Does Pride Have A Place In A Christian's Life

I'm going to begin speaking only in spiritual terms. Those who will press for understanding will press their own scripture and the holy spirit for understanding. Since it is not I that give understanding, but the one true God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and the words of God. Bear in mind that this is a turning away from a non-Christian world view and a whole hearted adoption of a Christian only world view. All things should be interpreted in light of scripture. That statement alone will probably get a "duh" by the reader; reader, is that the way you LIVE though?

Does pride have a place in a christian' life?

Well, let's start with defining terms. Pride in the english language has many meanings. Lets consult the authority...mr. webster. Now I'm only considering the most commonly used terms and not say for example the definition of a group of lions...

pride

  [prahyd] Show IPA noun, verb, prid⋅ed, prid⋅ing.

–noun

1.	a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

2.	the state or feeling of being proud.

3.	a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

4.	pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

5.	something that causes a person or persons to be proud: His art collection was the pride of the family.

6.	the best of a group, class, society, etc.: This bull is the pride of the herd.

7.	the most flourishing state or period: in the pride of adulthood.

8.	mettle in a horse.

9.	Literary. splendor, magnificence, or pomp.

10.	a group of lions.

11.	sexual desire, esp. in a female animal.

12.	ornament or adornment.

Consider for a moment what the usefulness of pride is in a persons life. Does it have any life saving qualities? Can it enrich others lives? Does it honor God?

Why do we need to consider these things? Aren't we here to live our lives and enjoy ourselves?

I was once taught that we serve a dual role in our lives. We're to enjoy our life and to serve God. Generally, I have no problem with that, but is often the case in liberal theology and in the work of Satan himself, these tenants of truth often become the moving part upon which inaccurate world views, theological positions and actions are predicated. Get ready, there won't be a full frontal assault. Satan can take you one piece at a time, he doesn't need the whole thing right now and since you're so willing to let him have some, he'll come back for seconds [helpings].

Back to the question, is it useful? In response to each of those questions we have but few examples of Christian pride. Paul tells us to boast in nothing, but in spirit only. Boasting is an eventuality of pride, but it is not pride itself. God resists the proud...does his resist the pride or the spirit of the proud?

Pride as a word is simply an expression of a condition. A condition which explains the mindset of an experience. I am proud of my accomplishment! But what do we have to be proud of? It's in this very question we will discovery the answer to the thesis question.

Colossians 1:17; He is in all things and all things in him are held together.

Ephesians 1:4 He has chosen us before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before him

Philippians 1:6 ...for he who started a good work in you....will be faithful to complete it.

Understand, if you're sculpting away, as I do with music, and you stand back and admire your finished, or in my case always NEAR finished product and exclaim wow! There's nothing wrong with that. But consider that your response should identify who the author of that wow really is?

In my case I'm a singer, I'm a guitarist, I'm a lyricist, I'm a music producer...ALL of these things are gifts from God. He is in them, and they are all held together by him! He has CHOSEN, me out of this world. So what do I have to be proud of? I'm simply acting out of my implicit creation. God has made me with these gifts and being a child of the light I honor him. I give credit all back to him, for the pot is a reflection of the creator intent and perfect ability to create. You may also wonder do we deserve the credit for our wrong doing as a balance to this discussion and I'll cover that in the future. Understand, earthly pride has no place in the Christian life or worldview. Your pride as it were, is being proud of something that isn't yours. It would be like me watching a man build a house then coming up to him to take credit for such a thing. We would think that ridiculous and out of our minds! Yet this friend is exactly what we're doing when we take credit for our lives and accomplishments...

We'll talk more about this because this plantar wart is not easily removed...

In My Next Post:

How Does Pride Prevent You From Knowing God?