact, care and sacrifice for them and people around me. We all know enough in this day and age to not give to much credence to judgments made by an anonymous internet poster who doesn’t have courage to own their own words.
I am always careful when I find myself tempted to label someone, to think about what that label says about me and my own judgments first. Whereas narcissism has objective psychological measures, arrogance can sometimes just be in the eye of the beholder. What is clear assertive behaviour and healthy pride, can be labelled by those uncomfortable to being challenged, as arrogance. A person who continually bullies will use negative terms against anyone who doesn’t put up with their disrespectful behaviour. It seems there’s a rising tide of people who traditionally would have been entitled that suddenly feel disempowered.
Call me for a hug if you fall into that category. Equality has a cost. I’m sorry you are paying for it.
