Should a Christian have swag / swagger?

One correspondent who knew him recalls a remark of AJP in a Bible Reading, "a certain young man being the best dressed because he was ´clothed with humility´", 1 Peter 5:5. He also points out that he was the author of a number of good gospel hymns including

Peter had suffered for his self-confidence, the root of which was pride of heart, and he desired to save the beloved saints to whom he wrote, and us, from this folly; hence his exhortation, “Be clothed with humility” (chap. 5:5). The R.V. reads, “Gird yourselves with humility, and serve one another.” The New Translation reads, “And all of you bind on humility towards one another.” I am sure that Peter had in his memory the unforgettable act of the Lord when on the night on which He was betrayed He rose from the supper-table and laid aside His garments and took a towel and girded Himself and began to wash His disciples' feet. Peter had resented the Lord's taking that place of lowly service to him; he did not understand then that Divine love must serve its objects as long as a need remains; and while the feet-washing was a symbolical act, and while in it there is a depth of meaning only discerned by loving hearts, we must not miss that which lies on the surface. “I have given you an example,” said the Lord, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Luke tells us that at that same Supper He said to them, “I am among you as He that serveth.” God looks for the reproduction of the features of His Son in us, and if our hearts are affected by the love of the Lord we shall gladly serve one another with humility of heart. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” And grace from above and humility within are needed for such service.

Not only did He empty Himself of all His outward glory in the form of God: but He took a slave's form. He might have taken the form of an Emperor or of a mighty King, in wealth and luxury: but, No, by His own act, (for I think the Greek implies this), He emptied Himself and deliberately took a slave's form. And the remarkable thing is that the word form is the very same word as in the previous verse: "Who subsisting in the form of God." As we have seen, it means, not exterior form, but inner, essential quality. He was not like an actor might be, dressed up in the fashion of a slave: though indeed we see Him in the outward character of a slave in the thirteenth of John, where He laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself, and did the slave's work, of washing the feet. And Peter fully realized this, I believe, and had it in his mind when he wrote: "Be clothed with humility:" for this might well be translated: "Gird on the slave's apron;" for the word in its noun form means this. Here we see the inner, essential quality, the very spirit of our Lord, shining out so that we may gaze upon Him in wonder and awe.

When we talk of having very sensitive feelings, and being hurt by remarks of others, it is often only pride, and shows how miserably we are taken up with ourselves. Another vari­ety of pride is shown in outward adornment, dressing after the fashion of the world, and in a manner unstated to Chris­tian position. Another variety is being puffed up by any gifts God may have bestowed upon me.

There is none who more deserves to be esteemed and respected than a Christian servant, who just fills his or her place, and glorifies God in it and adorning the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord, Who took the form of a servant, knows and will know how to honour such. But, on the other hand, there can be scarcely a more pitiable and disgraceful sight, even to common-sense people of the world, than Christian servants who utterly forget and deny their Saviour and Lord's character, by stepping out of their place, and trying to assume by their dress, manners, and appearance, a position which is exactly the opposite to that of Him, Whom they profess to be their Master and Lord. The Lord knows how to humble such, who thus bring disgrace on His Name, His truth, and His Gospel, instead of adorning them by their walk. I would earnestly commend to such a close meditation on the seven downward steps of humiliation of our heavenly Master, as they are given in the second Chapter of Philippians, verses 7 and 8.

Humility is to be the right clothing for the saints of God. "They are to gird themselves with humility in this way, humility being that which will keep everything rightly adjusted, as the girdle the robe, and which would thus enable for such activity as all are called to; for humility is a grand help against discouragement by the difficulties of the way, and necessarily against all that would search out any remnant of pride in us" (F.W. Grant). Self-exaltation is the very essence of sin. God cannot tolerate it in His people. The example of Christ, who made of Himself no reputation, forbids it. God resisteth therefore always and in every way the proud, while He giveth grace to the humble. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." How little these great exhortations are considered in our times! Even among those who have the truth and believe in the revelation of God, while there is much increase in knowledge, there is little evidence of true humility. Humility will never leave us ashamed. We do not need to exalt ourselves; the Lord will do it for us.

I will try to show in a word or two the setting which will indicate our position while here on earth. You will find the apostle in Ephesians 4:1 urges upon Christians, that they walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called. And then you will find the spirit in which alone that walk can be sustained, "with all lowliness, and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Anything like an overbearing attitude is altogether out of place in connection with this new life and new service, this walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. Instead of being proud of ourselves, asking people to observe how beautiful our order, how gracious our lives, and how wonderful our testimony, there is lowliness and meekness; readiness to take affront and never turn a hair. Look at the Lord Jesus, meek and lowly of heart. People spoke and acted against Him; people discredited, defamed Him, injured Him physically; they smote Him, buffeted Him, spat on Him; yet mark all the way through this meekness. If we are going to answer in any way to the vocation wherewith we are called we have to be prepared to face trial, to submit instead of asserting our rights (as people speak), or standing on our dignity, or defending ourselves in the spirit of the world. He was meek and lowly in heart.

Here is our example, as Christians; and here, too, the divine antidote against the pride and restless ambition of the men of this world. Nothing is more sad than to witness a pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in those who profess to be followers of Him who was meek and lowly in heart. It is such a flagrant contradiction of the spirit and precepts of Christianity, and is a sure accompaniment of an unbroken condition of soul. It is utterly impossible for any one to indulge in a boastful, pretentious, self-confident spirit, if ever he has really measured himself in the presence of God. To be much alone with God is the sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency. May we know the reality of this in the secret of our own souls! May the good Lord keep us truly humble, in all our ways, simply leaning on Himself, and very very little in our own eyes!

Every servant of Christ should be bold. He has nothing to conceal and should have nothing to fear. “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1). The possession of the truth, held with a good conscience in the fear of God, raises the soul above all other fear.

Then further, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger and not thine own lips” (Prov. 27:2). We are not to blow our own trumpets. An egotistical man is nearly always an empty man. True greatness and conceit do not run together. Colossal conceit is a mark of a disordered brain. Lunatics imagine themselves to be emperors.