Humiliation

"Humiliations are always painful for as, but they will become easy when we begin to give thanks for them. God is doing us a great service through His work of chastening; He is redeeming us from our hidden pride, which ruins our lives and makes us unhappy." -from the article Repression: Supression, by Basilea Schlink

I just read this and in meditating upon the article this portion of scripture came to mind

[b][color=000000] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.[/color][/b]

And meditating upon this two things come to mind:

a fear of the exposure of shame

that such exposure is ultimately a threat to our pride

I was then thinking how, at conversion, it is so easy to come to the light. Nothing is hidden because, in coming to the cross we fully identify with its shame and humiliation. Standing there at the foot of the cross we are wholly laid bare, exposed for all the world to see, as our Lord Jesus was. We have nothing to hide becuase, as we kneel before the cross of humilation we freely admitt to all the world that His humiliation was our own.

But then afterwards, as we walk upon the narrow road for awhile, we may see at times the dichotomy between what we should be and what we really are and here pride can take hold again. Instead of doing as we first did when all our sins were laid bare, we may be tempted to hide them from the world becuase secretly we've left the place of humiliation, or worse yet, were standing beneath the cross now clothed with garments of our own.

We know not that we are poor, miserable, wrethched, naked and blind. Or we do, but for fear of being exposed, we refuse to admit it.

This is pride. I know it as my own.

This brings my thoughts back to Genesis. This is the struggle that has gone on in men's hearts since the Fall when Adam and Eve hid themselves after sinning. Shame and fear were the first fruits of sin then and they still are now.

They tried to hide their shame from one another by covering themselves with fig leaves; they were thinking more about their standing with one another than they were about being pardoned by God. Oh this wretched pride, let it be consumed under God's scrutiny...
To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, You have searched me and have known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You search my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Jehovah, You know it altogether. You have closed me in behind and in front, and laid Your hand on me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot go up to it. Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I go up into Heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the furthest parts of the sea; even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light around me. Yea, the darkness does not hide from You; but the night shines as the day; as is the darkness, so is the light to You.
(Psa 139:1-12)

In Christ,

Ron

Standing there at the foot of the cross we are wholly laid bare, exposed for all the world to see

In seeing God, we see our real sinful self. No wonder Peter said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinner." In other words, "Go away, Jesus, I can't stand looking at myself."

Apart from Christ's covering for our sin we will keep on running from God and grabbing our pitiful "fig leaves" - anything that works (we think).

Consider some of them:

blame
self-righeousness
false humility
religiousity
legalism
addictions
marital affairs
perversions
hardness of heart
boasting
materialism
sour grapes
envy
srife
atheism
malice
status
war
competitiveness
endless doctrinal debate
carrot cake

.....any more?

Diane

Reply to Chris

Quote
"in coming to the cross we fully identify with its shame and humiliation. Standing there at the foot of the cross we are wholly laid bare, exposed for all the world to see, as our Lord Jesus was. We have nothing to hide becuase, as we kneel before the cross of humilation we freely admitt to all the world that His humiliation was our own."END QUOTE

Cling to that old rugged cross and hold it near untill we are present with our Lord.

Eddie

All things are revealed; there is nothing hidden
from Him who sees all, who knows all. The
condemnation is for those who are not willing
to receive the truth and to repent. The Spirit's
work is to bring us to the place of conviction;
where we understand that God is working within
to change us and to renew us. Our wills get in
the way of His working; so they must be yielded
to Him!!

I recently made a comment to a sister-in-Christ regarding a situation where pride was rearing its ugly head. I said, “Only God can humble [them].” My friend chastised me for my comment, and pointed out that we are responsible to humble ourselves, not wait for God to do it for us.

Was she right? Let’s see what scripture says:

if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:

Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!

Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids. Prov. 6:2-4

”How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” (Moses to Pharaoh)

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people…” 2 Kings 22:19 (Huldah, the prophetess – regarding King Josaiah)

”Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel) Dan. 10:12

”Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

”Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

And best of all:

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, 1 Peter 5:5

For sure, the test of humility is revealed in the way we regard others and treat them.

My friend was right! However, in defense of my point, I believe (from personal experience) that the ability to see our own pride is nigh impossible (especially if we are stubborn and adamant about our “rightness”). Without some degree of “humiliation” (whatever it takes) permitted or imposed by our Lord, we would surely continue full-steam on our path of self-destructive pride.

Diane

Hi everyone.

Diane, maybe you are both right?

I mean, isn't there a difference between outward acts of humilty, and the dispostion of the heart? Or at least can be?

I've been thinking about different stories in the Bible where maybe that is true: pharaoh, who did let the people go, only to chase them to the red sea, or King Amaziah, that dispatched a hundred thousand soldiers at the word of the prophet and yet took gods from the battle to his house and worshiped them. The prophets of baal cutting themselves and jumping up and down. The rich young ruler that bowed before the Lord Jesus. (EDIT: See king Ahab also, 1Kings 21:27-29.)

I had to ride the bus today so after reading your post I decided to read the story of Naaman.

Naaman was a 'great man with his master' and a mighty man of valor. But he was also a leper. And he didn't want to do what the prophet had told him to do. But he humbled himself at the council of his servants and did what Elisha had said.

But it wasn't untill after that God had cleansed him that he said "...now I know that [i]there is[/i] no God in all the earth, but in Israel" and also that he vowed to offer sacrifice to no other gods but Lord.

Some thoughts,

And I covet your prayers, both that I would take the opportunities to walk in humilty and that my heart would be humble also,

Chris

Another thought here,

The Lord said blessed are the poor in spirit.

We are not told to practice being poor in spirit, but that blessed are those who [b]are[/b].

And I covet your prayers, both that I would take the opportunities to walk in humilty and that my heart would be humble also,

My prayers are with you, brother. I would covet such a prayer as well.

Practically speaking, how might we humble ourselves? Obviously it's not a matter of trying to convince ourselves that we are humble. (I realize that God's children are prone to create overly-lofty self views, even about their own "humility".)

What could be some potential areas in our lives where we lack humility - ex: view ourselves as better than certain others?

Diane

Obviously it's not a matter of trying to convince ourselves that we are humble.

I like that. ;-)

...humble yourselves....

Anyone answering Chris' post on humility is obviously disqualified from being humble...so I am out of the closet. I just wanted to agree with Diane that in the modern self-help sense I do not believe we can twist ourselves into a humble position.

The closest I can reckon to finding a path to Godly hunility is found in 1 Peter 5, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

We cannot hope to 'make ourselves' humble, but we can willingly accept insult and injury without fear, anger or ingratitude, even with trust in the wisdom, grace, and loving sovereignty of God. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

It also helps to believe that each saint is also aching for the same city of heaven that we claim citizenship in, where there is no selfishness, pride or injustice...where there will be no records of today's offenses and shortcomings but living together in the peace of Christ. What is humility if not Peace be to you all who are in Christ.?

Blessings,

MC

Diane and Mike, thank you both.

Diane,

"Practically speaking, how might we humble ourselves?"

I was outside doing yard work ealier and Mat 11:29 came to mind and how the Lord said to learn of Him, and that He was meek and lowly of heart.

So I was thinking then about your question, and thought of some examples,

For instance,

taking the low seat and giving to those who cannot repay you. And washing each others feet.

Chris

Chris’s question:

I mean, isn't there a difference between outward acts of humility, and the disposition of the heart?

MC’s response:

Anyone answering Chris' post on humility is obviously disqualified from being humble.

Okay, then, I am “disqualified” because I am going to answer Chris’s question. Really, I come by it justly.

Last Monday I arrived at a musical commitment, only to learn that it had been cancelled. Alas! This wasted four hours out of my precious time, never mind gas. I could easily have been told ahead of time. In my frustration I uttered some unsanctified words to those present in the room. In fact, I made a fool of myself.

On the way home, I experienced something far more humiliating than the memory of my embarrassing non-professional response in the eyes of my colleagues: it was the horrifying realization that my TIME was becoming an idol.

An opportunity to humble myself came later: through a commitment with my “offender” – the one who could have spared me my time. With the Lord’s mercy, I was able to remain silent about the issue and happily continue with business as usual. That took grace. Something inside me would have loved to offer just a wee hint about the offence – and see him squirm – even just a bit.

Chris, I agree with you: Humility is an act that springs from a changed disposition of the heart, and in my case, the erosion of pride and idolatry via well-deserved humiliation.

Sometimes humility is simply the act of “letting it go”.

Diane

A great and fairly short read on this subject is "Humility" by Andrew Murray. Every page quoteable, but here's an excert from the 1st chapter:

"Man's chief care, his highest virtue,
and his only happiness, now and through
all eternity, is to present himself as
an empty vessel in which God can dwell
and manifest His power and goodness.

Humility, the place of entire dependence
on God, is, from the very nature of things,
the first duty and the highest virtue of man."

"We know not that we are poor, miserable, wrethched, naked and blind. Or we do, but for fear of being exposed, we refuse to admit it.
[i][size=x-small]But then afterwards, as we walk upon the narrow road for awhile, we may see at times the dichotomy between what we should be and what we really are and here pride can take hold again. Instead of doing as we first did when all our sins were laid bare, we may be tempted to hide them from the world becuase secretly we've left the place of humiliation, or worse yet, were standing beneath the cross now clothed with garments of our own.[/size][/i]"

Amen to that. In our own self righteous garb we find ourselves in the wilderness again wandering in our own strength, not dependent on Him...is this not the true nature of pride? How it sneaks up on me!...but I should not be suprised if I've been prayerless. I don't think there is anything we can do to humble ourselves except go to Him. First in the secret chamber and second when He brings circumstances to humble us...there we choose to submit to His mighty hand.

MC’s response:

:-) Hopefully my response was only understood as it related to me. I was just saying, tongue in cheek, that humility is kind of like the sun...you can't see it by looking at it directly.

I like Diane's story, because it involved a person. People are the real test for us. Though I understand the rising number of 'prophetic' people who are pulling out of fellowships under the righteous banner "Come out from among her." I am also wary of the trend. I wonder if some of them do not know the spirit that they are of. North America is overflowing with self-directed spiritual Thomas Mertons all on their own inward path...a path free of commitment to people who, after-all, hinder our walk with the Lord.

Once an elder in a church I was at, decided to hold a foot washing service. This particular foot washing was very spiritual; he didn't use real water or a material wash cloth, and did not touch real feet of flesh. Instead he briefly knelt before each seated person, and gently told them that he was washing their feet 'in the spirit'. To be sure, spirituality is more comely then humility.

Now perhaps for some of us, we can achieve humility by an inward meditation upon the surrendered disposition of the heart...but I find for myself, someone's dirty feet are more effective. ;-)

Blessings,

MC (The alpha male of humility)

I was just saying, tongue in cheek, that humility is kind of like the sun...you can't see it by looking at it directly.

MC, I like this analogy! In other words, if you try to gaze at your humility you’ll get blinded: It makes you self-focused. Humility is a freedom from self and an outward look - a move towards others.

Some day, I may quote the insightful Someone who said, “Humility is like the sun……..”

(Now, brother, don’t stare at that one too long, lest you get blinded!)

Speaking of quotes on humility: Spurgeon said, “Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.” Oh, sure, the Spirit is the one who brings conviction. Yet, he teaches us truths about ourselves through the context of our inter-relatedness with others.

the rising number of 'prophetic' people who are pulling out of fellowships under the righteous banner "Come out from among her." I am also wary of the trend. I wonder if some of them do not know the spirit that they are of.

“No body likes me,
everybody hates me,
so I think I’ll go to the garden and eat worms.”

In other words, “coming apart” can be a defence mechanism, a way to insulate oneself from the risk of further rejection. In the ditty there is no attempt to sanctify the defect. It is honest. (Maybe we should add it to our list of worship songs).

Spirituality is the perfect loophole for humility.

“What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us; it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God” (Monica Baldwin)

Even Thomas Merton (whom I gather is not our ideal model) has something good to say about humility: “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”. (There you go, we learn from the "flawed" ones)

someone's dirty feet are more effective.

All that to say to those who are reluctant to join a church family that has defects:

That may be the very place God wishes to transform you into his image.

Diane