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Article by someone vested in Christ
Contrary to what Shirley Strachan, of the Skyhooks, may suggest in his screaming vocals "ego is not a dirty word" this is a great dishonesty. Indeed, the whole concept of ego is dependent upon a person's opinion about themselves and how they stack up against others. This, therefore, is counter-intuitive to building relationships.
This, however, is not the biggest problem with the stigma of ego. It is much more dangerous for a Christian to have an ego. While the general impression from the outside world is that Christians are smug, this is wrong, expect in only a handful of cases.
Sometimes Christians are known to “strap themselves to the gospel”. This results in a very unappealing message as those outside the faith see the hypocrisy of the messenger and become disillusioned with the good news. The fact is that we are all sinners and if we hope that our example alone will be enough to convert the non-believer then we are sorely mistaken.
It is only through Christ we are saved, so we cannot boast ourselves. One of the amazing things about the Bible is that we are not required to work. However we are required to change and to love Christ with all our heart, mind and soul.
Part of this change includes where we find our identity. Paul is quite clear in his letter to the Colossians that we are to put on new selves founded in Christ. He says:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
One of my biggest struggles through recent memory in my Christian walk is removing this ego that I have built up because of the lies of humanity. If we get lost in our ego then two things happen. First, the purity of God's message is lost. Sure God can work through us still but it is much more likely that we will work for our own glory. Secondly, the founding on which we are based crumbles. Again Paul provides great guidance on this topic:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
There are times when we will come under criticism about our message, even from other Christians. I know, it has happened to me. However, the most important thing is and will remain my identity in Christ. It is because of this I know I can preach the word without being a hypocrite.
One needs only look at the example of Moses to understand the magnitude of basing ourselves in God. As someone petrified of public speaking he stood up to the most powerful leader in the world at the time, admittedly with Aaron's help, and lead the vast Israelite population to the promise lands. God can use the weak as well as the strong. Paul was a hardened man bent on destroying the Church and the Christian doctrine (he'd probably be charged with genocide in this day). Yet his ego could not withstand God's resolve to convict his heart. In the end all of mankind will bow to Jesus.
So remember when you are being criticised for your belief in the gospels that your worth is not determined by people's perceptions. And remember, when you stand in self-righteous judgment over someone that such an action is not your role as someone who adheres to Christ. I will leave you with a verse of encouragement:
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is(J) worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (2 Samuel 22:2-4)
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