False Humility, Inflated Reasoning, and the Fleshly Mind

The above title, taken from Colossians, uses the term “fleshly mind” to describe teachings derived from human reasoning and placed above the truth of God. Such notions, however elaborate, have lost connection with the “head” that is Jesus Christ. A false humility that proceeds from pride must be recognized and avoided in the spiritual life. We read in scripture:

Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath. These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, delighting in self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, inflated without reason by his fleshly mind, and not holding closely to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and bonds, achieves the growth that comes from God. (Colossians 2:16-19)

True Humility and False Humility

True humility is the pearl of great price to be sought after in the spiritual life. Meekness, a synonym for humility, is enshrined in the Beatitudes with the promise of earthly inheritance for those who strive to practice this holy state of being. False humility, in the form of pride, is nothing less than the deadliest of the seven deadly sins. True humility is quiet and discreet, while false humility is loud and boisterous. Jesus had a lot to say about false humility and the outward show of personal piety in the Gospel according to Matthew:

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’” (Matthew 23:1-7)

Appearance and Reality

While not all Pharisees were hypocrites, those whom Jesus singled out would feel right at home in today’s world. Appearance, now more than ever, supersedes reality by a wide margin. What we see in mass media and the preponderance of social media is the equivalent of the fabled poison apple. The expression “all sizzle and no steak” is as applicable to hypocritical behavior in ancient Palestine as it is in modern culture. No matter what channel or app you choose, you can find a plethora of what proceeds from the unspiritual mind of secular thought.

Andy Warhol’s famous quote, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” seems very close to being realized. While his prediction may not occur precisely as stated, universal access to the internet comes close to the mark by affording the opportunity of having a digital platform to anyone who has anything to say to the world at large. The “weeds and the wheat” of the information age coexist in a symbiotic way. Careful discernment is necessary to distinguish the truth among the many voices that compete for our attention.

In The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality, a modern classic on spirituality, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser explains:

Today there are books on spirituality everywhere. However, despite the virtual explosion of literature in the area, in the Western world today, especially in the secular world, there are still some major misunderstandings about the concept. Chief among these is the idea that spirituality is, somehow, exotic, esoteric, and not something that issues forth from the bread and butter of ordinary life. Thus, for many people, the term spirituality conjures up images of something paranormal, mystical, churchy, holy, pious, otherworldly, New Age, something on the fringes and something optional. Rarely is spirituality understood as referring to something vital and nonnegotiable lying at the heart of our lives. (The Holy Longing, p. 31)

Conclusion: Discerning God’s Will

In the process of sifting through true wisdom and the “appearance of wisdom,” we can invoke the Holy Spirit’s presence and light as we discern God’s will in our lives. Saint Paul continues:

If you died with Christ to the elemental powers of the world, why do you submit to regulations as if you were still living in the world? “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These are all things destined to perish with use; they accord with human precepts and teachings. While they have a semblance of wisdom in rigor of devotion and self-abasement [and] severity to the body, they are of no value against gratification of the flesh. (Colossians 2:20-23)

May we strive for true humility in Christ, the gift of Wisdom from the Holy Spirit, and the authentic spirituality of the Paschal mystery as we journey toward Pentecost this Easter season.