1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Pride

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by freeatlast, Aug 19, 2010.

  1. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    Recently in a morning bible study the teacher stated that all pride is sin. I challenged him on it and asked if he was proud of his children and he said no. By the way his children are ALL involved in the Lord's work. My question is this. Is all pride a sin? You might want to look up the definition of pride and proud. :thumbs:
     
  2. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2004
    Messages:
    7,333
    Likes Received:
    210
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I agree with you. This seems like theological hairsplitting.

    I would think that he is actually "proud" of his children but will not say the term out of a sense of theological consistency.

    I'm sure he would admit to being pleased with his children, which is essentially equivalent to the connotative meaning of "proud" in this context.
     
  3. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    I do agree that your assessment of him could be correct although I am not sure on that. Did you look up the definition of pride and proud? I ask because there is a problem in the meaning that does seem to make it sin. I am wondering if another word should be used for our approval of certain things and yet not compromise the tenets of scripture. To be sure it would be very easy to hold pride in our children and be in sin. :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #3 freeatlast, Aug 19, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 19, 2010
  4. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2010
    Messages:
    4,996
    Likes Received:
    2
    Theological concupiscence?
     
  5. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,943
    Likes Received:
    1,661
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Did your teacher give you passages of scripture to support the claim that all pride is sin?

    peace to you:praying:
     
  6. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    He used the Proverbs and there is much there.
     
  7. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2008
    Messages:
    1,080
    Likes Received:
    8
    I do not think all pride is sin unless you let that pride get between you and God.

    Is all anger sin? No, it is what you do with that anger that becomes the sin.

    Holding on to pride, easily becomes sin so there are those who claim one should never be proud of anything lest it become sinful. A lot of weird rules and doctrine has evolved from this mindset.

    Maybe we should use another word instead of pride, maybe joy, or happy or pleased. Depending on the circumstance
     
  8. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2005
    Messages:
    9,031
    Likes Received:
    2
    You're a Tennesseean. I'm a native of West Tennessee. So we both know that most of the time, when we use the word proud, we actually mean pleased.

    The famed country comedienne, Minnie Pearl, always began her routine with a big "How-dee! I'm just so proud to be heah!" She was simply saying she was pleased and glad.

    If God were a Southerner, he most surely would have said, "This is my beloved Son, of whom I'm mighty proud."
     
  9. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 14, 2001
    Messages:
    26,977
    Likes Received:
    2,536
    Faith:
    Baptist
    "proud", "pride" - like , Do you take pride in your work?

    Semantics, pure and simple, In English, there are two kinds of pride, sinful and not sinful.

    For a Christian to take pride in his/her work can mean - to be honest, careful, meticulous and honoring to the Lord in the work He has given us to do.

    There is this situation in every language including the original languages of the Bible when one word can take on similar but varying shades of meaning.

    Take the word "lust" as an example. epithumia.


    1939
    epithumia {ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah} ​

    Meaning:

    1) desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust​

    In the NT Koine it usually has a bad nuance, however it can simply mean a strong but not sinful desire.​

    e.g.
    Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.​

    Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

    And then there is this one (look it up).​

    Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:​

    Obviously the use of this word epithumia cannot apply as evil to the sinless Savior.​

    Unlike epithumia there are several NT words for pride, none of which have anything but a bad conotation (arrogance, insolence, self reliance).​

    The problem: while the word "pride" in Koine has no other meaning with a sinless nuance, English indeed does, so we confound the two by overlaying the NT meaning upon the English in every case.​

    This problem is especially evident to those who must translate the Scriptures. Not for this word "pride" alone but many others.​

    Someone else said it: "well pleased" can be a synonym for the good "proud, pride" in some cases.​


    HankD​
     
    #9 HankD, Aug 20, 2010
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2010
  10. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    2,752
    Likes Received:
    0
    I once told the chief of my department where I worked, "I don't like the work I do, but I take pride in doing a good job." So, was I in sin? Am I in sin if I take pride in my appearance--like bathing, shaving, keeping my hair properly trimmed? Is it really sin to tell your children you're proud of them? I don't believe it is.

    Lucifer's sin was pride, but his pride was in wanting to be equal to God. Sinful pride is like the man who says, "I don't take charity." Since the biblical meaning of charity is "love", I guess he's saying he doesn't take love. He's too proud to accept help when he needs it. That's one problem I don't have. If anyone wants to help me, I gladly accept the help.

    People are prideful about owning an expensive car, the latest style of clothes, a really fantastic home with all the trimmings--pool, hot tub, you name it. They take pride in their accomplishments, while not once giving God any credit for any of it.
     
  11. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    Based on the dictionary meaning the answer is yes you would be in sin. I know that this is a difficult issue. I at first felt that the teacher was all wet. However after some time and searching I have changed my mind and I feel that he is correct. I think my problem was that I had been put to sleep by Satan on this issue and holiness as well as trying to hold onto pride.
    That being said I strongly suggest that you look up the English words pride/proud and see what they really mean. Then look up the Greek passage that says I am well pleased. You see that there is big differences. So at this point I agree that if we claim that we are proud of our children and that attitude or emotion fits the English definition then we are in sin. The same thing if we say we are proud to be an American or what ever else.
    Someone reminded me of these scriptures that helped me see more clearly.

    Jer 9:23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
    Jer 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.

    I think we could conclude that any kind of bragging other then bragging on the Lord comes from sin and that is because of pride. We are told to do all we do as unto the Lord, not unto ourselves. We teach our children to openly celebrate their success when they win at sports and that is pride. They are proud of themselves. There is little wonder why we are so caught up in this sin and hate to deal with it because dealing with it causes us to give up so much of ourselves. People do not seek personal prestige because it glorifies the Lord. Just think of the sports we get into and any number of other things that is all associated with pride. We want our names to be posted if we catch the record fish or kill the trophy animal. We want to be noticed for our dedication at work and at play, and that is pride. Pride does not have to be verbal bragging. It can also be anything we seek for personal prestige. I think as Christians we have much to deal with in this area. I know I do. All pride is sin I am convinced of this now. By the way. Simply making the statement "I give all the credit to the Lord" does not relieve us of the sin of pride.
     
    #11 freeatlast, Aug 20, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 20, 2010
Loading...