David Cameron's Mansion House speech last evening claimed that while India & China may be rising world powers, Britain was not gong down the league table. He probably didn't use such metaphors! His view is that Britain is still strong, in spite of economic and military weaknesses. That is seen, by many observers, as an 'interesting' point of view. Britain certainly has a great history of colonial power, but whether pride in the past is enough to merit Premier League position remains to be argued.
Individually, we often face the same questions. Are we strong or weak? Are we proud of our role or status in society, and are we sometime smug and pushy? Should we heed St. Paul's warning. 'Don’t think you are better than you really are.' (Romans 12.3)
St. Peter has a striking way of telling us which way we should be facing - and it is down not up! 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.' (1 Peter 5.6) To be humble under God's mighty hand acknowledges that He is the One who places and positions us, and that our destiny is in His hands.
Self-confidence must be replaced by God-confidence, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Best wishes,
Richard
"Do not think you are better than you are," but Paul does say Christians are better than, and should not associate with non believers.
ReplyDeleteCor.6:14-17
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."
if you like you also have biblical basis to believe that non believers should be put to death, or damned. Hooray for Christian values
2 Chronicles 15:13
Whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.