Arrogance is, without a doubt, the most complex subject we must address as Christians, for it
spans the entire spectrum of human culpability from moral degeneracy to immoral degeneracy, and
everything in between. One hardly knows where to begin!
There is no topic so critical for us to master if we hope to overcome the enormous disadvantage
of our flawed human condition and emerge as victors on the spiritual battleground of this world,
the very purpose for which we were created by God.
Perhaps the logical starting point is Satan....the father of arrogance, or the first creature to
institutionalize it, at any rate. All fallen creatures are subject to it, but I'll get more into that
after we isolate some fundamental principles on the subject.
The principle characteristic of arrogance is blindness of the soul, the inability to acknowledge that
we are under its all-embracing power. Satan is the classic example of this malaise, for he initially
thought to himself; "I will make myself like The Most High", which in itself is a preposterous notion,
and to this very hour he believes he is justified in all he has done and will do. When he is flung
head first into the Lake of Fire he will still be screaming his inane blasphemies.
Every malpractice in humanity involves arrogance, which highlights the fact that this disease of the
soul has countless faces, but we will examine the effects of arrogance most common to man and forego
any detailed analysis of such types as criminal arrogance and power lust for example.
I mentioned blindness of soul; this is the prominent aspect of arrogance which makes it so difficult,
almost impossible in fact, to recognize and dispose of. Only the Word of God can shine the light of
wisdom in those dark recesses and enable us to see our own fallibility. The following are some of the
telltale signs of arrogance in the soul;
1. Arrogance is always right no matter what the circumstances, and this becomes a noticeable trend.
2. Arrogance is hyper-sensative, emotions at a constant flash point, misconstruing even innocent comments
and actions of others as an affront.
3. Arrogance is vindictive in the extreme, anxious for vengeance or retribution for any perceived slight.
4. Arrogance always sees itself in the actions and words of others, even when it is not actually there, and is
bitterly critical. Yet, it does not recognize itself in the arrogant person.
5. Arrogance is self-centered, ego-centric, sees all events and circumstances in the immediate periphery as related
to self in some way.
6. Arrogance has a tendency to exalt another person, an object of affection or admiration, to an absurd status,
nearing obsession, only to eventually see flaws that devastate the lofty expectations and results in bitter
retaliation, attempting to destroy the very idol that arrogance created.
7. Arrogance is irrational to the point of divorcement from reality, rendering even the brilliant mind incapable of grasping
the simplest truths.
8. Arrogance always destroys what it creates. Revolution is an excellent example.
9. Arrogance inevitably resorts to coercion as a means of dealing with others who disagree or refuse to cooperate. This
aggressive attitude runs the gamut from using guilt (to shame them into compliance) to using violence.
10. Arrogance rejects freedom as a personal or national lifestyle, demanding others conform to its concepts.
11. Arrogance has no capacity for love.
12. Arrogance demands constant attention.
All of us have one or more of these traits to some degree. Thank goodness that wisdom offsets arrogance when an individual
develops humility, which is the opposite influence.
As I said, arrogance has many disguises, all subtle to the individual who possesses them but glaringly obvious to others,
depending upon the level of arrogance. Two very common aspects we will examine are uncontrolled emotion and vanity.
Vanity
Movie stars are a fertile subject for discussion of this flaw because they have it in so many subtle shades. Vanity can
involve appearance, success, wealth, intelligence and popularity. I suppose everyone but the stars themselves are aware that
they suffer from this destructive addiction. Keep in mind, arrogance never sees itself in the individual, only in others.
Rather that focus on the details of this form of arrogance, let's consider the inevitable effects on the life. Most visitors
will realize right away what I'm coming to;
1. Conceit: Vanity sees self as superior in every way to others, loves to preen, make an issue of self in
a social environment, and is disdainful of lesser creatures.
2. Approbation: Vanity demands constant attention and is unreasonable about its own malpractice, expects
to be forgiven any wrong. It can't endure being alone or inactivity. Vanity has no sustainable self-esteem or self-confidence,
and becomes subjective when ignored or slighted, desperate for reassurance.
3. Unstable: Vanity can't sustain any relationship (marriage or friendship) for a prolonged period without
strokes for the ego. It is not giving unless there is a measure of self-benefit as a result. It is intolerant of character
flaws, demands near perfection, which eventually results in estrangement.
4. Hedonistic: Vanity thrives on pleasure, whether it be sexual or in pursuits such as spending money,
luxuriating in all that wealth can provide. These habits are excessive, insatiable.
Emotion
1. Moody: Hyper-emotion is given to drastic mood swings, exhilaration can be deflated by one seemingly
insignificant event and plunge into the depths of despair. Generates anxiety, depression, fear.
2. Temperamental: Given to violent outbursts of anger, intolerance, pouting.
3. Superficiality: Ingratiating, places inordinate importance on image, easily alienated.
4. Needs Validation: Develops a crusader personality, taking up worthy causes, to establish some
measure of self-worth.
5. Vulnerability: Resorts to sublimation to offset bouts of depression, loneliness, boredom to restore
a sense of contentment. Sublimation can take many forms; drugs, alcohol, spending money, social activities, sports.
I knew one woman that would talk on the phone for hours because she hated being alone.
Emotional sins are the most devastating to the individual soul and invariably has an impact on all in their
periphery; anger, hatred, jealousy, bitterness, self-pity, vindictiveness, to name a few. A believer under the
control of emotion does and says things that violate the standards of integrity in their particular area of
weakness...promiscuity, violent fits of anger, irrational behaviour, moodiness, anxiety.
The greatest danger of arrogance is the likelihood that the believer will become so entangled in its web that
their life will suffer irreparable damage. Prolonged arrogance also has a profound impact on the soul's ability
to deal with the details of life. The Greek calls this condition "double-minded", which connotes a personality
split into two distinct parts. The dark side is manifest as instability, irrationality, divorcement from reality.
We call this psychosis, and unless it is dealt with in time it can deteriorate and become a borderline mental
disease.
One famous athlete comes to mind. He was charged with murdering his wife and a friend, a brutal, bloody murder.
My wife remembers this man visiting the Nebraska campus with Campus Crusade. He is a believer, but he strayed
too far from God's path for His life, developed a double-mind, and it culminated in an uncontrolled fit of rage
that compelled him to mercilessly slaughter two innocent victims. I'll go out on a limb and guess that this
buy is basically a decent sort. I've seen him over the years and came to like his personality. He has a healthy
dose of ego, but he seemed to handle the distractions of fame and wealth pretty well.
I'll bet a month's wages that this man lays awake at night in agony, reliving that horrific few moments time
after time after time. The innocent verdict he received didn't do him any favor! His immense guilt is a
torture that no prison could duplicate.
Arrogance accomodates both extremes of the old sin nature's areas of strength and weakness; moral and immoral
degeneracy. Of the two, moral degeneracy is far more obscure to the person who has it because they are
convinced that they are serving God. Pious Christians are legalistic, judgmental and self-righteous, whereas
Christians in immoral degeneracy are far more objective. A classic example of this contrast is found in the
passage about Christ dining with the whores and tax collectors. They call Him "rabbi" and receive Him warmly,
when just outside the Pharisees were murmuring derisive remarks.
Self-righteous arrogance is the malady that will blind so many to their need for a Savior their entire lives
and culminate at the Last Judgement. It was the original obsession of Satan. It leads men to commit violence,
and even murder, in their passion to prevent abortion, and this they do in the name of God.
The person steeped in immorality has a chance of redemption, but the chance of a self-righteous person is
almost nonexistent. Not because God does not strive to reach them, and save them, but their arrogance blinds
them to the truth.