The Pastor's Blog

By Larry Day

 

 

I was reading some Jonathan Edwards recently and his thoughts on spiritual pride leapt off the page at me. 

In his work, “Thoughts on the Revival in New England” (1742), he gives a strong account of the revival’s power, and then he gives a very strong assessment of the carnal religiosity that he believes is springing up. He was concerned that revival leaders were beginning to confuse their own hunches and impulses with God’s leading. But mostly he was saddened over the pervasiveness of spiritual pride.  True then…and just as true today! Listen to him…

“[Spiritual pride] is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of religion … the main handle by which the devil has hold of religious persons … to clog and hinder a work of God. Pride is so serious an impediment because it diverts Christians from repentance and makes them censorious…

Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others; whereas a humble saint is most jealous of himself, he is so suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. … The eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home … that he is not apt to be very busy with other people’s hearts. … He is apt to esteem others better than himself, and is ready to hope that there is nobody but what has more love and thankfulness to God than he.

Spiritually proud Christians, on the other hand, are quick to censure others and quick also to separate from them if their beliefs or behaviors do not measure up. They can manifest a carnal spirituality that sets others’ teeth on edge, a self-assurance and unholy boldness, and a dogmatic inflexibility that either argues continually or will not even dialogue. Spiritual pride often disposes persons … to affect a singular way of speaking.  It takes great notice of opposition and injuries that are received. It preens itself, while it neglects others.”

The Lord loves the humble and opposes the proud. Pride…spiritually or otherwise…does comes before a fall.