Arrogance

             The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. (Isaiah 2:17-18)

The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.”

In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.

Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.  Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. (Isaiah 3:16-26)

          We live in a confused and confusing time. On the one hand, we are told that we should be humble. That we should consider things from the perspectives of others, and not make them feel excluded or inferior We simply must consider the negative influence our behavior may have on another person. How can we be so arrogant as to think that our beliefs and perspectives are right?

          At the same time, some of the same people are quick to have difficulties with anyone who doesn’t give them their way. How dare we ask them to consider the well-being of a child in the womb over their own wishes? How dare we ask them to dress in a way that doesn’t display every possible millimeter of skin they decide to bare? If someone has difficulty with the way they’re dressed, then it’s the other person who has the problem. No one may question, judge, or shame them!

          People today sing with Whitney Houston that learning to love themselves is “the greatest love of all.” They declare that they don’t think it’s right to be ashamed of their bodies, as if there are only two options: being ashamed and being boastful or boastfully displaying themselves like the arrogant women Isaiah described. Some say the clothing makes them feel beautiful, but why does it make them feel beautiful? Isn’t it ultimately about the responses evoked in others? If all that mattered was their own opinion, they could dress provocatively in the comfort of their homes and gaze in the mirror for hours on end, but the point isn’t their own enjoyment. The point is their effect on others.

This is even one of the arguments in favor of abortion rights – that no one should dare to tell a woman she can’t do whatever she wants with her body. It’s HER body and no one else’s life, well-being, or feelings need to be considered or may be considered. Zero humility.

          I recently saw something about a study into how people who view themselves as powerless do things to short-circuit the power they think others are trying to exert over them. They walk slowly down grocery store aisles, drive around with their radios blaring – basically do whatever they think they can to force others to pay attention to them. In other words, they choose to act arrogantly rather than accepting their powerlessness or considering their own humility as a positive thing.

          Of course, that’s all looking at things from one perspective. One can be just as arrogant about one’s education, one’s job, one’s skill in something, how well-behaved their children are, what good manners they or their children have, their to do lists or accomplishments… The list is unending. And in the end, it will destroy them – and us.