On humility again

A good number of years ago I wrote an article for a popular Christian periodical on Basil's homily on humility. This sermon is a favourite of mine, partly because Basil makes a clear affirmation of justification by faith alone in it.

Near the beginning of the sermon Basil argues that humility is the treasure-chest of all of the virtues. It is a remarkable statement but one that I think is correct. Confirmation of it can be found in other Christian authors like Calvin and Edwards and John Ryland, Jr. In fact, I gave some quotes from the younger Ryland on humility a few days ago in this newsletter that make a similar sort of claim: humility is at the heart of true orthodoxy.

I distinctly remember getting a letter strongly disagreeing with the article and raising the question that by emphasizing humility Basil was teaching a works righteousness. I wrote to the critic and assured him that Basil's homily was teaching no such thing. If I knew then what I know now about the history of humility, I would have cited Edwards and Calvin and other Protestant divines.

Humility is a difficult subject to talk about. But how essential it is to the living of the Christian life. And what is significant--especially in our day of celebrityism--it is a mindset ("have this mind in you that was in Christ Jesus") that must be constantly applied and embraced. It is so easy for older Christians to think that they have arrived and due deference must be paid to them and their opinions.

Oh, to be humble like a little child, ever ready to serve and help others, ever ready to overlook offenses, and to be a gentle man or gentle woman.