A Christian Reflection on Pride
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” — 1 John 2:16 KJV
Worldwide, June is Pride Month. We see colorful banners and clothing all around us. It began as a commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
While society celebrates Pride in various ways, Christians are called to consider how we respond—not with hostility or anger, but through the lens of Scripture. Let's reflect on the values of dignity, visibility, and self-affirmation from a Biblical perspective.
Dignity: Image-Bearers
All people are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). All have the dignity afforded God's crowning creation.
"For thou (God) has made him (humanity) a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."
— Psalm 8:5, KJV
Visibility: God Sees Us
God sees those who are overlooked—the invisible, the marginalized, and the outcast (Gen 16:13). Jesus died for all people.
"For God so loved the world…"
— John 3:16
Self-Affirmation: A New Identity in Christ
In Scripture, our sense of self-worth is not rooted in self-affirmation, but in our identity in Christ.
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
— Psalm 139:14, ESV
Paul echoes this:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
— 2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV
True affirmation comes not from within, but from who we are in Christ Jesus.
Pride: A Biblical Warning
The concept of pride is easier to recognize than to define. Often, we detect it in others long before we see it in ourselves. One writer defines pride as:
"Undue confidence in and attention to our skills, abilities, state, possessions, position, or accomplishments."
Synonyms include arrogance, presumption, conceit, boasting, and high-mindedness. Pride becomes rebellion when it attributes to self the glory and honor that is due God alone.
Scripture consistently warns against the kind of pride associated with arrogance and a lack of humility:
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
— Proverbs 16:18 ESV
"A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will bring honor."
— Proverbs 29:23 NASB
Jesus also lists pride among the evils that come from the human heart:
"...evil thoughts, fornications, thefts...slander, pride, and foolishness..."
— Mark 7:21–22 NASB
False Humility and True Strength
False humility is equally dangerous. Boasting in Christ—not ourselves—is the proper Christian mindset.
Paul writes that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. But in context, he refers to enduring suffering, hunger, and imprisonment (Phil. 4:10–14).
Whatever we do, we do by God's grace, not our own strength.
Two Kinds of Pride
The pride this month celebrates is very different from the pride God warns us against.
"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” — 1 John 2:16 KJV
God warns us of the "pride of life," a self-exalting attitude that is not from Him but from the world.
Heavenly Father
We praise you for the good you have done through us.
We ask forgiveness for all that falls short.
Guide us, Lord, as we navigate a world marked by beauty and brokenness.
Help us to remember to love others as you love them.
When Jesus was on earth, He welcomed sinners and outcasts.
He broke bread with them and loved them, and pointed to a better way—
Not by celebrating their sin, but by offering salvation.
Help us, dear Lord, to walk in that same love and truth.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Chrissi, thanks for the good word and reminder here. Pride is constantly a relevant subject, and i believe your writing here, especially your comments on false humility, is very well writing and thought out.
ReplyDeleteGo Lopes!