"Ego is a False Prophet"

 I am visiting my kids and sister in Knoxville, Tennessee.  It has been a blast.  I attended a church while here.  It wasn't as big as my church in Wasilla, Alaska, which was fine.  But because of its size, I was surprised to find out that the worship leader was Chris Blue, the winner of season 12 of The Voice.  Needless to say, the music was beautiful.

The church was in the middle of a series on 'Elijah the Bold.'  I don't know if they planned that they would end up at the story of Elijah calling down fire and defeating the prophets of Baal on Pentecost Sunday, but there we were.

As the minister mounted the platform, a phrase came on the screen where the words to the songs and the scriptures being read appear.  The phrase was, "Ego is a false prophet."  I later found out that this is a quote from some author but that didn't take away from the fact that I was stunned in that moment.  I don't remember ever hearing anything so true and well put.  It is the original sin.

I want to explore this a little bit even though it is pretty obvious on its face.  I don't think that ego is a false prophet, it is THE false prophet.  All sin proceeds from the ego.  Let me not assume everyone knows what the ego is.  Let's explain the term briefly.  

The dictionary definition is: 

a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.  

Another definition is: 

the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.

So, just as the phrase, "Ego is a false prophet," is self-explanatory on the surface but can be mined for deeper meanings; the two definitions of ego show what  I'm talking about.  The first definition shows us that if ego is my sense of self-importance and ego is a false prophet, I likely think too highly of myself.  That is the face value of the statement.

The second definition, however, is where the gravy is.  It shows us that our perceived reality is a false prophet of ego also.  Maybe we see ourselves as victims that leads us into false prophecy.  Maybe we see ourselves as underdogs deserving more than our lot and that becomes our false prophecy.  Either way, it is all rooted in self.

I am not saying that real injustices don't exist.  We have all experienced injustices, some much worse than others.  It is how we respond to those injustices that exposes our prophet.  Who are we listening to?  

The only way to navigate this minefield is the Word of God.  The Bible is called a mirror by James.  We look into it and see the truth of ourselves.  The Bible says that all of us have sinned.  We have all like sheep gone astray and there is none righteous.  The mirror of the Word tells us that no matter how highly we think or ourselves, we need a savior.  

The Bible also shows us how to look at others.  We need to look at others the way God does. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus did that.  That is how He sees people.

We are told over and over in the Bible to lay down our lives, crucify our flesh, take up our cross.  These verses are our prophets if we allow them to be.  These are the words that help keep our egos at bay. 

So, the next time you feel violated, and maybe your have been, don't listen the the false prophet of ego.  Listen to what God says, things like  you are loved and all things work together for good for those that love God.

God, help us to remember your word...

Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.

For like grass, they soon fade away.  Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the LORD and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the LORD and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit Everything you do to the LORD.  Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. 

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

For the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.

The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.

The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.

But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming... Psalm 37:1-13