Psalm 119:51 Remember the Root of Integrity

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.

Psalm 119:51

It's tempting to read this Psalm and come away feeling quite self-satisfied.

Those arrogant people are mocking Christians unmercifully, but me, I'm good, because I don't turn from your law.

The definition of arrogance is projecting an exaggerated sense of your own importance, abilities, and superiority. According to the 2012 book unChristian: What a New Generation REally Thinks About Christianity...and Why it Matters, by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, that definition of arrogance is exactly how a large majority of non-Christians see us.

"The primary reason outsiders feel outside toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our ‘swagger,’ how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project."

"We are not known for the depth of our transparency, for digging in and solving deep-seated problems, but for trying to project an unChristian picture of having it all together."

In my experience, Christian arrogance comes from a lie we've been taught to believe, many of us since childhood. It's the lie that our knowledge and belief of the "right" doctrines makes us better than everyone else. Throughout the twenty centuries of the Church, her biggest flaw has been her continual return to an Us vs. Them mentality, born of our arrogance.

It's rooted in the many scriptures that contrast the favored position of the people of faith vs. the wickedness of the world. There is no way to get around that clear teaching of scriptures.

But, like the nation of Israel, we've been all too quick to grasp onto the notion that we somehow earned the moniker of God's Chosen People.

The truth is, we're all on the same 1 road, both believers and unbelievers. We're all imperfect travelers, prone to stumbling, in desperate need of the mercy of God.

When arrogant unbelievers mercilessly mock our faith in God, is it because they're blind and don't understand their true situation, in need of the mercy of God? Sometimes.

Too often, though, they mock us because we've acted too much like them. We've been acting as though we don't understand our true situation, our complete and total dependence on His mercy.

We strut our status as children of the King, while not at all displaying the character of the King.

The Kingdom of God is about humility, not arrogance. The Kingdom is about loving, not mocking. The Kingdom is about mercy, not judgment.

When arrogant people mock you unmercifully, do you respond with arrogance? Do you project a purely judgmental attitude toward them?

Or do you respond with the humility of Christ? Do you reach out to them and admit your common ground, the imperfection and foolishness we all share?

When you're mocked by arrogant and unmerciful people, do you respond by mocking their unbelief? Do you mock their lifestyle choices that cause God to weep? Do you traffic in Facebook and Twitter memes that make fun of them?

Or do you respond the way Christ responded when He was mocked by the ones who were crucifying Him? Does your heart go out to them, eager for them to be forgiven? Do you turn the other cheek, allowing them to persist in their mockery, while you persist in your loving-kindness and patience?

When mercy is withheld by those who mock you arrogantly, do you refuse to extend mercy to them? Are you the type to look for every little flaw, every misstep by the people you see as dirty rotten sinners? Do you rejoice when calamity strikes, declaring it to be the judgment of God upon them?

Or do you welcome them with mercy, the same mercy with which Christ welcomes you?

The Law of the Lord is not just about good vs. evil and right vs. wrong. It's also brimming over with humility, loving-kindness, and mercy.

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I respond by not turning from your law, the law of love.