During the holiday season I found myself engaged in a theological discussion on facebook that brought out many emotions. It began with a post about the un-holiness of Christmas… “When you say Merry (Christ-mass) you are saying really saying (Happy Jesus Death) people do your research this is a very unholy day that God does not like. Jeremiah 10:1-5.”
This, I was compelled to challenge. I will agree that some people do celebrate for unholy reasons, and the commercialization of the season is unfortunate at best, however the spirit of the season brings out the best in many, and Christians of all denominations, even those who have fallen away from Him throughout the year, refocus their attention on Christ during the Christmas season. Initially it made me angry, but as the discussion progressed, I was made to realize that even my anger was born of pride, which oppresses. Humility is born of compassion, which begets wisdom.
The main contention in my challenge to the post was where the definition of mass being death came from. A teaching that begins with a lie for its foundation cannot be accepted as a valid teaching. The responses I received went around and around the issue, but the question was never really answered. Through the discourse that followed, another follower of Christ brought up other challenges to both the premise originally offered, and the responses made, and he helped me to see that at the root of the bantering back and forth was a simple, yet profound sin of pride. A leader among men was holding fast to his opinion, held captive by pride, defending that opinion with whatever scripture he could twist to suit his purpose. I was reminded what the bible teaches us about such leaders, and about the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our ability to understand the scriptures, and so I prayed that his eyes be opened.
2 Peter 2:17-19 False Teachers and Their Destruction – “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.’ “
2 Corinthians 3:14-17 “But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Pride is the stumbling block that causes us to defend our opinions, right or wrong. It is the basis for simple disagreements that in the gravest of situations escalate into all manner of war and oppression. We want to be free, and to express that freedom we want to be in control. We want to feel important, and we want to be right, but our way is not God’s way!
Isaiah 55:8-9 “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ “
Isaiah 2:12-18 “The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan, for all the towering mountains and all the high hills, for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, for every trading ship and every stately vessel. The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear.”
Jesus came to teach us the way to the Eternal Father. His life was an example of humility and submission, and it was through that submission to the Father’s will that He was free. He was free of earthly cares and concerns, free of pride, and free of sin, because everything He said and did was motivated by His love for God and love for His earthly brothers and sisters.
Pride and Freedom are the great deceivers of our time. Pride makes us dig in to defend our opinions and the desire for freedom enslaves us. Kahlil Gibran wrote “Ay, in the grove of the temple and in the shadow of the citadel I have seen the freest among you wear their freedom as a yoke and a handcuff. And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of freedom as a goal and a fulfillment.” Our freedom lies in Christ alone. Our pride must be overcome as a first step toward allowing Him to be Lord over our lives.
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
We have been taught that many false prophets will emerge prior to the return of the Lord. It is up to us to be wary of false prophets, and to test and measure what they teach through study of the word of God as guided by the Holy Spirit. We are all accountable to do this, rather than to simply choose a leader who we would follow based on our own opinions. In the end, there will be judgment, and judgment is not about what you believe, it is rather about to whom you belong. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Blessings & Adventure,
Lynn “lynnibug” Rios
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Enjoyed your powerful article. So true, we all must serve the lord and follow his teachings like we use a GPS to get to where we are going.
Lynn,
This is a discussion that can go on for eternity, when the facts are there to be interpreted. Most people believe what they believe and nothing can change their mind, but…..We know the truth and will always remember them in our prayers.
Let us grow together with them.
I will continue to return here for your thoughts and wisdom.
Kris Hanks
Pride is a treacherous enemy; wearing many disguises. Proverbs 16:5 says: Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. That profound statement stops me in my tracks!! This is an excellent article with Divine Revelation.
Mule Martin
Pride, which is the loss of humility is the root of every sin and evil. It was when the fallen angels began to look upon themselves with self-complacency that they were led to disobedience and were cast down from the light of the heaven int…o outer darkness.It was when the serpent breathed the poison of his pride, the desire to be as God, into the hearts of our first parents that they too fell from high estate into all the wretchedness in which man is now sunk.In heaven and earth, pride and self-exaltation are the gate and the birth and the curse of hell. Hence nothing can be our redemption but the restoration of the lost humility, the original and only true relation of the creature to its God. And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it and by it save us. In heaven He humbled Himself to become man.The humility we see in HIM possessed Him in heaven, it brought Him, He brought it, from there. Here on on earth He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. His humility gave His death value and so became our redemption.His humility is our salvation and His salvation is our humility. Without humulity there can be no true abiding in God’s presence or experience of His favor and power of His Spirit, without this there cannot be abiding faith or love or joy or strength.Humility is the only soil in which the graces root and grow, the lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure. Humility is not so much a grace or virtue along with others, its the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God and allows Him as God to do all. Jesus kept on telling His disciples ” Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, He washed their feet and told them they were to follow His example and yet all had availed little.Remember at the Holy supper there was still the contention as to who should be the greatest. They had doubtless often tried to learn His lessons, and firmly resolved not to grieve Him again, but all in vain. To teach them and us the much needed lesson, that no outward instruction, not even of Christ Himself, no argument however convincing, no sense of the beauty of humility, however deep, no personal resolve or effort however sincere and earnest, can cast out the devil of pride.
Unless pride dies in you, nothing of heaven can live in you. Pride can degrade the highest angel into devil and humility can raise fallen flesh and blood to the thrones of angels. The deepest humility is the secret of the truest happiness, of joy that nothing can destroy.
My man Mule, YOU CAN PREACH IT!