Guarding Against Pride in Ministry and Service
Guarding Against Pride in Ministry and Service
Pride is a significant concern in Christian ministry and service, as it can lead individuals to overestimate their abilities and forget their dependence on God. The apostle Paul cautions against pride, asking rhetorically, "Who maketh thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" [1]. This question underscores the idea that any distinction or gift a person has is ultimately from God.
In the context of ministry, pride can manifest when individuals begin to glory in their ministers or teachers, rather than recognizing that all ministers are servants of God. Matthew Henry notes that Paul exhorts believers not to "glory in men" or "pay that deference to them that is due only to God" [6]. This warning is echoed in the writings of Augustine, who emphasizes the importance of humility in those who make profession of perpetual chastity, comparing themselves with married persons [2].
John Calvin highlights the importance of a minister being "duly called" and answering to their calling by faithfully executing their office [4]. This emphasis on calling and fidelity serves as a check against pride, as it reminds ministers that their authority is derived from God and that they are accountable to Him.
The dangers of pride in ministry are also addressed by Cyprian, who warns against the pride of a deacon who had provoked his bishop with insults, urging the bishop to restrain the deacon's pride and compel him to repent [5]. Thomas Aquinas defines pride as a lack of subjection to God, where a person raises themselves above their appointed measure, contrary to the Divine rule [7].
To guard against pride, Christian ministers and servants must cultivate humility, recognizing that their gifts and abilities are from God. As Calvin notes, the familiar mode of teaching used by God, through human interpreters, is suited to human weakness and serves to allure believers to God rather than driving them away [3]. By acknowledging their dependence on God and their role as servants, ministers can avoid the pitfalls of pride and remain faithful to their calling.
The historical development of this doctrine is evident in the writings of the early Church Fathers, who consistently emphasized the importance of humility in Christian ministry. Augustine, for example, notes that the love of praise can be a vice, but also acknowledges that it can be a virtue when it restrains greater vice [8].
Sources
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 4:7: Here the apostle improves the foregoing hint to a caution against pride and self-conceit, and sets forth the temptations the Corinthians had to despise him, from the difference of their circumstances. I. He cautions them against pride and self-conceit by this consideration, that all the distinction made among them was owing to God: Who maketh thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Co1 4:7. Here the apostle turns his discourse to the ministers who set themselves at the head of these factions, and did but too much encourage and abet th”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — OF HOLY VIRGINITY. (part 25): not to shun marriage, as forbidden, but to fly past it, as allowed. 31. Whence the greatness of this service,(19) unto the undertaking of which we have according to our strength exhorted, the more excellent and divine it is, the more doth it warn our anxiety, to say something not only concerning most glorious chastity, but also concerning safest humility. When then such as make profession of perpetual chastity, comparing themselves with married persons, shall have discovered, that, according to the Scriptures, the oth”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 83: In this there is a twofold advantage. For, on the one hand, he by an admirable test proves our obedience when we listen to his ministers just as we would to himself; while, on the other hand, he consults our weakness in being pleased to address us after the manner of men by means of interpreters, that he may thus allure us to himself, instead of driving us away by his thunder. How well this familiar mode of teaching is suited to us all the godly are aware, from the dread with which the divine majesty justly inspires them. Those who”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: he must first be duly called; and, secondly , he must answer to his calling; that is, undertake and execute the office assigned to him. This may often be observed in Paul, who, when he would approve his apostleship, almost always alleges a call, together with his fidelity in discharging the office. If so great a minister of Christ dares not arrogate to himself authority to be heard in the Church, unless as having been appointed to it by the command of his Lord, and faithfully performing what has been intrusted to him, how great the”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TO ROGATIANUS, CONCERNING THE DEACON WHO CONTENDED AGAINST THE BISHOP. (part 1): ARGUMENT.--CYPRIAN WARNS THE BISHOP ROGATIANUS TO RESTRAIN THE PRIDE OF THE DEACON WHO HAD PROVOKED HIM WITH HIS INSULTS, AND TO COMPEL HIM TO REPENT OF HIS BOLDNESS; TAKING OCCASION TO REPEAT ONCE MORE WHATEVER HE HAS SAID IN THE PREVIOUS LETTER, ABOUT THE SACERDOTAL OR EPISCOPAL POWER.(4) 1. Cyprian to his brother Rogatianus, greeting. I and my colleagues who were present with me were deeply and grievously distressed, dearest brother, on reading your letter in wh”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:21: Here the apostle founds an exhortation against over-valuing their teachers on what he had just said, and on the consideration that they had an equal interest in all their ministers: Therefore let no man glory in men (Co1 3:21) - forget that their ministers are men, or pay that deference to them that is due only to God, set them at the head of parties, have them in immoderate esteem and admiration, and servilely and implicitly follow their directions and submit to their dictates, and especially in contradiction to God and the truths taught by his Holy Spirit”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Pride, Art. 5: Article: Whether pride is a mortal sin? I answer that, Pride is opposed to humility. Now humility properly regards the subjection of man to God, as stated above (Question [161], Article [1], ad 5). Hence pride properly regards lack of this subjection, in so far as a man raises himself above that which is appointed to him according to the Divine rule or measure, against the saying of the Apostle (2 Cor. 10:13), "But we will not glory beyond our measure; but according to the measure of the rule which ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 13.--CONCERNING THE LOVE OF PRAISE, WHICH, THOUGH IT IS A VICE, IS RECKONED A VIRTUE, BECAUSE BY IT GREATER VICE IS RESTRAINED. (part 1): Wherefore, when the kingdoms of the East had been illustrious for a long time, it pleased God that there should also arise a Western empire, which, though later in time, should be more illustrious in extent and greatness. And, in order that it might overcome the grievous evils which existed among other nations, He purposely granted it to such men as, for the sake of honor, and praise, and glory”