Sean Major-Campbell | Christians should try humility

CHRISTIANS SHOULD use Holy Week to return to the way of Christ. Too many have strayed from the ways of love and service. Nationalism, selfish ambitions, xenophobia and inhospitable approaches have replaced the Christ consciousness of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

One of the dangerous things about religious practice is the risk of getting lost behind the prayers, Bible verses and piety while ignoring the pain and suffering of those for whom our silence is complicit. Many folks are so lost in their sharing of Bible quotes and prayers that they eventually appear to lose the ability to see their empty platitudes as they serve political ideologies clothed in religious garb.

Many are the pious ones who weep for Jesus in this Holy Week. But Jesus reminds us to weep for our children instead. The world is for many, an increasingly scary place. In 2025, many wonder if they will still recognise the world by December 2025. Many are wondering how their children will cope with increasing threats to world peace and stability.

WORLD WAR III IS HERE!

Might it help if I tell you something that might sound like a rumour? World War III is here. It is happening before our very eyes. We might not readily see it because we have been socialised to understand wars in terms of bombs. But a full-scale war is on. The war which rages against peace and truth and family and community and humility and compassion and mercy, is even being advanced by silent Christians who have departed from the Christ of Holy Week!

Let us return to the way of humility. Seeking not worldly acclaim and kingly crowns. This Jesus who wore the crown of thorns still defies the world’s definition of strength, power, and success. The epistle to the Philippians presents the Christ who many Christians no longer find appealing:

Philippians 2:1-4 is however still the metric that best inspires resistance and reliance in the face of worldly dictates informed by selfish ambitions. “Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Just imagine if we were to select religious leaders and political directorates based on Christ’s humility. Imagine a world in which world leaders were inspired by the humble Christ of God.

CULT OF PERSONALITY

I never knew that we would see the day when Christians would blatantly excuse what is uncouth, crude, and bellicose to serve the cult of personality. But maybe it is human nature to become sycophants as we blindly serve those we believe best support our religiously held values.

In this letter to the church in Philippi, just take a look again at traditional Christian values. Seeking to be like-minded with regard to Christ, having the same love and being one in spirit and mind against selfish ambition and vain conceit. Many Christians are so far from any resemblance of this!

“In humility value others above yourselves.” Just look at some fellow Christians in certain positions of power and influence in the workplace. Sometimes even in church. They lie as if there is a deadline to amass lies. They never affirm the good in others. They do and say whatever demeans others. They write reports that ensure that it is difficult for you to realise career advancement. But they are the first to call for prayer and to send lovely Bible verses every day. Humility should be a requirement for those in leadership positions.

In this epistolary we see a world-shaking proposition that calls Christians not to look to their own interests, but instead to the interests of others! In which universe does this make sense in 2025? In Jesus’ kingdom! In accordance with the kingdom values of Christ, Christians who know better will still look out for the interests of others. Some will still operate from that place where addressing the interests of others is a priority.

LOOK TO JESUS

The best way to understand this call to humble service (despised by the world) is to look to Jesus. In Philippians 2:5-8, a timely reminder is given:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross!”

Many Christians have been going to church for years and have never even heard these texts because so much time is being spent on the culture wars and doctrines that promote misogyny, violence, nationalism, and xenophobia.

On this Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion), we do well to remember that in Jesus there is victory as symbolised by the palms. Christ Church, Vineyard Town, invites you to ‘In Christ Alone’ this Good Friday at 8 a.m.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com