Saturday, November 3, 2007

Elitist Mentality


Though the term “elitist mentality” to my knowledge, is not found in text books and though it is not one that is familiar to many of us, the concept has been around for a long time. Going back as far as the children of Israel in the Old Testament we see evidence of its prominence at that time. Israel was a chosen nation, one exclusively selected out of all other nations. They were special. But being a chosen people or being special did not necessarily constitute elitism. God, in His laws for Israel made provisions whereby Israel, if she would live by those laws, could resist such thinking. The stranger was to live by the same laws as the Israelite; he was not to be vexed nor oppressed. If he were poor, he was to be relieved. But God’s law went even further than that: the stranger was also to be loved as one of their own. If the children of Israel had lived by these laws they could not have possibly developed such a mentality, but unfortunately, they did not. They began to see themselves as the elite and as more important than others, and consequently the degeneration of their attitude revealed itself in their treatment of the foreigner who lived in the land. For that, among other sins, God judged them.

Many years later during the period of time that Jesus ministered on earth, the Pharisees clearly modeled this same mentality, and Jesus reproved them for it. When they boasted of being the children of Abraham, Jesus said that he could, from the stones, raise up children unto Abraham.

Paul warned the Gentile Christians in Romans 11 :21 that “if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Apparently Paul saw that these new Christians were in danger of falling into this same sin and through Holy Script warned them. In doing so He extends that warning to us.

So far we have looked at elitism in three different past eras. The question that comes to mind is this: is this as great a problem today as it was then? I’m confident that it is, and that it is not limited to any one church, denomination or theological persuasion. Among other groups, it can be observed amongst the Jehovah Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventist, and the Pentecostal movement. Among each of these groups you will find a spiritual superiority complex. That complex can be seen in the Jehovah Witnesses since they are the only ones who use the “correct” name of God or who seem to claim exclusive rights to the name Jehovah. It plagues the Seventh Day Adventist since they are the only ones who keep “all” the commandments-- including the fourth. It is prevalent amongst the Pentecostal movement since they are the only ones who teach, preach and practice the “full” Gospel including the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the speaking in tongues.

You see, it is not that each of these groups are indeed above the rest, but simply that they perceive themselves as such. We might look at these groups and chuckle under our breath, piously pitying them for their poor understanding of Scripture, but wait a minute–let us first check our own vision! We could be one of those to whom Jesus says: “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”

Oh yes, the problem of elitism is also a problem in our holiness movement. It is not limited to a feeling of elitism in relation to other theological persuasions, though that can be a problem, too. What is even more troubling is that it shows itself in some segments of our movement in relation to other segments. It is usually not that they are more spiritual, more godly, that they are doing great exploits for God, and it is even less likely that they are great soul winners. It is usually simply that they possess certain convictions or beliefs that the majority do not posses. These convictions or beliefs to them equate some sort of elitist status that sets them apart. It is that “setting apart” which both concerns me and violates the law of love.

To be fair, we cannot attribute elitism to everyone who identifies himself with those segments which have for the most part succumbed to it. There are some denominations, schools, camps, or local churches that foster it more that others, but for the most part it is an individual problem, and thus must be dealt with on an individual level.

The problem with elitism is that 1) it is not biblical. Paul said: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 2) It is divisive; it causes some Christians to set themselves apart as superior, and lends itself to variance which is condemned in God’s Word. 3) It makes the fulfillment of Christ’s law of love a virtual impossibility. How can we love our neighbor as ourselves and express disdain for him in any way or hold ourselves up as superior?

Yes, I grant it: the term “elitist mentality” could be little heard of. Maybe it would help if I used a term that has been around for a long time, that term is simply “spiritual pride.” Call it as you would like, but whatever we do, let us humble ourselves and let the Holy Spirit purge our system of both its presence and its effect that we “might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness. . . all the days of our life.” Let us never forget that it is through grace that we are saved and that not of ourselves.


--Philip Burch

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love you & miss you, Pop!
Brenda