Is God Arrogant And Egotistical?

Some Biblereaders wonder why God seems to crave praise and to seek his own glory. Critics note that in certain passages God seems arrogant—exhibiting anything but the humility he expects from humans. So, how should Christians reply to this “arrogance” charge?

An understanding of pride and humility helps. Pride involves having an overblown view of self (Rm 12:3; Gl 6:3-4). Humility involves having a realistic assessment of self; it notes weaknesses and sins, but also strengths and skills. A world-class pianist who denies her abilities has false humility. True humility—not to be confused with pride—acknowledges abilities, but accepts them as gifts from God (1Co 4:4). Moreover, humans can “take pride” in certain things rightly insofar as they understand blessings as flowing from God’s grace (see 2Co 7:14; 9:3-4; 10:17). They should boast in nothing, however, except the cross of Christ (Gl 6:14).

Importantly, God is not proud. He has a realistic—unexaggerated—view of himself. By definition, he is intrinsically good, worship-worthy, and the greatest conceivable being. He doesn’t think of himself more highly than he ought. This point, however, inevitably leads to three related questions.

First, if he did not do so for the sake of personal ego boosting, why did God make humans in his own image? The answer is that God was simply spreading the blessings inherent in himself. Humans share in some of his divine qualities like rationality, creativity, and moral agency. These gifts express God’s generosity at work. Humans share in the privilege and responsibility of ruling creation with God (Gn 1:26-28).

The second question is this: Why does God demand worship? Just as humility is rooted in reality, so is worship. God has placed eternity within humanity (Ec 3:11). Men and women are designed to find satisfaction in God, who alone is worthy of utter trust and devotion. Placing devotion elsewhere, in fact, is foolish. It harms humans and leaves souls shriveled and unsatisfied (see Jr 2:13). Worshiping the one true God is to be in touch with reality, acknowledging the proper order of things.

Finally, a third question is posed: Why does God seek praise? Some ask this to point to supposed pathetic insecurity in the Creator. But Scripture is clear that God doesn’t need human praise or anything else (Ps 50:11; Rm 11:34-36). A closer reading of the Bible reveals that God does not typically command praise; rather, throughout the Word fellow-creatures call one another to acknowledge God’s worth-ship. C.S. Lewis said, “All enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise…. We delight to praise what we enjoy.” Praise expresses but also completes the enjoyment.

Scripture indicates that God is humble. Though high and exalted, God dwells with the lowly (Is 57:15; see Ps 113:5-6). Jesus himself is gentle and humble in heart (Mt 11:27-29). He came to serve and to lay down his life for humans (Mk 10:45; Lk 22:27). Indeed, the incarnation remains the height of self-humbling. The Lord stepped into our world and died a humiliating death on the cross (Php 2:6-8). God is neither arrogant nor egotistical.