Over the last few months I've been contemplating the complaints of atheists and "former Christians". Often their accusations against the Bible, God, and against Christianity come in the form of boasting that their way is the better way, that they have a right to claim the things that they do because Christians are stupid and brainwashed, don't use proper reasoning faculties, and are hypocrites. They are proud of the fact that in their own estimation of themselves they are so much smarter and not at all hypocritical.
It used to be (especially during the Victorian era) considered a sin to be prideful. Today it seems to be regarded as a strength...however pride is now separated into: arrogance and pride, arrogance being the evil and exaggerated form of pride and simple pride being the healthy form. I see that as another deception that has taken hold of many, even within "the Church".
Doing a word search using the search parameters the words "pride" "proud" and "shame" in the Bible brought forth many nuggets of truth.
Here's a sampling from the Proverbs (KJV):
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Proverbs 14:3
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 (people even today join hand in hand to encourage each other in their pride)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18&19
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23
and from the New Testament:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17
I've also seen humility faked all over the place, by both Christians and non-Christians. Pride is a human trait, one that needs to be confessed before a holy God. If we pretend we have no sin, we lie (1 John 1:8). My husband sometimes jokes: "The minute you think you are humble, you aren't" and "I am proud that I can say I am humble". Indeed humility, true humility, comes from God. That is the lesson many fail because the hardships and struggles of this life should bring us to a point of humility before God. Instead today we see people fighting for their rights to have everything that they want, fighting anyone who stands in their way...including God. And then they feign their humility when they are told how wonderful and clever they are. How ridiculous.... however God will have the last laugh.
Posts that are related:
God's Righteousness vs Self-righteousness
The Worldly-Wise
and this from my other blog:
Argument with Ignorance
It used to be (especially during the Victorian era) considered a sin to be prideful. Today it seems to be regarded as a strength...however pride is now separated into: arrogance and pride, arrogance being the evil and exaggerated form of pride and simple pride being the healthy form. I see that as another deception that has taken hold of many, even within "the Church".
Doing a word search using the search parameters the words "pride" "proud" and "shame" in the Bible brought forth many nuggets of truth.
Here's a sampling from the Proverbs (KJV):
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Proverbs 14:3
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 (people even today join hand in hand to encourage each other in their pride)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18&19
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23
and from the New Testament:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17
I've also seen humility faked all over the place, by both Christians and non-Christians. Pride is a human trait, one that needs to be confessed before a holy God. If we pretend we have no sin, we lie (1 John 1:8). My husband sometimes jokes: "The minute you think you are humble, you aren't" and "I am proud that I can say I am humble". Indeed humility, true humility, comes from God. That is the lesson many fail because the hardships and struggles of this life should bring us to a point of humility before God. Instead today we see people fighting for their rights to have everything that they want, fighting anyone who stands in their way...including God. And then they feign their humility when they are told how wonderful and clever they are. How ridiculous.... however God will have the last laugh.
Posts that are related:
God's Righteousness vs Self-righteousness
The Worldly-Wise
and this from my other blog:
Argument with Ignorance
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