Arrogance, charisma & the culture.
"Arrogance is charisma in this culture." --Sean Penn
I read this in a recent interview in Details. It really struck me and I have thought about this all day. Arrogance is a certainty that we are right, superior, and better than another. Why do you think arrogance is considered charisma in our culture? Are we addicted to being right? Superior? He was talking about how many Americans are enticed by what he considers to be arrogant leadership. There is a huge difference between arrogance and charisma.
Arrogance: The act or habit making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption.
An arrogant person may as well wear a sign that says, "Please excuse my arrogance, I'm really just afraid and because it takes courage to be my true self, I often act like an ass to make myself feel better." The most insecure people I have ever met are often the most arrogant. The most arrogant people I have met are really the most insecure. It is sad, because, pride destroys oneself and a haughty spirit sets one up for a fall. I think about the times I have acted arrogant, never was it justified in God's eyes. When I am in touch with who I am as a child of God, I don't act superior.Charisma: a special gift or power divinely conferred, as a gift of prophecy. A personal aura or leadership quality endowing its possessor with the capacity of inspiring popular enthusiasm and support.
Charisma stems from the Greek charis, meaning grace. Charisma is a gift and inspires enthusiasm. The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek meaning, God in us. Grace and being infused by God is a far cry from arrogance. Where we find arrogance, we can be fairly certain that we won't find the Spirit.
Arrogance is fear-centered. Charisma is God-centered. At times, this culture has confused the two. At times the church has confused the two. I wonder, why?
Who inspires you to be infused with God?
7 Comments:
who are you when you're inspired and infused with God?
(i really love your writing and all that unwind, unfold, and unleash through these postings... spinning out connection to our true selves. thank you.)
Great question Ashley, thank you. When I am infused with God I am my truest self-- alive with passion and ardent zeal. Ardent, comes from the Latin meaning to burn. When I am infused by God my soul is set ablaze and not only does the blaze within me bring warmth to myself and others, it serves as a light.
Thanks again,
Rick
'I often act like an ass to make myself feel better'
i LOVE this line - every time i step in it in public it is because of this. i am so terrified of my true self being rejected that i've created an alter-image, whether done out of arrogance or deep seated fear the result is the same. i'm doing it to make myself feel better, and if i am rejected then it's not really 'me' they've rejected. that 'me' is tucked safe inside - usually so far away from myself that i don't even know where 'me' is...
More excellent food for thought Rick. I always have to read your articles through several times to let it sink in. I appreciate the depth of what you ask and search out.
But the truth is that a large part of charisma is confidence.
I am by no means suggesting that confidence and arrogance are the same thing, but sometimes to the casual observer it can be hard to tell the difference.
This is a great post. So how did we, as a country, get to the point of being so afraid and insecure that we have allowed arrogant leaders to claim a Godly charism? To be honest, I could go on, but I find that coherent thought escapes me and I just become a blathering idiot. So I'll leave it with that question. Again, great post.
"Please excuse my arrogance, I'm really just afraid and because it takes courage to be my true self, I often act like an ass to make myself feel better."
I love this topic! I laughed at that quote and I just realized it was funny cuz its TRUE. I think a lot of people are like that up to an extent. But what i don't get is the comparision made between arrogance and charisma. I mean I get it. But why? Wouldn't an arrogant person just make you feel inferior, intimidated, and leave you annoyed? How can someone find that to be charismatic? If I can tell someone is being arrogant, they just annoy the crap out of me and I lose any respect I have for them.
Anyway, i love this post.
Thkx for in the insight.
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