Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Spiritual Pride: Day 1

by Rocky Fleming

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NLT)

I began thinking about the subject of spiritual pride last week.  I saw an example with someone that disturbed me.  As a result, I thought a blog series on the subject would be good, for so many people have spiritual pride, right?  They need a good dose of spiritual reality, right?  Yesterday in church during worship music I bowed my head, listened to the Spirit speaking, and it was confirmed that the subject would be good to write on.  What I didn’t expect was what the Spirit of Truth said to me next.  He said, “Begin with yourself as an example.” 

That’s the problem, isn’t it?  If we spot spiritual pride in someone else, don’t we reveal our own spiritual pride in judging it to be in someone else?  Do we fail to understand that deep down we most often compare someone we criticize with ourselves and by the way we would do something?  We wouldn’t admit it, because spiritual pride will not allow it. But don’t we see ourselves and our ways and our perspective to be the standard that people must compare favorably with, or else they become targets of our criticism. Worst of all, we do it in the name of Jesus, because we are so spiritually discerning.  Really?

The Pharisee in the referenced passage kept all the rules, and he was proud of himself because of it.  He really felt proud as he looked at the pitiful tax-collector who he knew to be a cheater, a swindler, a sinner, and since this Pharisee knew all things about people who were lesser than himself spiritually he threw in adultery as a likely sin, “For after all, you know those spiritually depraved tax-collectors and their habits?” 

Rules aren’t bad.  Trying to live right in God’s sight isn’t bad.  Being obedient to God’s precepts isn’t bad.  Slander is bad.  Gossip is bad.  Railing judgment against someone else is bad, just because they are different from us.  Prejudice (pre-judging) is bad because we don’t know all the facts.   But worst of all in God’s sight, spiritual pride is bad.  Little wonder why Jesus said,

“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.”

I want to be truly justified before God, rather than getting my strokes from people, or my self-appreciating comparisons, don’t you?  So how about joining me for a few days as I explore the subject of spiritual pride and let’s figure out what the Lord has to say about it?  I do believe it is something that can slip into our life without us even knowing it.  When it does slip in, it can become a major stumbling block in our perspective about other people, ourselves, and our ability to pass along that grace God gives to us.

Scripture: Revelation 3:2-3

Spiritual Pride: Day 2

by Rocky Fleming

“Jerry Bridges was an evangelical Christian author, speaker and staff member of The Navigators. Born in Tyler, Texas, United States, he was the author of more than a dozen books, including The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold more than one million copies.” Wikipedia. 

Jerry had this to say about spiritual pride: “As we grow in the Christian life we face increasing danger of spiritual pride. We know the correct doctrines, the right methods, and the proper do’s and don’ts. But we may not see the poverty of our own spiritual character. We may not see our critical and unforgiving spirit, our habit of backbiting, or our tendency to judge others. We may become like the Laodiceans of whom our Lord said, ‘You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked’ (Revelation 3:17).” ― Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness

“You (I/we) do not realize that you (I/we) are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”  If this quote from Revelations seems to be getting personal, then good, for it is a litmus test of where we stand with spiritual pride or not.  If we ever forget to remember where we came from, what God had to do and overlook to love us into His kingdom, and the truth of the wretched condition of our life that lies hidden from the surface, then we will embrace spiritual pride into our life.  We must keep a realistic view of our relationship with Christ through His grace. When we embrace our set-apart condition from God and His grace that brought us into His heart, it keeps spiritual pride in check.  But we need to also understand that we have been redeemed for a noble purpose.  We are members of the Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and should live above spiritual pride, just as Jesus did. But oh, how easy it is for mankind to go from one imbalance to another.  For example, have you ever heard of “Worm Theology?”

Worm theology is an old idea in Christian culture that in light of God’s holiness and power an appropriate emotion is a low view of self. The name might have originated in a line in the Isaac Watts hymn,  “Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed” (Pub 1707) which says, “Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?”  

I understand the thought’s origins come from Calvinism, which emphasized that the human race was totally unable to save itself. This thought about worms does have some biblical roots from the Old Testament, and it is true that mankind cannot save itself.  Even so, I think we have to get God’s view of His sons and daughters from the New Testament, nor use our view of ourselves or others to tell us who we are. This is why I want to advance our thinking toward the best way of controlling spiritual pride, which is to embrace our roles as sons and daughters of God, rather than seeing ourselves as worms or superstars.

I think that a low view of self can also become a form of spiritual piety and pride.  The result of this is to view others as less committed, less concerned, less dedicated, loving God less and one’s self more.  The examples pile on and feed our spiritual pride.  Of course, we adopt this view of others by comparing them to ourselves as the standard, and once again like a snake in water, the old ugly head of spiritual pride exposes itself.  Can you spot it in yourself?  I have in myself, and this is why we must combat it.  It can become a spiritual cancer, and like the Laodicean Church we read about in Revelations, we are likewise told:

“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent …”  Revelations 3:2-3

Always remember what you received and heard.  Always remember the condition you were in when the Father gave you sonship or daughter-ship.  Remember you are not a worm, but a member of His royal family.  Live like it.  Honor Him rather than yourself,  and spiritual pride will stay far away from you.

Scripture: Philippians 3:12

Spiritual Pride: Day 3

by Rocky Fleming

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.”  1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 ESV

I have discovered that there is a fine line between spiritual insight that is given and used for God’s purpose because of the understanding the Spirit gives to certain people, and spiritual pride that might come into a person because of this insight.  The tipping point is close to the edge and there needs to be a caution if He gives you such insight.  Why is this? We not only lose the blessing of being an instrument of encouragement in God’s hand to lift someone up and be a messenger from Him to that person, we could also cause emotional and spiritual damage to someone if we misuse it.  I have seen gossip and slander, in the “name of praying to Jesus for someone,” become a spiritual license to hurt and wound while doing it, “in the name of Jesus.”  Let’s be clear and put a right identity on this practice.  Gossip and slander are inspired and shared “in the name of Satan,” not Jesus.  But there are times that God’s insight given to a good steward of His gift of understanding can be used to turn someone in a right direction.

I feel a great sorrow when the Spirit’s insight is misused, and once again I must use myself as an example of abusing a gift that could be used in a good and right way.  I do believe many of God’s children love Him dearly and as far as they know they don’t have spiritual pride, only great concern with those who are missing the great blessings God could give to someone if they could see and remove hindrances that keep His blessings away.  There is loving discernment in seeing this and wanting to help. There are times when this discernment enters a life through our efforts and gently leads a person to the place of restoration, healing and spiritual wellness.  But there are times when this insight is not used for someone but rather against someone, and it quenches the Spirit as a result.

Some time ago I felt God giving me insight into some people and wrong practices with regard to Influencers’ health as a ministry.  I saw it as an attack against the purity, purpose and mission of the ministry, which we call DNA. I believe this insight was given from God to me as the leader to protect it, but not to go to war against a foe  with it. To that point all was good, for a leader needs insight and wisdom.  What was bad was the way I handled the knowledge.  Instead of the fruit of the Spirit being my guide to gently influence these people back to where He wanted us, I became my own guide and allowed my spiritual pride to enter in.  Thank God He didn’t allow me to express what I was really feeling.  Instead, He allowed me to feel His grief, as my anger quenched His Spirit.  My anger was turned against myself.  I felt His displeasure.  I saw what was happening, and I’m learning from just such instances to stop, pray and wait for the right time to act, if I must. This is an example of how His insight can be misused or used correctly.  When we misuse it, at the core it is Spiritual Pride.

I would caution any and all of you to not allow spiritual pride to disarm you and disable you from the great work God could do through you.  Don’t quench His Spirit in your life.  If you are given spiritual insight into someone’s mistakes or habits, don’t use it against that person with slander and gossip.  Use it for him or her by truly asking Jesus to bless them and help them. Be an encourager to someone, pointing them toward good. But don’t see yourself as the standard they need to shoot for.  Rather, help them see Jesus as the standard, while you are simply a steward of His insight into them to bless them and help them.

As I present these thoughts to you on spiritual pride, I close with a verse that speaks words that I feel but cannot say as well as Apostle Paul said them.  Maybe they will help you understand how I feel about myself as I share on the subject of combating spiritual pride.  If I could, this is what I would say:

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Philippians 3:12 ESV