A few words that have been Forgotten in the world today, and sadly in the modern church as well, are “Humble” and “Contrite” and their opposite, “Haughty.” I acknowledge that “humble” is thrown around most Christian circles, but True Humility in application is rare. Humility, according to The Manual requires the death of a self-centered mentality and decision making process and a consistent commitment to a Christ-centered approach to the same. Pride is the opposite approach and Haughtiness is the inevitable outcome. As The Manual also says, “No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24).
An excerpt from Forgotten Hope, Chapter 4, Heretics, Hirelings & The Church,
“Isaiah 57:15 says: “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble…” Here Isaiah pairs humble with contrite, so I wanted to look a little deeper at this. The Hebrew word used is dâkâ’, which according to Strong’s means, “to crumble; transitively to bruise (literally or figuratively): – beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble.” So, that’s contrite. How does the Manual use humble? Well, there are nearly a half-dozen words used for humble, their definitions include: “Abase self, Chasten self, Submit self, bring down into Subjection, Bring low, Cast down, to Humble self.” (Well, we know a goat can’t worship!) Isaiah goes on to say, “…I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.’” Proverbs 16 clarifies, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD… The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. Those who listen to instruction will be joyful; those who trust the LORD will be happy.” (Proverbs 16:2,5,9,18-20) Verse 18 is usually quoted as “Pride goes before a fall,” leaving “haughty” out and, thereby, leaving out an important distinction. Haughty deepens the word pride. Webster’s 1828 provides that clarification. It defines haughty not just as pride but “excessive pride,” and not just excessive pride but “pride mingled with contempt.” Haughty is not just pride but “pride and disdain.” In short, an arrogant spirit goes before a fall, but a Humble spirit will be joyful and happy. (So much for the wolves.)
It is clear, that to be “Humble and Contrite” we must crush our ways and submit ourselves to God’s ways. We are to fall down, to bring our self low and to destroy our self. It is only in this state that God can “restore the crushed spirit” and “revive the courage of our repentant hearts.” As Isaiah says in 57:12: “He will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.” This may sound familiar: In Truth, By Faith, Through Grace. It’s saying God will expose the worthlessness of our works and self-righteousness and of our idols. And when we cry out we will see that “all is meaningless except God.” But He also says we have a “choice” we can “take refuge in Him.” We can choose Hope.”