"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
The sin of spiritual pride is so secretive and well disguised, that it is often easier to detect by observing certain patterns in your life. That is what Edwards describes in this excerpts from his Thoughts On Revivals.
"Spiritual pride disposes to speak of other persons' sins"
Where is your focus?
Do you find yourself picking apart the sin in other people's life? Are you quick to speak of their sin struggles and deficiencies? Are you quick to point out the hypocrisy you see in others? Do you enjoy pointing it out? Does it give you a feeling of self-satisfaction to be the sin police? Does it make you feel less sinful and more worthy of God's love? It is kind of like getting a "D" on a test. It does not feel so bad if you know everyone else failed it, right?
"Christian humility rather disposes, either to be silent about them, or to speak of with grief and pity. "
Those who are truly spiritually humble have a different reaction to the sin and hypocrisy they see in other Christians. They either remain silent about it, or speak about it with grief or saddness. They don't delight in pointing it out. They don't score points by exposing it. They recognize it as brokenness. Further, they identify with the brokenness because they see the remnants of sin and evil that dwell in their own hearts.
"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."
Where is your focus?
Is it on your own heart? Or do you find yourself preoccupied with identifying, labeling and exposing the sin you see in your brother? Do you feel saddness when you see your brother stumble in sin, or does it make you feel better about yourself, that perhaps you are not so bad after all?
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