WHY ARE MOST CHRISTIANS ARROGANT?

Believers today look at the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and think:  why were they so blind; why were they ignorant of the Old Testament teachings concerning the "Suffering Servant?"  Part of the answer lies in the fact that they were Jews, and therefore, partially blinded to the truth (Rom. 11:25).  Part of the reason is that they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, teaching them about Him.  And finally, part of the answer is that they did not have the New Testament to help them recognize Him.  That is why Jesus said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lk. 24:25-27). 

THE HOLY SPIRIT:  Why is it that today's believer thinks he is so much smarter than those believers of Jesus' day?  My first response to that question is:  today we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, whose job it is to teach us and remind us of the teachings of Jesus (Jn. 14:26).  However, when given time to think about it, I find that the Apostles, who were filled with the Holy Spirit, were still capable of huge error when it came to doctrine.  For years, from the time of Pentecost's indwelling (Acts 2:1-5), until the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-22), the Church still believed that one had to become a Jew before he could be saved.

THE NEW TESTAMENT:  Of course, today, born again believers also have the New Testament, right?  And yet, if having the Holy Spirit within us, and a copy of the New Testament were enough, then why is it necessary for God to provide the Church with evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11)?  And even with these gifted believers to teach us, why does it say that we are to be workmen "that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15)?  It is obvious that we, as individual believers, need to be able to discern which evangelists, pastors, and teachers are teaching the truth (Acts 17:11).  The Apostle Paul admonished us prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thes. 5:21).

DILIGENT STUDY:  So what does it mean "to prove all things?"  Well, we first need to listen to what is being taught with an open mind, and then, like the Bereans, go home and verify what is being taught by the Word of God.  And there is the rub!  Those of us who grew up in some denominational church, have been "brainwashed" into believing our understanding of truth is correct and all others are wrong.  Our study often results in our own private interpretation of the truth (2 Pet. 1:20).
 

Even with the Holy Spirit, the New Testament, and dedicated study,

a private interpretation of truth will always result in arrogance!