At first, this sounds like an exciting proposition, but the longer you call yourself a believer, the more difficult it is to agree.

People love the concept of coming to Church, accepting Jesus as their Savior, and serving alongside other followers of Jesus. We are all sinners saved by the same grace.

Then, the years start to roll past. Without any fanfare, we find ourselves accumulating experiences and understanding the longer we are a believer. Our knowledge grows of all things religious. Suddenly, someone new walks in, and it is hard to accept them as equal to me. After all, they do not have the wisdom that comes with years of being a Christian.

If we are not careful, we can develop an air of superiority when it comes to faith. We feel like we have seniority, and our thoughts and opinions are more valuable than those of new believers. We deserve special treatment and added respect because of our superior faith.

It is true that I rarely find people who say it that directly, but the attitude persists. I hear it when people demand the types of music or songs that they prefer. I see it when people start to claim seats in the auditorium. This mindset of “I have been here longer, so I deserve special treatment” can grow with every year you are a Church member. You might think it is justified in your case, but so did the Pharisees.