Oh yeah, great stuff, and resonates a lot with my own journey! One of the things that made me start rethinking humility was this bit from CS Lewis in Mere Christianity:
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
That was very convicting because of course I was that smarmy person, though it was not intentional. Like you, I thought that was the way to give God the glory. I also liked how you connected God’s glory to His character and reality. One observation I keep coming back to is that God’s character is the grain of reality. To live with that grain in Christ is to make God visible and give Glory to His name.
That leads to your other great point about disappearing. I used to be very comfortable being aloof. God gives Himself to be known and to take responsibility for His people in covenant. He is present and desires communion. So to deflect praise in order to stay out of the limelight may be a good desire to avoid pride, but God’s character seems to invite us to a more life giving approach. Being preaent, being known, receiving praise and criticism and being accountable, and inviting true communion with God and others.
Oh yeah, great stuff, and resonates a lot with my own journey! One of the things that made me start rethinking humility was this bit from CS Lewis in Mere Christianity:
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
That was very convicting because of course I was that smarmy person, though it was not intentional. Like you, I thought that was the way to give God the glory. I also liked how you connected God’s glory to His character and reality. One observation I keep coming back to is that God’s character is the grain of reality. To live with that grain in Christ is to make God visible and give Glory to His name.
That leads to your other great point about disappearing. I used to be very comfortable being aloof. God gives Himself to be known and to take responsibility for His people in covenant. He is present and desires communion. So to deflect praise in order to stay out of the limelight may be a good desire to avoid pride, but God’s character seems to invite us to a more life giving approach. Being preaent, being known, receiving praise and criticism and being accountable, and inviting true communion with God and others.
"God’s character is the grain of reality. To live with that grain in Christ is to make God visible and give Glory to His name."
What a beautiful way to frame it!