Where is the line between Biblical truth and arrogance?

Question

As a Christian I am often accused of arrogance for speaking the truth, but if I sincerely believe that my words or actions are motivated by a love of the truth, a sincere desire to help someone, a spirit led defense of righteousness and truth, a wise plan of setting brushfires in men's minds, a valuable attempt to awaken and relieve the afflicted... AND... if I am not motivated by selfish desires, anger, pettiness, revenge, pride, etc., then I can be assured that I am on the right side of the line between truth and arrogance.

I have learned that in speaking Truth the charge of arrogance is a certainty, because one thing this world cannot stand is someone who is both (a) assured, and (b) correct. The world will accept your word if you are unsure, or if you are incorrect, or if you allow for some other solution, or if you are willing to compromise with untruth.

So anytime you are both right and sure you are right, then you will be charged at some level with arrogance.

The Pharisees hated Christ because they could not resist His words AND because He refused to accept them and their ideas at some level. They claimed that He spake "as one with authority", yet they refused to accept the authority on which He spoke. Gamaliel of the Pharisees said (paraphrase from Acts 5:38-40 "let them alone for if you fight against them and they be of God then you will find yourself fighting against God", and it is said that "to him they agreed". Notice that Gamaliel said "IF". Stephen said (paraphrase again from Acts 7:51-53) "ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, YOU DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST. Just as your fathers did, so do you". He accused them of resisting God and of fighting against God. They were "cut to the heart" . Gamaliel said "if" and left them an out - so they agreed with him and were at peace with him. Stephen dropped the "if" and made the direct accusation against them, and they hated him and killed him.

Our place, of course, as Christians (those of us who are trained, prepared, and qualified) to speak to the enemy - is to drop the "if" when we are sure of ourselves and to be hated for Christ's sake for it. We should, however, make certain of all of the motives and instances - and that we are certainly doing the work of God by His power and authority.

The modern preacher who speaks peace to power and compromise to the wicked and the sinner, is not doing the work of God at all.

It is possible, however, to fight against God with a sword formed against sin and wickedness - if we are either unprepared, uncalled, or unqualified for its proper use.

Care and prayer are necessary, as you can imagine.

Answer 1

You are right! Spirit led and directed truth will always be an offense to those who reject the gospel or as the Bible tells us:
"The gospel is an offense to those who perish."

When the Holy Spirit is teaching you truth as a child of God He doesn't leave you in some shadowland of limbo concerning what truth is, but gives you assurance that what you believe is indeed "truth." This is a hard pill to swallow for those who are looking for excuses to cover their sin, refuse to acknowledge their responsibility to God or love their spiritual blindness more than reality.

The most important truth is that "Christ died a cruel death for the sake of all mankind who will repent and receive His love offering made on our behalf with all their heart." Some look to Christ for the blessings, some see in Him a religious icon but have no spiritual life in them, others despise Him when they find out that what they believe about Him conflicts with what they want to believe about Him, and then there are the people who are willing to receive Him as Lord and Master of their lives and live at peace in this life and on into eternity.

Those who love the Lord will be received or rejected according to how people perceive Christ. Jesus made it clear when He said, "Ye are not of the world as I am not of this world, therefore as the world hated me they will also hate you. Are ye greater than your Master? If the world hated me they will hate you also."

Answer 2

Humility is the very opposite of arrogance. I have learned to meet people where they are at--not where I'm at--that's difficult but reaches more people. IF we are to be all things to all people--whatever truth we speak will be where they are at-not where we are at.


God often reminds me of how it felt when I was new to christianity and all of this was like a foreign language.

To be a good guide to others we need to take their hand and bottle feed them at first.

Arguing and contention because "you know you're right and they're wrong" is arrogance.

I'm not stating emphatically that you do this--it does seem to me your heart is in the right place-- you want them to see the light BUT it is much less in important how YOU are perceived than what you are saying is heard.

Answer 3

EXACTLY

You know you are - of course the accuser will try to find any thing to try and point fingers and claim; "Flaw".

Jesus gave the example. He only went forth and cleansed the temple. This was the outer portion. The inner sanctum was as was - of God.

It is in our outer actions and attitudes that others see. This does not mean that within a person is not good or of love but still needs to be purged - so to speak. God knows our heart.

Way to often the outer - how a person can present their selves, what they have, wear, and so forth have be polluted by things of the "world".

God is the heart knower. Satan cannot read our mind or know what we think. He can only guess by what we say and our reactions.

Through this he tries to find weaknesses in us and chinks in our understanding and use of the armor - the very word of God as we understand it and can use it.

""An aspect of humility is confident maturity of self. This may be perceived as arrogance by others in that they do not and can not posses this quality.""

Answer 4

You are correct to a point. It is hard to be caring and not sound arrogant or judgemental.

Being tactful is hard and it is very important to not put the person on the defensive.

My only advice in this aspect is imitating the Great Teacher, Jesus. He told stories that supported his point without pointing the finger at the people he spoke to. The way the person answered the story's moral, showed that persons true heart condition.

Also stick to showing scriptures in the Bible. This way the person is seeing what the Bible really says and you avoid giving your opinion. A person may argue with your opinion but they cannot be sincere in their looking for an answer if they are going to argue with what the Bible says.

You need to remember something. This isn't about being right or winning an argument. Jesus told us to go out and make disciples of the nations. We want people to love God and get to know him, not win an argument.

Yes, we must stick to the values that God has told us are righteous but we need to be caring and upbuilding to those that do not believe.

God is looking for those that are looking for him. If a person doesn't care to get to know God, there is nothing you can tell them to make them change their mind. You can show them God's love by your actions though.

Answer 5

It is a two way street. Arrogance can be found in everything, it just depends on the view of the person accusing. I could say you are arrogant right now, based on the fact that you think you "know" something about me.

However, I believe you are right.

Arrogance seems to be in the Eye of the Beholder.

For to others, our Truth is not truth. This world is not defined by a Truth, for there is no absolute truth, even though that within itself is a truth. When we speak to them, to them we are speaking in lies. Yet we still believe, and come off as being "better than".

So, therefor, we are arrogant.

Answer 6

If you are motivated by love, unbelievers will still say you are being arrogant. Why? Simply because they have no proof against your religion. So they simply say you are so arrogant that they will not bother with you- even though they have science to back up their claims of course!
It's a very easy way to avoid the painful truth, that they are wrong.

Answer 7

Very true, and based on what you say I would say you are amongst the wise. We can, in the end, only put forth the truth in love and let people make their own choices. What's hard for us to accept is those who choose to continue believing the lie, but we can't be concerned about that. We boldly proclaim the truth because that's what we're called to do. He will take care of the rest. It's really, really hard, though. I guess that's why there's so many blessings pronounced for those who persevere.

Answer 8

I completely agree- the first paragraph you wrote is exactly what I say-- we speak the truth IN LOVE, but we still speak the truth...knowing full well we are not the ones who are to be glorfied, but GOD is the one to be glorified! When we speak HIS truth for what it is-- but not with a "I am better than you" attitude-- God is glorified!
We who are saved, know full well we do not deserve His love and grace- but we know He gives it freely to those who will trust in Him- who believe He is Lord. By HIS grace we are saved! ( as Ephesians 2:8 says)

Answer 9

The scripture should have already rid you of this dilemma. Jesus said," Many will hate you in my Name". Instead of seeing the arrogance, see that you are following in the steps that you were meant to follow. He said " Be of good cheer, fore I have overcome the world!"

Answer 10

True, I'm agnostic/Pantheist, I get called arrogant all the time by Christians and Muslims.

Does that vindicate my truth too?