Is It Pride?

I would say that taking delight in seeing others proven wrong can certainly be prideful. It's not the showing of truth that is prideful, rather it is the desire to be right for the sake of "putting it to" someone else.

A desire to show Biblical truth is not prideful, it's just that other desires that are prideful can go along with it.

Similarly, listing your qualifications is not inherently prideful. It depends on your purpose in listing them. But, many times we list our qualifications, not to let it be known that we are not simply giving an emotional response, but in order to stop any dissent, because how on earth can we be wrong when we have all these qualifications. It's like saying, "well, I'm older than you, so I must be right." That's not something I would encourage. But it can be useful to tell of what kind of background we have. On the other hand, sometimes we may feel that we have to give our qualifications because we've been discounted on account of someone else's pride. Neither of those would be good.

Great questions, and I don't have answers to them all. It does seem, though, that our intent is of prime importance for some of them. With some of the qualifications you gave ("shredding beliefs," "enjoy seeing others proven wrong"), most of the items on the list could be considered prideful. But it's equally important to recognize that without those negatives, the act of proving someone wrong, or having the last word are not inherently prideful acts.

 

I don’t think that we should take a general statement from Proverbs and insist that it is a “timeless truth”, but certainly pride is probably the cause or one of the primary causes of 90% or more of the contention in the world.

I think we all do.

 

Interesting post! I think some of what you are referring to is not so much pride but fear. Some people base their faith on their understanding of Gospel rather than in Jesus Himself. Thus, if you threaten their understanding, you are also threatening their faith. I'm not making a statement as to right or wrong here, but just as to cause and effect and the possible motives involved.

Is it pride when we delight in taking the Bible and shredding the beliefs of another member?

This is a lot more complicated than that, possibly. It can be a matter of pride, but so often pride, or what seems to be pride, is really fear. If you are fearful regarding your own position, then you may easily wish to shred the position of your opponent.

However there are other causes as well. If a certain doctrine or interpretation of Scripture is causing confusion or fear or elevating man above God, it needs to be confronted and examined closely in light of Scripture. This is for the sake of those reading, although it may shake of up the beliefs of several.

Is it pride when we refuse to allow others to disagree with us?

Often fear, I think, and marked immaturity. Getting older does tend to mellow one out a bit as well as allow priorities to be set in place. It also either almost erases fear altogether in a walk with the Lord or allows fear full control in a life without that walk. The older I get, the more I am thinking that fear is what I see as the great motivator of most people.

Is it pride when we enjoy seeing others proven wrong?

Fear or pride, it is certainly the result of a hardened heart if the enjoyment is because of the other PERSON and not because of the establishment of truth.

Is it pride when we refuse to alter our preconceived ideas in the face of irrefutable Scriptural evidence?

again, I would place fear in the motivator's seat even more than pride. Of course, I am beginning to think that pride itself is often motivated by fear in us humans....

Is it pride when we have to have the last word?

and, for sure, definite immaturity.

Is it pride to list all our qualifications before presenting our argument?

Not always. I have found I appreciate knowing when someone who is posting is knowledgeable in an area or just giving an uninformed opinion. This, for me, hold true especially in the science area. If someone has education and experience in a field, I tend to have more respect for their opinion and certainly for their analysis than I would have someone who was giving a knee jerk reaction to something he or she liked or didn't like.

That said, yes, a lot of times else the presentation of qualifications can be a mark of pride. Still, I often appreciate knowing for myself a little more about the person this way.


Is it pride when we post a question that we already know the answer just so we can display our knowledge of the subject?

If that is the reason, yes. If it is simply asking a question so that people will start thinking, whether or not we think we know the answer, no. I have been corrected a couple of times when I have attempted to start a thread with a question I thought I knew the answer to when someone else, more informed and experienced than I, came in on the subject and presented material which changed my views. For me, that can be kind of fun, because I really do enjoy the process of figuring things out in many areas. But I know a lot of people refuse that kind of thing altogether. Again, I think I would credit a foundation of fear where a lot of that is concerned.

And yes, there is something else I would definitely include in this list regarding some of what happens here on BB. It is the 'gang' approach. Alliances are made and the 'gang' approach to beat down a person is then started. The truth is not considered then, only offense and defense. It's a sad thing.

 

"OUCH, Pastor, OUCH!"

 

Pride is a great sin and attitude of the heart,which causes most,if not all our sin...it can be seen in many different arenas of our life.

I think when talking about biblical truth,there is a way to be prideful and a way to be gracious about it. Of course,for the most part I think those here on the BB want to help others understand things better,not to be proven right,but there is great joy in teaching Truth and have someone see it for themselves,for these attitudes I am grateful.I see this a lot here and it is most gracious.

Also,though, when expressing Truth,it can be perceived as arrogance through the person's choice of words and how they say it,that is one reason why I do not like the roll eyes icon...unless it is used jokingly. And granted,there may be pride displayed at various times times,too. So,we all need to be careful in what we say and how we say it...but we also need to not judge others motives. A lot of times we really don't know the intentions of the other person's heart and that's how misunderstandings happen.

I do appreciate your thought on this topic Pastor Bob.

 

The answer to all the above is "sometimes".

When shown to be wrong, either changing the subject or dropping out of the discussion altogether without saying "you're right, I was wrong".

 

Pastor Bob63,

Good questions! I think that is the reason I only post on certain topics and usually only once or twice. When I feel the heart rate go up I know that the pride rate is going up as well.

I really want to learn and grow as a Christian and I really believe many others on here do as well. But, too many times I detect the thought of I am right and until you see it my way I am going to keep posting it over and over and over...that to me is a sign of pride for the most part and sometimes it could be insecurity as well.

Pride: a beast within all of us....

Richard

 

Bible Student wrote

Wow! Do I agree!

Of course much of pride is damaging, but some
types of pride help us to:
</font>

• Do our best</font>
• Want to do better</font>
• Stick to our word</font>
• Encourage our child toward success
  and some other positives,
  etc.</font>

Sometimes, it is easy to confuse the "bad" pride
and the "good." Perhaps esteem would be a bet-
ter word for the positive pride?

Originally posted by Pastor Bob 63:

Unequivocally, yes.

Perhaps lack of maturity? Perhaps a strong need
to believe that what we have been taught was
right? How can those wonderful people I be-
lieved all those years be wrong? Could it be love
which blinds the eye and deadens the mind?

YES!

I don't think so, but then sometimes pride can be
taken in saying "This is what I know, even without
all that education you must rely upon!"

Only if the idea is to provoke. Sometimes, post-
ing that question can help to bring out other ideas
not yet considered, or if the poster is considering
that they may not have a real handle on Truth, this
is a way to lead toward it.

In that case, that is prideful. Sometimes, one just
drops out of a thread because they:
</font>

• Do not wish to continue in what has
  the appearance of mere provocation</font>
• Love the people in the thread and
  do not want to contend with them</font>
• Do not want to appear disrespectful</font>
• Feel like they have said enough</font>
• Are just tired of the arguing.</font>

Sometimes, the person is not convinced at all,
does not feel 'beaten down" or defensive; they
just do not want to continue a fruitless argument.
.
? ? ? ? ?

Is it pride that makes one edit their ridiculous
spelling and other errors? YES! And some-
times, it is curiosity about how things work and
why some things are not working! Sometimes,
it's obsessive/compulsive disorder! 8o)

What makes one see another error and go on,
leaving it alone, pretending it does not exist?
Getting sick of all the correcting!

[ December 19, 2002, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]