Ungodly humility? That's a scary phrase! Can humility ever be ungodly? Doesn't God command humility? Yes (Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:12; James 4:6; 10; I Pet. 5:6). Doesn't Jesus teach and model humility? Yes
(Philippians 2:8). Then how could there ever be "ungodly humility?"

Our modern world has taken some bad turns. One of those turns is the ungodly idea that humility requires either not knowing or not believing that anyone can know things for certain. Today's culture applauds and rewards those who claim that their knowledge is not the knowledge.

In other words, today's climate demands, "You must affirm that every other person's truth claims are equally valid as your own." That means that you can have truth, sure, but others can have opposing truths that are equally valid as your own.

Recent surveys by the Barna Group (George Barna's staff which conducts extensive research on Christianity in America today) has shown conclusively that teenagers even in conservative churches are buying into the false doctrine that all truth is relative. From electronic media to high school and college classrooms our kids are being taught that truth is relative and that opposing truths can both be true at the same time in the same way. That, of course, is logical nonsense and rational suicide.

For Christian kids the climate is quite uncomfortable. The culture has taught them not only that truth is not really truth but also that to defend your truth as the truth is bigoted and arrogant. Since opposing another person is (supposedly) arrogant, then to have humility you must never tell others what really is true. (Do you, as a parent, believe in the exclusive nature of John 14:6... Jesus is the only way?)

The cry of modern man is, "Upholding your truth makes you an arrogant bigot."
That is not a coming, future problem, it is already here, full-blown! If you think that your truth is the truth... exclusive of other truths then you are an arrogant bigot, lacking self-awareness and analytical thinking skills.

What should be obvious (but is not to many Christian parents) is that God teaches us to "teach the truth in love) (Ephesians 4:15), but He also calls us to to correct (II Timothy 2:25; 3:16) those who are opposition to His word (Titus 1:9).

Think clearly for a moment... can you oppose those who oppose God's word:
if there is not a clear standard of truth?
if there is not a clear truth by which to live?
if you lack the ability (or the right) to judge)?

When we learn that Jesus called us to "judge not" He was speaking of those with logs in their eyes (personal agendas, lack of logic, prejudice, etc.). But Jesus then tells them to get rid of the log and that they can judge properly (Matthew 7:1-5). Along with Matthew 7:1-5, always remember John 7:24. Jesus says there, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment," (emphasis supplied).

Now comes the humility issue. Many of our kids and many of the young adults (and a few not so young) have been led astray to believe that humility demands that we not defend truth. They, influenced by unrighteous culture, have begun to believe that believing and defending truth is, in itself, arrogant.

Let's ask a probing question. "About what do you know you are wrong but are too stubborn to change?" "Nothing!" You see, we all believe that we are right about everything. Arrogance only enters when we, personally, believe we cannot be wrong or that the Bible is wrong and we are right!

One commentator has used an enlightening term, "the hermeneutics of humility." We must never base our hermeneutics (investigation of Bible truths from the word itself) on the cultural aberration of "ungodly humility."

Some reading this right now are wanting to explain true humility to your children lest they be led astray by ungodly humility. Others are struggling to determine if this author is simply excersizing arrogance and being puffed up by knowledge.

I do not wish to vaunt human knowledge, but to warn parents that children today are being strongly influenced by their culture of unbelief and an ungodly definition of humility.

If we cannot know for certain what the Bible says then why did God inspire Paul to write in Ephesians 3:4, ... when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ".

If we cannot use truth to correct others then why does God command us to "...teach the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15); to "refute those who contradict" (Titus 1:9); to "restore" sinners in by loving confrontation?

Your kids don't set the rules in your home. God's kids don't set the rules in His household. And unbeliever's don't set the agenda for the faithful children of God.

The Christian life is not about making others "feel good" but about bringing them into a good relationship with Jesus Christ. Faithfulness to God's plan will indeed bring persecution (II Tim. 3:12 "And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.") In this age our persecution will come from those who try to kill truth to make peace happen.

Sit the kids down and read the above passages. Teach them openly, without shame that:
God gave us a book we can understand...
Biblical truth can, indeed be known...
humility toward God and man demands that we teach truth properly from the Bible and in Christlike love.

Without humility we cannot obey James 1:21, "Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls."

Humility demands humility toward God, recognition of His truth from the word, then the unashamed sharing of His word with others.

Ray Wallace
1100 Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80220
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