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The Idolatry of Self and Pride in Christian Life

The idolatry of self and pride in Christian life represents a fundamental turning away from God, manifesting in various forms that elevate personal desires or achievements above divine worship. Idolatry, at its core, is the worship of any created object or concept rather than God [3]. While often associated with bowing down to images or worshipping other gods [4], Scripture expands this definition to include attitudes and desires of the heart.

The Apostle Paul explicitly links certain internal dispositions to idolatry. In Colossians 3:5, he instructs believers to "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry" [1]. Here, greed (covetousness) is directly identified as a form of idolatry, suggesting that placing ultimate value or trust in material possessions or desires is a displacement of God's rightful place [13]. Similarly, 1 Peter 4:3 mentions "abominable idolatries" in a list that includes wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, and gluttony, indicating that excessive indulgence in worldly pleasures can also constitute idolatry [7].

Pride, a central aspect of the idolatry of self, is consistently condemned in Scripture. It is described as sin and hateful to God [2]. Pride can originate from various sources, including self-righteousness, religious privileges, unsanctified knowledge, inexperience, and the possession of power or wealth [2]. For instance, the prophet Daniel describes how King Nebuchadnezzar's mind was hardened by pride [2]. Pride defiles a person and is forbidden for believers [2]. The humility of Christ stands in stark contrast to human pride, as He exhibited humility in His birth, subjection to parents, station in life, poverty, and willingness to serve others [8].

Selfishness, closely related to pride and the idolatry of self, is contrary to God's law and the example of Christ [5]. Jesus's life demonstrated self-denial, as he sought not his own will but the will of the Father [6]. Selfishness manifests in being "lovers of ourselves," pleasing ourselves, seeking our own interests, and neglecting the needs of others [5]. It is inconsistent with Christian love and communion [5]. True Christian living calls for self-denial, which involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, and abstaining from fleshly desires [6].

The consequences of such self-idolatry are severe. Idolatry, like adultery, is seen as defiling God's people [10]. The worship of false gods was common in Galatia and often accompanied by sorcery and sexual immorality [9]. The pursuit of self-glory rather than God's glory is a recurring theme in biblical warnings against idolatry. Paul's "godly jealousy" for the Corinthian church stemmed from his desire to present them as a pure bride to Christ, implying a concern that they might turn away from Christ to other allegiances [12]. The Apostle Paul declared that he would "glory" only in the cross of Jesus Christ, recognizing that salvation comes solely through Christ's atoning work, and not in any personal achievement or worldly status [11]. This perspective underscores the Christian call to reject self-exaltation and instead find glory in Christ alone [11].

Sources

  1. Colossians “Colossians 3:5 (BSB) — Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”
  2. 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”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature. (3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  7. I Peter “I Peter 4:3 (Geneva1599) — For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spet the time past of ye life, after the lust of the Gentiles, walking in wantonnes, lustes, drunkennes, in gluttonie, drinkings, and in abominable idolatries.”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  9. Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:20: 5:20 Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19; cp. 1 Sam 15:23; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9, 15-20). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 6:4; Titus 3:9). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal ”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 106:39: 106:39 Idolatry, like adultery, defiles God’s people (see Lev 18:24; Hos 5:3).”
  11. 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; ”
  12. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:2: For I am jealous--The justification of his self-commendations lies in his zealous care lest they should fall from Christ, to whom he, as "the friend of the Bridegroom" (Joh 3:29), has espoused them; in order to lead them back from the false apostles to Christ, he is obliged to boast as an apostle of Christ, in a way which, but for the motive, would be "folly." godly jealousy--literally, "jealousy of God" (compare Co2 1:12, "godly sincerity," literally, "sincerity of God"). "If I am immoderate, I am immoderate to God" [BENGEL]. A jealousy which”
  13. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:19: Idolatry,.... Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are included and condemned hereby: hatred: internal hatred of any man's person, ev”
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