Its always interesting to look at the mentalities and worldviews prevalent across the Christian faith. Some look at the world as a mission field, others see it as an alternate reality they have to cope with, and others see it as the "here and now" while heaven is something very distant. The worldview I find the most interesting is something I like to call Christian Elitism. It's not hard to see how someone would start to feel "elite" amongst the sinful dregs of the world when you see scriptures like 1 Peter 2:9...
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Well, that seems pretty elite, right? I mean, its reasonable to read this and see ourselves as something special; maybe even something better than the rest of the world.
But don't get too excited. You see, while some may find it empowering to envision themselves as some kind of treasure, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that we're better than anyone else. After all, remember how Christ talks about those who think of themself as great...
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:33-37)
So what do we do with this? Are we elite, special aristocrats or the lowest of the low, washing feet and associating with beggars? Well... both. God clearly wants us to know our intrinsic worth to him. After all, isn't the worth God places on us all that should really matter? But that shouldn't conflict with the worth we flatter ourselves to have amongst one another. In the same way that Christ was precious, truly a treasure worth more than any of us, he humbled himself to be nothing so that the lowest among us could know his love. In the same way, we take our knowledge of how much Christ values us and prove our worth through our demonstrations of humility to those around us.
There is an important lesson here which extends beyond the subject of Christian elitism. As we read the scriptures today, it is easy to read almost any worldview or life code into a few verses. Therefore, we should be cautious to not believe anything we are told simply because someone supports a thought with a sampling of scripture. Question everything. Trust God, meditate on his Word, and never stop learning about your faith. Only through a diligent pursuit of the truth can we protect against those who might wish to mislead us for their own benefit or ego.
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