This past Sunday, the adult education class at my church talked about the vice of vainglory, which is the inordinate desire for praise and recognition, often for things that are less than really meaningful (hence the vain in vainglory). When we're vainglorious about religious things, it's called being a hypocrite, as when Jesus notes those who fulfill religious obligations for the sake of recognition rather than for God's glory (Matt. 6:1-4).
One of my favorite examples for illustrating the absurdity of vainglory is Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. I love this clip (even though the audio's not great on this particular cut).
One of my favorite examples for illustrating the absurdity of vainglory is Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. I love this clip (even though the audio's not great on this particular cut).
Thinking about Uncle Rico makes me resist the temptation of vainglory. How? Three ways:
1. My vainglory is absurd.
When I stop and think about it, my disordered desire for praise and recognition makes me do ridiculous things, such as throw a steak at Napoleon. As Kip would say, "Theriouthly?" You're finding your affirmation in this? Be content in the genuine love and grace of God and of your brothers and sisters in Christ. I need to be careful so that I don't find my worth in my steak-tossing, selfie-posting, awesome-tweeting, smart-sounding, laugh-inducing, Facebook-like-garnering, Tupperware-selling, van-driving self.
2. My audience is Kip instead of God.
Who am I really trying to impress here? Not to pick on nerds (since I am one), but Kip is not all that great. But too often, I'm like Uncle Rico, trying to get anybody and everybody to notice how awesome I am instead of focusing on the one person watching who really matters: God.
3. I'm delusional.
Nothing captures the delusion induced by vainglory like Uncle Rico's line, "How much you wanna bet I can throw a football over them mountains?"
Ultimately vainglory is a real problem because the knowledge of God and knowledge of my self are tied together. A distorted focus on myself means a distorted focus on God. The more I have an inordinate desire for praise and recognition from others, the less I'll be focusing on bringing glory to God. I believe Napoleon has a theological word for my condition at that point: idiot!
Ultimately vainglory is a real problem because the knowledge of God and knowledge of my self are tied together. A distorted focus on myself means a distorted focus on God. The more I have an inordinate desire for praise and recognition from others, the less I'll be focusing on bringing glory to God. I believe Napoleon has a theological word for my condition at that point: idiot!
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