The top 1% is a term that I sometimes hear when various groups of people are demonized for something they either did or did not do. It seems like the term is typically used in a derogatory way to characterize them as evil or wicked, whether or not they actually are.
If we didn’t pay our fair share in taxes, our test scores were so good that we must have cheated, or maybe we got ahead in life because of our unethical business practices. It seems that from an earthly point of view, the top 1% are only getting ahead in life because they are doing dishonest things. None of us are perfect, but to generally label those in the top 1% of any category as evil or wicked seems to be very unfair.
I am not saying that we as Christians are in some top 1% category for being the most righteous, but I do feel we are close to the top of whatever category we care to call it when it comes to believing in the Bible and the truth that it teaches. And I think that due to this, we are sometimes described by any number of derogatory labels or terms because we stand for God’s truth.
Ephesians 6 NKJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
As we know, God’s Word is true and what He says is what we believe and practice. And no, I am not saying that only the top 1% of some most righteous category will be saved, but we do read that the number of those being saved will not be everybody.
Matthew 7 NKJV
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
It seems rather easy these days to fall into some earthly defined category that demonizes Christians for our stance on what is the truth. No matter what we are labeled nor what the category we are placed in because we do not do what the crowd thinks is right in their own eyes, we need to do what is right in the sight of our Lord and Savior.
Written by Tony Bohannon