0
0
The Bible has a great deal to say about pride…and none of it is good. Over and over again, pride is roundly condemned. It is listed among the seven deadly sins. God goes so far as to say that when a person is filled with pride, He hates the look on that person’s face. [See Proverbs 6:16-18.]
Why then has it become vogue for Christians to tout their pride? They are proud of their church, their preacher, their kids, their jobs, their accomplishments, ad infinitum. I know that we Christians love to do ideological and theological gymnastics to defend our own faults…and even to paint them, not as faults, but as strengths. Church pride can’t be a bad thing, right? I mean, after all, the church is all about Jesus and Jesus is all about the church…so if I go around smacking everyone in the face with how my church rocks the most, that just has to be something Jesus would high five me on. Right? And community pride. I mean, come on! I am a Texan. How can I not rub that in the face of everyone who isn’t? And my grandkid? He is way cuter than yours and I have the pics to prove it.
It isn’t any wonder that many thinking people are turned off more by Christians than they are Christianity. Too often, we pretty much do what we want and interpret the Bible in a way that supports how we wanted to live in the first place. Then, we puff out our chests and look down our noses at all the poor, ignorant slobs who aren’t as enlightened as us.
We pat ourselves on the back, so proud of all we are…and all we aren’t.
Lest you think me unqualified to speak on this subject, I would draw back the curtain to my own heart and reveal that my besetting sin is – and always has been – pride. I didn’t preach to any church yesterday. I am not pastoring one today. I won’t be overseeing one tomorrow. I am where I am because of pride.
I’m not proud of that. I am proud of myself for recognizing and acknowledging it.
Um, wait…
Just wanted to remind you that you made a HUGE impact on us! We are what we are today because of you and Donya. We love you both!
Thank you, Kim. We love you, too…and I would be lying through my teeth if I said I wasn’t proud of you and Curtis. I couldn’t be anymore so if you were my own kids.
Gene,
Great post! I just did a quick word search on “boast”. I didn’t realize how many occurrences there were. It made me think how often pride rolls off our lips in the form of a boast. Not only does boasting puff us up, but it also seems to have the natural tendency to puff up the person on the receiving end. I know so many times I feel the need to “one up” someone else’s boast. It seems if we could refrain from the slightest hint of boasting, then that would be one less seed we plant in the heart of others.
Thanks for the devotion! -Rob
Wow….we all need this! Thanks for posting.
Wow! Holy Spirit is ringing a big “truth alert bell” inside of me. This isn’t a one and done subject my friend. This must be contemplated and processed. You have so much wisdom and insight.
I have so many conflicting thoughts on this. Would love to talk them out with you some time. I too am a former pastor. Primary culprit, pride.
I gave my first “post pastor” talk Sunday. I thought i was ready. I wasnt. I hated what it did to me inside, although it seemed to help some others. I like me better as a child of God than a leader of men.
Jessie,
Wow! Thank you for sharing that. I feel your pain. I have three thoughts on what you said:
1. What preaching does to the set aside preacher is not pretty. This much I know…and it has caused me much grief and yes, bitterness at times, and confusion. But you hit on the primary point of preaching, which is others. If your message made a positive impact on other people, then it is worth the pain of delivering it, I think.
2. A man who doesn’t think himself much of a candidate for leading others is probably more of a leader than he will ever know. People don’t need perfection in their leaders. They need transparency…and THAT is a tall order. I know my own heart too well to want too many other people seeing it in all its naked glory.
3. My wisdom and insight: I have always been better at giving good advice than following it, even if it is my own. So, not much wisdom there: just too much pride. But owning the thing is the first step. Baby steps…
Would love to talk anytime you please. I pray for you and Keli every day (or have since you crossed my path again).
(BTW, there is a good man over there at Chapel Creek getting it done. He was once my Associate Pastor and then yours. Maybe he learned something from us…even if it was wrong? 🙂 )
nice nice..