“There’s nothing like spiritual arrogance to establish ecclesiastical exclusiveness from the world.”
TEXT:
Chapter 11, Page 109 –
Be careful now. Don’t assume you know what “riches” means. The Scriptures describe many types of riches. For example, Deuteronomy 7:7 tells us, “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples” describes the riches of popularity and majority. Being the largest group makes you rich in political and social power, which is quite handy if you are trying to be the biggest or the best in some activity or in some institutional competitiveness.
Deuteronomy 8:17 tells us that we “may say in [our] heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’” This describes the riches of physical and/or economic power. Either one makes you rich in social status and in the ability to get things done. Both of these kinds of power are – mistakenly – considered by many religious people to be the mark of the Lord’s blessing.
And finally, look at Deuteronomy 9:4-6. “‘Because of my righteousness, the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’” especially describes the riches of spiritual arrogance displayed by Laodicea in the Time of the End. Spiritual riches are especially helpful in establishing superior knowledge of the Scriptures, superior obedience to the Law, superior theological debating and eschatological parsing. There’s nothing like spiritual arrogance to establish ecclesiastical exclusiveness from the world. In the deceitfulness of all their various riches, Laodicea can say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.”
What will it take, do you think, to wake up the Self-confident to their need of the Covenant Grace-Faith Relationship with God?
