Elitism is a word we hear often in today’s society. It paints a picture of people, or groups of people, who consider themselves superior based on one or more factors such as education, position, philosophy, privilege, wealth, race, politics, etc. You name it. Sinful, selfish, narcissistic humans can find many reasons to raise themselves above others and snub their noses at those they consider inferior.
Religious people are not exempt from this practice. The comic, Damon Carvey, made fun of the religious snobs as the Church Lady in Saturday Night Live. His character of the ultra-conservative religious woman was forthright when she bragged, “I’m just a little bit more superior than you.” Then, to the audience’s delight, she would do her “superior dance.”
I have fun with my wife, imitating the Church Lady. When I do something a little bit better than her, which is not very often, I’ll ask her if I should do my “superior dance.” If she calls me out and makes me dance, I feel a little embarrassed because the movements resemble a combination of Mick Jagger and a proud goose!
While Christians may not be as obvious, we can feel it and exhibit it in subtle forms. The feelings of superiority are fueled by the fact that there are over 300 denominations. Those affiliation differences split us off from other Christians resulting in some form of feeling “just a little bit more superior,” particularly over doctrines and church traditions.
The largest split occurred in the “dark ages” between those who protested against the large and powerful Catholic church. Then Protestants began to split off from each other as the Bible came out of seclusion and became available to the public to read, including priests such as Martin Luther.
Some of these splits were probably necessary. An example would be over the authority of Scriptures vs. the authority of a pope and the Catechism. This is the most obvious and well-documented split in Christianity. But, there are many splits in both Catholic and Protestants congregations. These divisions have often been used as ammunition for the unbelievers. They point to this family dysfunction as proof that Christians are all delusional in their beliefs and therefore are deceived. It makes them feel “a little bit more superior.”
But, overlooked in the reasoning of the unbeliever is the prediction of division. Paul warned the followers of Christ for three years of coming divisions. The ultimate objective of the “savage wolves” was to “draw away” people and make their own disciples.
For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years, I did not cease to warn everyone, night and day, with tears. Acts 20: 29-31
To this day, spin-offs within religious congregations continue to occur, and the idea of superiority maintains its course. When congregations become disciples of a particular preacher or leader and depend upon him or her completely for spiritual guidance, the relationship becomes cultic regardless of the denomination and how charismatic the speaker is. It doesn’t have to be a David Koresh type to be a cult. It is much more subtle and accepted if it is a controlling pastor in a large mainline denomination.
What makes a denomination feel superior to others? It can be based on the same things as those in politics. But religious reasons come into play: the size of church buildings and the number of members, ancestry, tradition, theology, etc. Included in this segregation process is the idea of staying away from “sinners.” Sinners can include people of other denominations and families. Religious people can feel ‘just a little bit more superior” because they don’t do certain things: smoke, drink, do drugs, watch TV, movies, pornography, dance, have music in their church, worship on the “right” day, etc., etc., etc. But sadly, religious superiority can destroy families.
To the delight of the enemy, all of these divisions cripple the work God gave His followers to do in these last days before His return:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;..” Matthew 28:19-20
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached into the entire world, then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:14.
God is a merciful God who doesn’t want any to perish! Dying forever is serious business! That is why the proclamation of the good news of Jesus must be given by every church and to every person on the earth. That is our primary objective!
Instead of reaching outward confidently in the Lord, we turn inward and begin to focus on the weak sheep within our congregation. Not a bad thing, but after a while, progression in outreach can be diminished in its effectiveness due to the seed sown on the shallow ground!
By not making new members disciples through patient teaching on how to lead people to become disciples, we bring even more division. Our usual process to fertilize division starts with a powerful emotional sermon followed by an appeal/ alter call and a few denominational bible studies so the new convert can learn the denomination’s view of scripture. it is followed by baptism so they can become members of the denomination and become good “church-going” members. Then we indoctrinate them on the weekly church service order and routine, being careful not to introduce anything different. Our work is done! Or is it?
While this process can be beneficial in some ways, the Church service can become formal, prohibiting progress toward discipleship. Discipleship (as commanded by Jesus) should be dynamic and through progressive patient teaching of personal service and evangelism led by mature born-again teachers.
The addition of people to church membership is a weak objective. Multiplication is a better goal, where new disciples create new disciples. The new convert must learn to grow daily in the body of Christ, which has no denominational name on the front door of the church. The new Christian is often left to figure this out on their own. Sometimes, Jesus is left in the dust, and religious humdrum and ceremony set in.
Jesus prayed for unity. The question is this: Was His prayer answered? I believe it was, but not in the way you would think. For more on this, please see this article. “Was Jesus’ Prayer For Unity Answered.” Let’s continue with the superiority problem among us…
Are We Repeating Israel’s Mistakes?
God recorded their journey and their failed mission so that we would learn from it. But have we? It would appear that we haven’t. There is still segregation in modern Christian churches. Our denominations feel superior to the others. The idea is that we have it right theologically, but others do not. We are more concerned with political and theological correctness than letting our light shine to a world in deep darkness and dying on our watch!
Jesus prayed that we might be one even as Jesus and the Father are one! Wow! What an objective and prayer of Jesus!
“…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21
But the key is being “in” the Father and “in” Jesus! This is such an intimate relationship! It is not a surface or casual experience but “in” the follower of Christ! Wow!
Did you catch the other vital part of the prayer? The world “may believe” that God the Father sent Jesus if we are one! If we are unified via being “in” Him!
But many will rightly say, “Unity can’t come at the sacrifice of modifying or watering down the word of God. ” If we do this, we become just like the world and politics who want us to be politically correct. Where we can, we need to ensure we don’t rebuild those walls of perdition over elitism or segregation ideas just because someone is not at the same level of theological education or in their journey with Jesus. We must love people where they are and make adjustments! Paul hinted at this when he said,
“…to the weak, I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might, by all means, save some. Now, this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 1
Corinthians 9: 22-23
There must be some flexibility in reaching people without the stiffness of religious ceremonies and even beliefs. The opposite of superiority is humbleness. This is what God calls us to be: humble.
The Lord taught us to put others before ourselves. This is the first step in humbleness;
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
Can you keep this commandment? Only through Jesus!
It can be said with confidence and certainty that God’s people are in every denomination. Their theology may not be the best, or they may even believe differently on certain doctrines, but what puts them in the body of Christ is that they are “in” Christ.” Because of this, they are members of God’s one true church with no label on its marque. They love and follow the lamb wherever He leads them. Some are still in Babylon but are called out!
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
Romans 12: 3-5
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Colossians 3:11
These passages above are all written to the followers of Christ! The point is: The differences are all united for those “in” Christ! These are those who are truly born again and not just religious!
If only we could find our common ground in love for one another and stop this feeling of superiority! This love towards one another is the great litmus test given to us by the word of God concerning true discipleship! It separates the true follower of Christ from the false.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Are you the disciple of Christ or the Church Lady?
Three Last-Day Messages of Final Warning
The focus in these last days is to warn people of the coming destruction associated with the second coming of Christ. We should be unified in proclaiming the gospel to the entire world, which includes the rescue of God’s people when Jesus returns and takes us to where He is now.
Please read these three angels’ messages in Revelation. This is the last warning for planet earth: Revelation 14: 6:11. It is not limited to one denomination. It is the message of Christ’s followers!
Sadly, more division is to come, but it will be just one split in the end: The sheep and the goats. Also, a split between those who keep the commandments of God and those who will accept the mark of the beast. there will be no other divisions by denomination. It will be only two groups: The group that belongs to Jesus and those who belong to the counterfeit, i.e., the beast of Revelation 13. The enemy of God.
The confirmation of unity, in the last days, centers on loving obedience and love for each other through the heartfelt keeping of God’s royal law of liberty (James 1:25), The Ten Commandments. It comes at the next verse of the three angels’ messages:
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12
Conclusion
There is no separation, no superiority, in the body of Christ, although there are differences. That is why we can trust people who are “in” Christ regardless of their denominational name. You can see it in their faces and in their actions. They follow the lamb wherever He goes.
These are the ones who were not defiled with women (denominational churches?), for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:4
No one will have reason to feel superior. All those who love Jesus will understand their unworthiness, and within their hearts will be placed a desire to reveal Jesus so He can save the lost who are headed to eternal death. This desire is where common ground is found.
But the final message to earth will be one of warning, and it will be loud and with the power of God’s Spirit. It is found in the three angels’ messages in Revelation. These messages are not limited to one denomination. It is the cry of all Christians who know Jesus. In the end, it is not what you know that matters as much as who you know. But knowing Him will cause you to want to know more and more. This itch will not go away for those who are “in” Christ!
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
In these last days, It is the second coming message that will unify God’s people as it did with the sincere seekers of Christ at His first coming. it has been said that the ground at the foot of the cross is level. No one is taller or better than the other there. No one is “just a little more superior” than the other. We can learn from each other wherever we may choose to congregate.
Jeremiah said it best:
all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags
But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.; Isiah 64:6,8