No doubt you are familiar with this quote in these or similar words. It is from the Old Testament book of Proverbs. It means arrogance and over confidence is likely to bring about failure.
It is said that Christians are to be humble. As those called to be servants, is it possible to be a servant without humility? Yet some of the most prideful people I have known have been Christians. It is not as though many Christians strut around bragging about themselves, their deeds, or abilities. Often times pride is disguised as false humility, display of knowledge or expertise, the amount of framed documents on a wall, or name dropping. Much Christian boasting is preceded by the phrase, “I know I am a sinner, but…..”
Is there a role for pride in the Christian faith? Do you see instances or quotes of Jesus being prideful? Jesus did refer to himself as Son of Man, Son, and acknowledged he was the Messiah. Is it prideful when one simply acknowledges a truth about oneself? Do you and I want our doctor to say, “Really, I’m not much of a physician”, or would we prefer a doctor who acknowledges their gifts and training, without dwelling on them, to bring about healing?
Perhaps, like so many things in life and discipleship, the issue is not whether or not we have some pride, but how we might use it. I remember as a new pastor standing on the porch of a member’s home waiting for someone to answer the doorbell. Looking around I saw trash, cobwebs, clutter of all kinds, and a very unkempt house and property. I was to learn over time the great dysfunction in this family. Perhaps a dose of pride may have helped. Certainly pride was lacking and this was not a good thing for the parents or their three children as I was to find out over my years with them.
It is certainly possible to have a certain amount of pride while acknowledging imperfections in ourselves and our family. Pride need not deny flaws. Pride, for Christians, can allow us to admit exactly who we are: gifted, loved by God, not up to God’s standards for us. Right there is the sole reason for any pride labeled Christian. We are God’s child, we, as children failing to act as such, are yet redeemed by God. And, like our own earthly parents whom we did not choose, we did not choose God, God chose us.
Our Christian pride is not to be in any elitist way. That is, we are somehow better than others, or more loved by God. We are simply those with some understanding of who we are and who God is. That is, we are fortunate and appreciative ones. Those more fortunate than good need to exercise humility.
I confess that one of the things I have most enjoyed in ministry is large building projects. Why? Because most everything else in ministry is relational and it is hard to judge one’s effectiveness. With a building we can see something concrete (no pun intended), that has been accomplished. In ministry, dealing with people, such a feeling can be rare and not very affirming of one’s efforts.
I recall a book I read in Jr. High School titled, “Death be Not Proud”. As I remember it, there was a young man with a terminal illness. The book seemed to be almost taunting death as if to say, “You think you have power over me? I will not be remembered for having died. I will be remembered for having lived”. This is the pride of grace, the pride of faith. Something horrific may be happening, or I may be a person whom neither I nor God intends me to be, but ultimately God has the final word, the final verdict. Not because of who we are or were, but because of who God is and always will be. We can be content with a humble trust: “I am a child of God.”