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Pastor: Dr. Lester Hutson

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Another type of Christian I've often run into is the 'Elitist.'  This person thinks he/she is superior to those around him/her. (Let's use 'they' and 'them' to represent 'he/she' and 'him/her'). They consider their mental skills and even sometimes their physical abilities to be far better than everyone else's. They love to talk about about how they have arrived at a certain philosophy or understanding on a particular subject. They are also quick to let you know that their experiences, although similar to yours, have been far more involved and worthy of note than yours.

I have noticed that many of the Christian elitists that I've known have an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures. Most of them have been involved in Calvinism (the erroneous teaching that God selects who will be saved and who will not) or some other non-scriptural group. The ones who have been in the same churches I've been in have been a source of disquiet, always arguing with the preacher on his teachings.

Paul spoke of these types in 2 Timothy chapter 4. He said that the time would come when 'they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables' (vs. 3-4).

There is another good example of an elitist in Luke chapter 18. In verses 9 through 14 Jesus tells a parable to some elitists (v. 9) about an elitist and a righteous but humble man. Here is the account:

'Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.     And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.'

The elitist (the Pharisee) thought of himself as much better than any one else. He thought God would be pleased with him for being so superior to others. But notice in verse 14 that Jesus considered the humble man more righteous and warned that whoever 'exalteth himself shall be abased.'

I'm reminded of a humorous episode that happened to an elitist missionary in Brazil. My parents were missionaries to that great country from 1953 until 1994. About 1 year after we arrived there and after my parents had spent several long months in language school learning the beautiful Portuguese language, another American missionary came on the scene. Let's call him Dell.

Dell was an elitist and let everyone know that he was God's gift to Brazil. From his viewpoint he thought he was the answer to Brazil's spiritual problems but from the Brazilian's viewpoint he was an insufferable egotist.

One day shortly after beginning language school and long before he had learned enough to be self sufficient, Dell asked my father to take him to his favorite barber shop. My father agreed and offered to translate but Dell vehemently stated that he was more than capable of handling the situation by himself.

They arrived at the barber shop and were soon seated. My father, having been a regular customer for several months, had established good rapport with the barbers and they all knew how he like his hair cut. Dell, being a new customer, had to tell the barber what he expected. Dad recounted that Dell stumbled through it all and disingratiated himself with all the barbers right off the bat. He would try to explain what he wanted in Portuguese and then get frustrated and speak poorly of the barber to my father in English. All during his haircut Dell spoke to my father in English berating Brazilians and their country.

Finally his barber put what he thought were the finishing touches on Dell's hair and handed him a mirror for his inspection. Dell looked through the mirror and said, ' bastante'. Well, what he meant to say was 'basta' which means 'enough' but what he said was 'more.' The barber then picked up his scissors and began cutting again. To which action Dell practically screamed 'bastante', 'bastante' ('more', 'more'). He really wanted the barber to stop but he was rudely telling the barber to do more. So the barber put down the scissors and picked up the electric razor and did what he was ordered. He made one pass from the base of the back of the neck to half way up the back side of Dell's head leaving only a faint trace of hair.

Dell was furious but my father explained that the barber was only doing what he had ordered. Nevertheless Dell continued belittling the Brazilian barber to my father in English saying horrible things about the 'stupid people in this country' and stating that he wasn't going to tip the barber and might not even pay him at all. But he had to have his hair evened out and when it was all over he had a haircut any GI would be proud of but which did not suit his style of hair at all. For a few weeks he looked like a red-headed porcupine.

Dell and my father both paid their barbers but Dell did not tip his and continued to rant and rave in English against the barber and Brazilians in general. My father gave all the barbers a generous tip for their restraint and tolerance of this man. As they walked out the door Dell's barber addressed my father and said in perfect English, 'Reverend McCartney, you are welcome here any time. We thank you for your patronage.'

That experience would have humbled most of us but not Dell. An elitist through and through he was unfazed by the episode and according to many others who knew him during his time in Brazil he never changed. In fact, he never allowed any Brazilians to come into his home. Pretty sad example of an American and of a Christian.

We are warned many times in God's Word to avoid thinking too highly of ourselves. Christ, when asked by His disciples which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, said that whoever humbled himself as a little child would be the greatest (Matthew 18:4).

Solomon said, 'Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him' (Proverbs 26:12). He also warned that 'Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall' (Proverbs 16:18).

SUMMARY:

In my opinion the elitists are slaves to their pride and fall far short of being a true disciple of Christ. Like the legalist of the previous lesson this person also does more harm than good to the cause of Christ. Fortunately for the lost souls and baby Christians around them their behavior is so obnoxious that few desire a close relationship with them.

NEXT LESSON:

In the next lesson we will look at a third type of Christian I've known, the Chameleon.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"