One of the primary things that hinders us the most from growing in Christ and connecting with others is that of pride. The more egocentric we become, the greater the gap between ourselves and Christ, and ultimately others grows. Jesus spoke of this very problem several times within scripture while providing the solution, “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me.” This denial is not a partial prescription, but rather a full consecration onto God while letting go of our egos entirely.
One of the most significant problems facing the Christian life today is that of pride. This stigma is something that, not only hinders connecting with others, but that ultimately puts a barrier between us and God as well as our growth in Him. In order to connect and grow, one must be vulnerable and open to others and the changing environment around and within themselves, otherwise relationships will die and growth will be inhibited. Scripture mentions the issue of pride several times as a spiritual disease and something that God Himself despises.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
proverbs 8:13 nkjv
The word for pride in Hebrew is, “ga’own” which means arrogancy, pomp, proud, to be swelled up. Pride can be found in many different areas of life, and yet one of the primary places it is found is that of knowledge. Gathering knowledge is seen as a noble thing to do when utilized properly, but as soon as we find ourselves using it as a means in which we can lord it over people, we have then altered the nobility of the accumulation of knowledge into a tyrannical form of supremacy.
A person does not have to look too far to witness such alterations and manipulation occur as it has now become an epidemic with the rise of information and data swarming all around us. Even those that do not search out knowledge have gotten to the point of tyranny with the idea nestled deep within their being that no matter what, they are always correct especially if they have some bit of information stored away even if it is outdated and irrelevant.
This type of pride is what really hinders us from connecting and growing, but is also what causes us to never admit were wrong or apologize and in turn input a loveless attitude within our hearts. With pride comes control and as soon as someone proves the “swelled” individual wrong or catches them in the act of ignorance and sin, they then feel the anxiety of chaos overwhelm them and from there they tend to go on the defensive, and many times retreat into their fortress of solitude until they can conjure up enough data to ultimate defeat their justified accusers in an act of humiliation. If they are unable to gather the data then the last retreat is to shun the accuser and excommunicate them from mutual community of friends and family by gossip and betrayal.
We see this personality type predominately in narcissistic individuals where the “self” is amplified in their life above all others. This personality trait, sadly enough, has risen to new levels over the years with studies showing that people are more narcissistic than ever before, an unfortunate result of technological advancements, increase of luxuries and the rise of the radical left’s introduction of the self-empowerment ideology into western culture and society in the 1970’s. Of course, this was foreseen by Paul when writing about the characteristics of people during the last days in the book of 2 Timothy.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blashpemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 nkjv
What we are witnessing today is what Paul prophesied approximately 2,000 years ago. Never before in the history of humankind have we witnessed such radical ideological propositions spawning up and drastically impacting society as we see it today. People are more focused on the self and self-promotion like never before due primarily to the drastic rise of the self-empowerment movement along with the introduction of social media outlets where the term “selfie” is actually deemed as a legitimately good thing. Even the church, leaders within and Christians amass have been deceived into the idea that selfies are alright and that posing half naked somehow glorifies God.
Now, how does all of this link together? Before really compiling everything together, there is one more thing we must look at to get a better idea of pride and its deterioration on the individual and society and culture as a whole. The story of Lucifer and his fall, I believe, sums up the idea of narcissism and pride as one of the ultimate eradicators of one’s spiritual life.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”
Isaiah 14:12-14 nkjv
In this passage we get a glimpse into the demise of Lucifer where he thought within his heart that he was the best and that he could exalt himself over all things, including the Most High Himself. This same type of thought process is deeply integrated within our society and culture with the idea of self-empowerment. Now, I am proposing the idea that one should not be empowered, but that the empowerment should not come from the self, and instead from God. When self is elevated, the fall is soon to follow.
Looking at the previous passage closely we can see where the idea of self-exaltation stemmed from, and that is the heart. Jesus touched on this issue when responding to the Pharisees in regards to His disciples not washing their hands and the idea of defilement:
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
matthew 15:18-20 nkjv
The heart is where most of all of our issues of sin stem from, although some of the temptations come from outside, it is the flesh enticed heart that ultimate persuades us. Lucifer fell due to his own magnificence and self glory which blinded him from where his magnificence truly comes from, that is God. This thought ultimately lifted him up in pride which led him to fall from the very presence of God.
One way we can interpret this idea in our modern world and with a focus on our self’s is that out of our hearts and minds can come different ideas that can ultimately lead us to glorify ourselves which causes us to fall away from the very presence of God dwelling within our lives, the source from which all things come from. The way in which we can keep ourselves from becoming self-centered and prideful is by continuously watching ourselves, being conscientious. This idea is echoed within the book of first Peter:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 peter 5:8 nkjv
Interpreted and applied in a more modern sense, “Be conscientious, because your flesh and the radical ideologies of the world are set out to overtake you and cause you too fall.” We are human and we are frail, and thus we should always be aware of our actions, making sure they line up with the Word of God. No matter how much knowledge we acquire, how many degrees we obtain, we must always remain humble and always give glory to the source in which the knowledge and life itself comes from, that is God.
“That, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”
1 Corinthians 1:31 nkjv
The more we recognize how lost and confused we are without God, the more we will walk humbly before Him. Pride itself stems from the heart, from the flesh, and from there it seeks to elevate itself which in turn hinders relationships and personal, spiritual growth, all while causing us to become tyrannical towards others, all of which cause us to become dead spiritually inside with love residing far from us. Stand firm in truth, love and selflessness while remaining strong in the Lord and shining forth His light to the lost world around us. God bless!
God has called each and everyone of us to become a great nation just as He called Abram in ancient times. But what does this mean for us today? How can we become a great nation and blessing for the Lord? Support my ministry work on Patreon for only $3 a month: https://www.patreon.com/clarityoutreach
We all go through times in the wilderness where chaos abounds and the way seems unclear, but during these wilderness experiences we can find growth and renewal that ultimately leads us to the forest of possibilities that lie ahead. Don’t give up, keep trekking until you find your forest.
Christian persecution has been on the rise all around the world, whether religiously or secularly motivated. What does this mean in correlation with the end times?
In an age where vanity occupies our minds and time all while we search diligently for meaning and purpose within them, and yet end up empty handed. Where is meaning? What is meaning? How does one go about finding meaning in life? It is initially found within Jesus Christ, and from there we can witness it manifest itself through the call of God upon our life.
Everything in life is predicated upon the idea of balance whether it is the vastness of space-time, or the inner most being of individuals. It is neither, a nihilistic framework or a tyrannical mode of being, that accomplishes the good that is necessary for the individual as well as society to thrive, but the harmonious point between chaos and order that promotes peace and wellbeing. Throughout scripture we see this idea being well established through the Christian exhibition of moderation in all things as well as loving all people while remaining holy. The modern conception of free love is too broad a spectrum of being that provides no order while the tyrannical dictations of religion leaves no room for the emancipation of the individual. We must seek to exhibit only one supreme point of reference in our life, that is Jesus Christ, in whom balance dwells.
There is a great need for transformation in society and culture today, a renewal towards the good for all people that can only be found in Jesus Christ. We see many different groups pushing social reforms driven by their own self-made ideologies that they desire to force onto other people. Behind these ideologues is the will of the self, the flesh, and while they may wholeheartedly believe they are willing the good, they are in fact producing the opposite effect.
No matter how well intended someone’s motive may be, if the motive does not correlate with scripture, it is then best to set it aside. Does this mean that everything must be religiously driven? It then depends on what you mean by religious. The definition for religious, “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.”
Most people relate the term religious to that of an organized system of belief that is strictly controlled by people or groups in which presents a type of dictatorship that governs all actions of individuals. But in the context I am using here the term can be better applied to the spiritual truth that encompasses all human beings and was the creator all things. Now, of course I wish to not be to vague as to represent some type of new age concept, but what I do mean in regards to the spiritual truth is the Lord God Himself and not some conceptualization of a type of “energy” or “force.”
In order to be spiritually driven in the proper mode of being, one must diligently search out scripture, and not only in a literal interpretation, but through all interpretative dimensions. The problem many of times is that people tend to view and study scripture from a singular dimensional plain of perception and in due process miss out on several key aspects that are hidden out of plain sight. This is much of the cause of turmoil in several historical settings where corruption seeps in due to misinterpretation, either literal or figurative, both of which signify a one dimensional setting.
The Spirit inhabits several dimensions and reveals Himself through a multitude of different means including the word itself, other people, signs, etc. When you examine the many different means by which the Spirit speaks to us and reveals Himself, we must then conclude that there are several different dimensional plains in which to interpret and understand His word as well. The way in which we can come to better understand and apply the word of God to our lives is by studying in depth by breaking the word down into sub-components, mediating upon them, and then putting them back together.
“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
1 timothy 4:15-16 nkjv
Once we better understand the word of God, the more appropriately and properly we can apply it to our life and exhibit the qualities and characteristics that are desired for the Christian life. Of course, all of this studying and meditating must be accompanied by the presence of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and minds because without it we will not reap the full benefits and acquire the desired knowledge and wisdom that we are trying to seek within the word.
As Christians, we must prepare ourselves with the knowledge of the word and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then we must be transformed in order to make the ripples in the pond of society and culture. We can obtain all the facts and exhibit plenty of enthusiasm, but if we are not transformed from the inside out we will never make any real impact in the outside world.
Only at this moment can we truly go out into the world and make a difference. It all starts with our own inner being, and from there we can work our way outward. The problem with much of the ideologies that are within the minds of the individuals and groups fighting for social justice is, not only the incoherence with the word of God, but the lifelessness, spiritually speaking, that inhabits them. No matter how well they may articulate or present their ideas, they are ultimately lifeless and without any true value.
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
ephesians 5:6 nkjv
We must exhibit and live out the word within our own lives before we can properly engage with the society and culture around us, otherwise we are nothing but empty noise. Living out the word enables us to speak with power that penetrates the hearts and minds of those around us. Everything we see around us is made up of the Spirit, and thus is a spiritual warfare which requires the power of the Spirit in order to overcome the opposition.
The philosophies and ideological framework in which the social justice warriors push so wholeheartedly are nothing but rooted in the desire for a socialistic agenda that is rooted in the Marxist philosophy and the vision of an ultimate Utopian society. This type of ideology is nestled within the UN’s Agenda 2030 and is a forerunner of the coming one world government and the rise of the Antichrist.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 nkjv
It is not a religious system or doctrine that makes the changes, but only the Spirit of God working in and through us touching the lives of those we are speaking and helping. If we are driven by a system or church, we have then voided out the work of the Spirit and will ultimately make little to no impact. The Spirit is the life and only when we are led by Him will we see the life manifest itself in the surrounding culture and society.
We are called to be good soldiers of Christ and go out into the world ready to do battle. We are to be the cause of ripples within the fabric of this reality that extend outward to impact our surrounding culture and society. This life is full of chaos and malevolence, but we are over comers in Christ and can truly overcome by being transformed, standing up straight, holding firm and moving forward in the Holy Spirit. What ripples are you making?
Scripture is very much practical in nature, and yet is much richer than that. To fully grasp what the word is articulating one must delve beneath the surface, break down the components into sub components, meditate on them, and then put them back together. Only at this moment can we comprehend and appreciate the full splendor that God’s word provides, for to completely grasp the practicality you must first understand the meaning and value behind it.
Michael Thacker 