The Dawn Treader

A good discussion is breaking out under my last Edwardsean post on spiritual pride.

Deb, of All Things New Under The Son comments,

So, that makes me wonder.. how does one tell whether he or she is contributing to a conversation or topic in a way that God can bring honor and glory to Himself vs. in a way that merely seeks to vindicate ourselves and our pet opinions?  Could that mean posting or commenting "anonymously?" (probably not.) Or does it mean clamming up and ceasing all dialog? How do we find our 'place at the table' within public discourse, particularly in terms of blogging and commenting?

... is to talk about sin too much. 

I realize I could drive up traffic and comments with hard hitting posts exposing the pseudo-science of global warming, or predicting that intelligent design will overtake the teetering and rapidly sinking theory of evolution in the next 10 years, or how the queen of phony, Hillary Clinton, will be defeated by Gov. Mike Huckabee in one of the greatest upsets in American political history.

"Spiritual pride in its own nature is so secret, that it is not so well discerned by immediate intuition on the thing itself, as by the effects and fruits of it; some of which I would mention, together with the contrary fruits of pure Christian humility.  Spiritual pride disposes to speak of other persons' sins, their enmity against God and his people, the miserable delusion of hypocrites, and their enmity against vital piety, and the deadness of some saints, with bitterness, or with laughter and levity, and an air of contempt; whereas pure Christian humility rather disposes, either to be silent about them, or to speak of with grief and pity.  Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others; whereas an humble saint is most jealous of himself, he is so suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart.  The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints, that they are low in grace; and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are; and being quick to discern and take notice of their deficiencies.  But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is concerned about it that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts; he complain most of himself and complains of his own coldness and lowness of grace."

~ Jonathan Edwards, Thoughts On Revivals

"Remember that pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the greatest disturber of the soul's peace and sweet communion with Christ.  It was the first sin that ever was, and lies lowest in the foundation of Satan's whole building.  It is the most difficult to root out, and it is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lust, and it often creeps in, insensibly, into the midst of religion and sometimes under the disguise of humility."

~ Jonathan Edwards, to a new convert to Christiantity in 1741

Pride is the most insidious sin.  It takes so many different forms on the surface that it becomes difficult to trace back to the sin of pride.   Pride shows up as boasting, of course.  But is also shows up when we compare ourselves to others.  It shows up when we make judgments about others and how they think, how they worship, how they act, or how their children act.  It shows up as a critical spirit.  It shows up as spreading bad reports (i.e. gossip).  For students, it often shows up in how they view their grades and how the view the grades of others.  For some Christians, it shows up as a critical spirit about others' lack of Biblical knowledge or theological understanding.  For other Christians, it shows up as being critical of other Christians for their lack of authenticity or lack of missional focus.  We are constantly comparing and judging, aren't we?

The most insidious form is when pride creeps in under the disguise of humility.  That is the worst.  False humility is when we put on the show of being humble when it fact, it is for the purpose of showcasing our spirituality.  Pride is indeed a viper.

Lord, expose our pride.  Enable us to see it, repent of it, and be set free.