PRIDE-TYPES

Pride isn’t limited to self-righteousness. Our pride can also be self-preoccupation: being overly concerned with what others think of us and strongly desiring that others would think highly of us. Shyness can result from proudly fearing saying something stupid. Thinking extensively of how we look or act in public can come from a deep desire to impress others. Regularly redirecting conversation to ourselves can be prideful self-centeredness. The bottom line is that when we are proud, we think a lot about ourselves.

Karl Graustein

Excerpted from: Growing Up Christian, P&R, 2005, p. 83. Used by Permission.

Pride manifests itself in so many subtle, but lethal ways… In a hidden desire for the praise and admiration of men, an insistence on being “right,” the desire to be noticed and appreciated, fear of rejection, or just pre-occupation with myself my feelings, my needs, my circumstances, my burdens, my desires, my successes, my failures. These are all fruits of that deadly root of pride.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Nothing Between, Revival Commentary, v. 2, n. 2.

There is the pride of being “radical” or the pride of being “realistic.”
There is the pride of being able to “spot a sinner” or the pride of being able to “notice the hurting.”
There is the pride of doing “only what you want to do” or the pride of doing “whatever needs doing.”
There is the pride at being “unbiased” or the pride of being “loyal.”
There is the pride of being “perfectly honest” or the pride of being able to “get along with people.”
There is the pride at being “on top of an issue” or the pride of having an “open mind.”
There is the pride at all one has “acquired” or the pride over all one has “sacrificed.”
There is the pride over “how great our church is” or the pride of “knowing exactly what's going wrong.”
There is the pride of being a “victorious Christian” or the pride of being one who “struggles with God.”
There is the pride that says “I can stand tall” or the pride that says “I'm willing to get on my knees.”
There is the pride that says “our church is growing” or the pride that says “we're staying faithful.”
Pride comes in many forms but has only one end: destruction.

Dick Rasanen

Leadership, v. 7, n. 3.

Pride, in relation to other people, is comparing ourselves with others and seeing ourselves as superior to them in some way – whether it be in character, conduct, or achievement. One of the worst forms of pride is spiritual pride, an attitude that I am more holy, or righteous, or faithful, or obedient, or more fruitful in evangelism than others.

Jerry Bridges

Boasting is the voice of pride in the heart of the strong. Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak.

John Piper

[Pride] is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected.

Jonathan Edwards

Spiritual Pride.

Various forms of pride:

1. Self-admiration – “Look at me!”

a. Natural - my abilities, talents, assets

b. Spiritual - my spiritual gifts, my ministry

2. Self-aggrandizement – “Don’t I look good/great?”

a. Natural - my looks, my importance

b. Spiritual - my position in the church

3. Self-attention – “Listen to me!”

a. Natural - my understanding and viewpoint

b. Spiritual - my Biblical and theological knowledge

4. Self-justification – “I am right!”

a. Natural - my way is the right way

b. Spiritual - our doctrine and polity is right

5. Self-sufficiency – “I can do it!”

a. Natural - my abilities, my leadership

b. Spiritual - our programs will make it happen

6. Self-aspiration – “Let me win!”

a. Natural - competitive spirit; one-up-manship

b. Spiritual - our statistics will prove us successful

7. Self-seeking – “Give me mine!”

a. Natural - my rights; what I deserve

b. Spiritual - our political rights and physical edifice

8. Self-exaltation – “Praise me!”

a. Natural - my credit, glory, commendation

b. Spiritual - our procedures and success

James Fowler

Excerpted from: Pride, Study Outlines, 1999, www.christinyou.net. Used by Permission.

Behind most church fights and unresolved divisions is ugly human pride. And the worst kind of pride is religious pride, the Pharisaical pride of self-righteousness and superiority.

Alexander Strauch

Leading With Love, Lewis and Roth, 2006, p. 167, Used by Permission.