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NASB | James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 4:4 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners--flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
Subject: What causes a holier than thou attitude? |
Bible Note: Hi Mommapbs, My point is that just because one is accuesd, does not mean he is guilty,but should allow the Holy Spirit to examine his heart. And the accuser should be examining his or her own heart to know the source of the accusation. " Are believers who exhibit this attitude disobedient? Or are you saying that believer who perceives this attitude in another Christian is the disobedient one?" ometimes believers who are walking in dosobedience and are convicted by brothers or sisters who are being obedient and will take a 'self justification' attitude. To accuse their obedient brothers or sisters of pride (the source of a holier than thou attitude) somehow makes them feel better. This attitude will be sin because it is revellion against the conviction of the Holy Spirit, a hardening of the heart. Sometimes young believers will sucumb to the pressure to 'prove' they are not 'holier than thou' and join in the disobedient acts. AS believers we should, rather, ask the Holy Spirit to examine and reveal any uncleanness (pride) and if there is none, pray for the accuser, and continue in obedience. "As for me, I see legalism is the generator of the holier than thou attitude in fellow believers. And in my opinion, legalism denies the sufficiency of the Grace of God. Therefore, the one with the legalistic mindset is at enmity with the Spirit - what causes division among you? Jude 1:19" I agree. Both legalists and moralist place their faith in their works of righteousness rather than the righteousness of Jesus we receive through faith. Thus the HEART of the matter is pride. Any believer can fall into this trap of comparing ourselves with others as the Pharasee and the Publican, so we should guard our heart and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what is in our heart regularly, as opposed to assuming because we are not committing 'external' and odvious acts of sin, we must be OK. We can be walking the walk and talking the talk, and our heart be in sin. God bless. Our pastor was teaching on this last night reminding believers that the externally actions are the RESULT or the manifestation of the sinful state of the heart. God bless |