A more humble person might believe they could never be the Elect.
I hope you don't take this as any kind of a challenge or negative response, dear BOTR (peace to you!)... because that is not the intent, truly. Rather, it's just an effort to share the truth regarding this matter. But if what you state is true it's a sad thing, really, for at least a couple/few reasons:
1. The requirement is for one to be faithful, not necessarily, humble, initially. "Humility" is simply further training that comes for those who ARE eventually chosen. Because...
2. The "humility" that Christ speaks of has nothing to do with man... but with God (and himself). So many "bow down," before man... but not only stand in definance to but literally shake their fists at and CURSE God and Christ.
3. We often think of "humble" as being "lowly of mind." And this is accurate; however, it does not mean "roll over and play dead." To be a servant sometimes takes lowliness of mind; it does not, however, mean loss of mind... or loss of heart.
4. All of those called and chosen whose accounts are depicted in the Bible were, in some manner "lowly in mind"... as to God and/or Christ. Because they all made themselves servants... of God/Christ and to those who belong to Them. Very few, however, were such as to men. To the contrary, all of these stood up to others, including their own... when the situation called for it. Some, even though it resulted in their death.
5. Even with faith, the "choosing" is still due to mercy... for those who humble themselves "under the hand of GOD" (and not man!)... and so not something anyone one of us can put into motion. As Christ said, "You did not choose ME; I chose YOU."
6. I have learned that those who don't believe THEY could be called AND chosen... often deny that truth as to others. Since THEY can't be (in their own minds and hearts!), no one else can, either. I'm not sure if you got this, but that's EXACTLY the attitude that Saul of Tarsus had! In HIS mind, surely, if ANYONE would be called, it would be either someone "like" him (if not him, due to his vast education and zeal!)... or certainly someone less... ummmm... "vocal" that these new "upstarts"! How DARE they speak out as they do... and then say it's by means of holy spirit! It was blasphemy in his eyes... which is why he felt justified in silencing them!
I often marvel at how some "think" those called and chosen were/are to be. I realize that religion (and particuarly the WTBTS) teaches a state of mind (and heart) that one wouldn't find among those whose accounts are recorded... if they bothered to look. There is no "outward" appearance in the form of a universal, uniform personality trait, dear one. Some were quiet; some not so much. Some contended; others did not. Some outright challenged the Most Holy One of Israel Himself... although with lowliness of mind.
The are different members set in the Body... for different purposes... and GOD sets them, as HE wills; they don't set themselves. And so, while it might make us feel a bit more comfortable if they were all, say, obscure, unassuming elbows... the TRUTH is that some are wrists, knees, hands, fingers, arms, etc. If we run around trying to discern who is... and who isn't... by anything other than what holy spirit... and/or their "fruits"... reveal to us... and particularly by using our own paradigms... we could find ourselves among those who BELIEVE they are "rendering an act of sacred service," while actually "killing" [members of] the Body of Christ. Those who my Lord spoke to and of... did not consider HIM humble... or lowly of mind... as to them. So what?
Again, peace to you... and, again, I hope you don't take this as a challenge of any sort because that was not the intent, truly. Again, it was just an effort to share the truth regarding this matter and nothing more. Absolutely nothing.
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
