The Fine Line: Spiritual Pride or Right Before God?

Spiritual pride often becomes part of our daily lives, even though we think we never do it. When we hear about unfair treatment suffered by a friend, we may sympathize and even feel upset. We condemn the person's actions while saying in our hearts:

“At least I'm not that evil.”

“At least I'm a good person.”

“At least I've been baptized.”

And the like.

Yet, whether we realize it or not, we often commit acts of crime on a daily-life scale.

For example:

• When a boss asks us to buy office supplies, we slip personal items into the list. After all, they do not cost much. It is cheaper than having to pay out of our own pocket.
• To wipe out the red marks on our little one's report card, we bring the homeroom teacher a ‘gift’. The reason is that it is faster and more practical than taking the time to provide tutoring.
• When we are angry with our spouse, we throw out harsh words instead of first calming our hearts and reflecting on the real issue.

Brothers and sisters, has it ever occurred to you that doing evil is often easier than doing good?

“Ah, what I did is nothing compared with what those people did who were punished under criminal or civil law. My sin is not as great as the sin of a corrupt official, right?”

Now, this scale of big and small is what then blurs our understanding of sin. Petty wrongdoing does not make our conscience cry out as loudly as wrongdoing we judge to be greater. As a result, we forget that sin is still sin.

All people are sinners

In Romans 3:9-19, Paul emphasizes that all people are sinners. … as it is written: "None is righteous, not even one.” – Romans 3:10 Paul expressed this as an argument against the Jews who considered themselves righteous before God. Yet that message is still relevant today.

There are two things in Paul's argument that we can reflect on:

First, we need to realize how evil we are in God's eyes.

Second, we need to realize that all our efforts and good deeds cannot justify us.

What is self-righteousness or spiritual pride?

The dictionary definition of self-righteous is: Filled with or showing a conviction of being morally superior, or more righteous than others. In other words, we are convinced that we are morally better, or more righteous, than others. In a spiritual context, self-righteousness can be understood as spiritual pride.

Friend, spiritual pride is a dangerous outlook. We think we are on God's side, when in fact God sees it otherwise. Ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know; there is no fear of God before their eyes. – Romans 3:16-18. Paul rebukes those who boast in what they do for God. The fear of the Lord is not in them, because they act according to their own understanding.

The question is, are we also among those who are spiritually proud?

Have we become arrogant and rejected true teaching? Are we narrow-minded like frogs in a well? So convinced that our names are already written in God's book of life, yet forgetting to be humble and watchful?

If so, how do we measure the right kind of fear of God?

1. A Spiritual Check-Up

Just like a routine health examination, we need to do a check-up of the heart from time to time. We examine our hearts, thoughts, and actions so that they align with God's will.

Why is this important?

Because only in the fear of God are we justified. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, even eagerness to clear yourselves, indignation, fear, longing, zeal,   punishment! In all these things you have proved yourselves innocent in this matter. – 2 Corinthians 7:11 Many people refuse to talk about their sins because they assume they will become even more sinful. This is like a sick person who keeps postponing a visit to the doctor. In the end, the illness grows worse and becomes a ticking time bomb that harms the person himself.

Examine our paths and every corner of our hearts. Let the word of God test every step and every motive within us. If we are humble enough, surely the Holy Spirit and the saints will gladly help reveal to us the understanding of that word.

2. Focus on our own repentance. Do not meddle in other people's sins

It is true that we must help others know God. However, that is only useful if we ourselves are already in, and continue to remain in, that kingdom.

To put it another way, do not be like a terminal worker who is busy calling passengers and getting them onto the bus, while he himself stays behind at the terminal. Take time to deal with our sins. To confess them and take action to leave them behind. Only holy people are effective in reaching others and bringing them into holiness.

3. Healthy Fear: Do Not Be Afraid to Fear

Fear here does not mean that we must live in fear. We rely on the word to guide us and open our understanding about all things. From there, we gain a healthy measure of the fear of God, namely a fear accompanied by reverence and respect, like a child fears his parents.

Let us, brothers and sisters, make a habit of examining our inner lives so that our spiritual diseases do not pile up. Let us learn to be more humble before the Lord and before others. The right measure of the fear of God will lead us to repentance and to favor in His sight. Amen.

Adapted from the article "Do Not Be Too Afraid to Fear, Fear Is Part of Repentance" by Rev. Togar Sianturi.