The Remnant Mentality

Some blogs have used the term “remnant” to describe a small group of believers who are dedicated and faithful to Biblical truth. Part of the term is meant to distance this remnant from the different streams of compromise within the evangelical community. If you peruse the internet you might find that there are scores of groups that use the term remnant about themselves, but many of them would not include each other who use that same term as part of the remnant they define. So one remnant people dismisses another remnant people as not part of the remnant that they see as “God’s”. The New Testament only uses that term as it applies to the Jewish believers that embrace Christ in the church age, but no where does it use that term to mean a “super faithful” bunch holding down the fort against the onslaught.

I do not believe I’ve ever heard someone use the word “remnant” to describe a small group of faithful followers who didn’t believe that they themselves were a part of that remnant. Interesting. In the Old Testament, where that term was used, it was God Himself who identified that group not the remnant themselves. In this age of grace that term is self serving and leads to an inflated view of ourselves. What is the unscriptural criteria for being part of that so-called remnant? It is not enough for us to be called a sinner saved by God’s glorious grace, we must have more? Paul says he was the chief of all sinners but we are part of God’s elite remnant because of the incredible depth of our life of faith?

These blogs write about men like Brainard and Whitefield and others, and instead of exposing their own shortcomings against that backdrop they seem to imply they are the spiritual offspring of these men of faith. And so they claim to be the last days remnant who continue to protect the sacred truths that have been handed down to us through the centuries. There is much self righteousness in that view and it subtly diverts the ministry from compassion concerning people to disdain concerning any who are not a part of the remnant.

This remnant term reflects some of the growing self righteousness among those who claim to be faithful to Christ but have been unfaithful to His major call for humility. In fact God says He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Why does God need to give grace to the humble? Because a truly humble person will correctly see himself as undeserving and an unprofitable servant while a proud person sees himself as a vital part of God’s favored remnant. Quite a distinct difference.

Many times the remnant mentality results in attacking the non-remnant camp as they see it and since you’re already part of the remnant they no longer seek God’s face to draw them closer, they are already close you see. These remnant people call for repentance but exhibit little themselves. To assign yourself “remnant” status is the epitome of spiritual hubris and inherently brings a disdain and judgmental attitude for those outside this elite group, even though God makes no such distinction. Of course God teaches believers can be carnal and backslidden, and some can even be professors while not being possessors, but no where does God say that a true humble follower of Jesus is part of some “remnant”. That has been invented by some so they can “think more highly of themselves than they should”.

We as blood bought grace receivers should walk humbly before our Lord, grateful that this grace is sufficient to keep our every wandering flesh from again seizing our lives, and we should never give ourselves any credit for anything, all glory goes to our Lord and Savior and His mighty power. We are not a remnant, we are His body. We live and breathe and have our being in Him, not some invisible remnant. We can be so prone to self promotion but that must never happen, let us keep our eyes on Christ who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. It is tempting to use Old Testament battle language, colorful and flowery, and through those words exalt our own worth, but the life of Christ is one of humility, love, and selflessness.

That my friends is the greatest battle of all and not many desire to be a part of that “remnant”.