Overcoming Pride in Various Areas of Christian Life
Overcoming Pride in Christian Life
Pride is considered a significant obstacle to Christian living, hindering one's relationship with God and others. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, pride is listed among the sins that are "hateful to God" and "defiles a man" [2]. The biblical basis for this understanding is found in passages such as Proverbs 16:5 and 1 Samuel 2:3, which condemn pride.
The Christian life is characterized by humility, love, and unity. In Ephesians 4:2, believers are exhorted to walk in "lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" [3]. This emphasis on humility is echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers, such as John Chrysostom, who encouraged believers to overcome the love of worldly glory by contemplating the glory that comes from God [7].
Pride can manifest in various areas of Christian life, including in one's religious privileges, knowledge, and possessions. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that pride can arise from "religious privileges," "unsanctified knowledge," and "possession of wealth" [2]. For instance, the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:11-12) illustrates how pride can lead to self-righteousness. In contrast, believers are called to cultivate humility, as exemplified by Christ, who "did not strive" and "when he was reviled, reviled not again" (1 Peter 2:23) [1].
The struggle against pride is closely tied to the pursuit of unity and love within the Christian community. As Matthew Henry notes on Ephesians 4:2, "Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, and the badge of his disciples" [3]. In Galatians 6:14, the apostle Paul gloried "in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," which has "crucified the world unto" him, illustrating the centrality of Christ's sacrifice in overcoming pride [4].
In various Christian traditions, the approach to overcoming pride is emphasized differently. The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, stresses the importance of humility and the dangers of pride in Christian living [5, 6]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary on Galatians, highlights the role of the cross of Christ in crucifying worldly attachments and pride [4]. The Eastern Orthodox tradition, represented by John Chrysostom, encourages believers to reorient their desire for glory towards the glory that comes from God [7].
Sources
- 1 Peter “But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. -- 1 Peter 4:16”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pride — Is sin -- Pr 21:4. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,17; 16:5. Hateful to Christ -- Pr 8:12,13. Often originates in Self-righteousness. -- Lu 18:11,12. Religious privileges. -- Zep 3:11. Unsanctified knowledge. -- 1Co 8:1. Inexperience. -- 1Ti 3:6. Possession of power. -- Le 26:19; Eze 30:6. Possession of wealth. -- 2Ki 20:13. Forbidden -- 1Sa 2:3; Ro 12:3,16. Defiles a man -- Mr 7:20,22. Hardens the mind -- Da 5:20. Saints give not away. -- Ps 131:1. Respect not, in others. -- Ps 40:4. Mourn over, in others. -- Jer 13:17. Hate, in others. -- Ps 101:5. A hindrance to”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 4:2: Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter: - To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin. This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of h”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory - Whatever others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the grand doctrine, that justification and salvation are only through Christ crucified, he having made an atonement for the sin of the world by his passion and death. And I glory, also, in the disgrace and persecution which I experience through my attachment to this crucified Christ. By whom the world is crucified unto me - Jewish rites and Gentile vanities are equally insipid to me; ”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4 (introduction): The work of a Christian is twofold - doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, hospitality, and the best improvement of our talents, which the apostle presses upon Christians from the consideration of the time they have lost in their sins, and the approaching end of all things (Pe1 4:1-11). The directions for sufferings are that we should not be surprised at them, but rejoice in them, o”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 1:6: The first word, wherein, refers to the apostle's foregoing discourse about the excellency of their present state, and their grand expectations for the future. "In this condition you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, or a little while, if need be, you are made sorrowful through manifold temptations," Pe1 1:6. I. The apostle grants they were in great affliction, and propounds several things in mitigation of their sorrows. 1. Every sound Christian has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice. Great rejoicing contains more than an inward placid serenity”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: are able to put us upon doing wrong things and right, it is idle to say, “we cannot:” we can, if we have the mind: and we ought to have the mind. Why canst not thou overcome the love of glory, when others do overcome it, having the same soul as thou, and the same body; bearing the same form, and living the same life? Think of God, think of the glory that is from above: weigh against that the things present, and thou wilt quickly recoil from this worldly glory. If at all events thou covet glory, covet that which is glory, indeed. What kind of glory is”