Self-Righteous Faith

I moved from the US overseas when I was 10. I had grown up in a conservative Southern Baptist church. While my family still attends Baptist churches, it was different. Now, with a 17 year old’s perspective, I guess I realize that these churches overseas tend to be more charismatic sometimes. 

Even though it was the same denomination, the conventions varied and stances on various issues were different. Profound doctrinal issues were the same, but even baptism looked unlike that in the States. Of course, the size was also different: churches were limited to 20 to 50 people most times, instead of the 200 I was accustomed to. 

Yet, instead of embracing the diversity of views and this contrasting approach to worship and fellowship, I looked down on those around me. Maybe it was just subconsciously, but I ended up believing that the Christians that were from my home country are better than those of my host country. I would never ever have said that, but it permeated my actions, words and attitude. Looking back, I can see it. 

But why would Christians in a certain country or culture be better than those of another? That does not make sense. A few weeks ago, when I was reading through Romans and stumbled across a passage about Jews and Gentiles, Paul’s words took on another meaning for me. 

“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.” 

-Romans 9:30-31

Those words lept out of my Bible as I pondered my attitude further towards nationals’ faith in my host country. You see, they understood something that I didn’t. They understood that righteousness on our own merit isn’t the point- the point is faith and giving God the glory. I often  adopt the same attitude as the Jews, striving to find salvation through works. Sure, it sounds fine and maybe even easy to agree with the fact that we need to rely on grace through faith and not works, right? 

But, what if you considered it under another lens? 

I so often have found myself thinking that I as an American seem to be above the other nationalities my parents work with, that because we’re in Europe to share the gospel, we have some sort of spiritual “superiority”- that the way things are done where we are from is right. But that’s so incredibly wrong. 

In my home culture, there seems to be a lot of “things” we do- VBS, Sunday school, bible bowls, all the things. A lot of my American church life seemed to be revolvent around services and ceremonies. In my experience, the emphasis on participation in rituals tended to sometimes put more of an emphasis on knowledge and less on grace and faith. (Please note that I am not trying to criticize the American church, I am merely pointing something out that could be applicable in many different cultures, depending on church and the culture.)

I carried that inborn knowledge about Jesus and Christianity- which I am grateful for as it is very valuable- but I didn’t understand what a relationship with God looked like. People who choose to follow Christ where I live often have the relationship down, and are hungry to learn. I have seen so many people just love Christ without limits and be unashamed of their faith. 

The honest wholehearted pursuit of Gods and raising your hands up in worship common where I live isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s brave, valuable and vulnerable. But I couldn't get to the point in my faith where I could do that for a very long time. You see, I wasn’t superior to people where we lived, I was just as much a sinner as they were. And I had so little to teach them compared to the vast multitude of things they modeled and taught me over the years.  

All that to say, I want to ask you guys to ponder humility with me. Is there anyplace in your life where you have let a sense of “foreign superiority” creep in? Let us try to be a humble next generation, with eyes fixed on the cross- not our cross, but His.