The Viewpoint

Raising awareness of a major predator in the Christian community.

By Heidi A. Williamson

The chief editor at Generation Impact requested I write an article. And I’m terrified. I wanted to argue, “I’m too busy.” “I really can’t,” or “Who, me?” Yet, what am I afraid of? People’s opinions? Readers yawning over my article? These aren’t reasons to be afraid. So instead of fear, I find Pride getting in my way.

Fear and Pride are often linked together, like bad guys in a movie. But I can’t shoot and bury these two foes. Pride is the shadowy figure stalking me through the street late at night.
Sadly, I don’t often see him behind me until its too late.

Pride always lurks in the most inconspicuous and unnoticed places, doesn’t he? And always, trundling a trunk full of excuses behind him. How often have I refused to do something because I might look silly, mess up or write grammatically incorrect sentences? (Really, don’t analyze this article.) How often have I skirted opportunities or barricaded myself in a fortress of busyness to keep from doing something I’ve never tried? How often do I tumble blindly into pride and don’t even notice?

‘There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride, and yet there is no vice which is more frequently, more emphatically and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. ‘ (1)

In the King James Version Bible, pride is mentioned 46 times. The word proud, pertaining to men, is mentioned 44 times. 90 times total! Why? Well, if you’re like me, you have to be told something repeatedly before it penetrates into your brain. Obviously, it’s recorded many times because God knows how easily we succumb to pride.

Yet what is pride? ‘A vile creeping, insinuating thing, that will twist itself like a serpent into our hearts.’ Despite this horrible description, it’s easy to become proud. But of what? My life? God gave it to me. Any abilities, skills, goals accomplished? My homeschool education? All are from God, given by God to be used for His glory.

As Generation Impact launches into its second month, each of us will struggle with pride at some level. Those of us writing, reading, creating or browsing this site will find that ‘there is no trap into which we…like foolish beasts of the earth, so continually run.’

Admitting pride is difficult. Getting rid of pride is even harder. And asking God to take it away is painful.

‘The Lord alone can bolt the door of the heart against pride…. Let us seek of God {together} that he would purify our hearts from pride…. ‘

All quotations by Charles Spurgeon. 1856 Sermon “Pride and Humility”
Brackets added.