Moral Issues in Today's World: November 2015
Table of Contents
Moral Issues in Today’s World
It has been well said that the people of this world are controlled by two things: their lusts and public opinion. When the light of Christianity and the grace of God works in a country, the result has been the uplifting and upholding of standards of moral behavior according to God’s Word. But as the light is rejected, moral corruption comes in until man begins to act like a “beast.” At the end of the day of grace, the two great leaders of the world, one religious and one political, are referred to as “beasts.” God’s earthly people, Israel, were physically set apart by God from the nations around them, who were full of darkness and evil. In today’s world, the believer is to be morally separate, while physically living in the midst of evil. As the days grow darker and public standards plunge into the abyss of evil, living as “children of light” becomes ever more challenging. This issue identifies some of the moral issues that we face today and God’s provisions to deliver us from the evil. Let us always remember that our Lord Jesus Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:4).
Lack of Discipline
The lack of discipline, whether of one’s self or in connection with others, has often been a problem in this world’s history. Ever since the fall, man by his very nature has been self-centered and often lazy. Although the hard work brought about by the fall was a real burden to man — “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Gen. 3:19) — it was also a great mercy, for it necessitated self-discipline. This in turn kept man from the indulging of his sinful lusts, at least to some extent. But when the blessing of God brought ease and luxury, the resultant lack of discipline brought many problems to the surface.
The Abundance Effect
Before the Lord destroyed the world by the flood of Noah, we read that the earth was filled with violence and corruption. Later, in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, there was an abundance of food, a pleasant climate, and relative ease. All this contributed to the decadent and immoral lifestyle that existed there before God destroyed those cities because of their wickedness. In many parts of the Western world today, these conditions have once again been duplicated, with similar, disastrous results. This is not to imply that wealth always produces laziness and a lack of discipline, but it makes fertile ground for such entities to flourish. Wealth has a tendency to produce a sense of entitlement, which then pervades society, and this in turn leads to the lack of proper discipline, first of adults, and then of their children.
The Harsh Effect
Sad to say, sometimes discipline in the past was harsh and abusive, and this created real problems, for children subjected to this kind of treatment sometimes tended to grow up aggressive and anti-social, with real rebellion in their hearts. Even if this did not happen, those children, when they become adults, often harbored a lifelong resentment towards their parents and others involved in their harsh upbringing. As a reaction to this, modern society in most Western countries has gone to the other extreme, virtually abandoning good discipline, not only in the home, but also in schools. It is rather interesting to observe that children treated in this way often grow up with the same aggressive and rebellious behavior that results from overly harsh discipline.
Human Wisdom
Those of us who grew up in the world of 60+ years ago have seen the gradual and sometimes precipitous decline in both self-discipline and the discipline of children, with its bad results. But there is more involved than mere wealth and ease. For the past 50-60 years, there has also been a giving up of God and His Word, with the result that human wisdom has replaced the wisdom of God. This is tantamount to someone’s purchasing a new appliance or machine and then proceeding to throw away the instruction manual and to substitute his own ideas of how to operate and maintain it. Modern books and magazines that presume to give parents advice on how to raise children decry corporal punishment for the most part and substitute advice which does not, in many cases, hold the child accountable for his conduct. At the same time, it has become rather fashionable to blame our shortcomings and failures on everything and everyone but ourselves, thus laying the groundwork for the bad behavior to be repeated.
We are well aware of the difficulties that ensue, as we see even young children defy parents and teachers and treat them with contempt instead of respect. For the most part, schools are now prohibited from physically punishing or even restraining children who misbehave, and they can only, as a last resort, expel them for a time. In a recent case in the United States, police were called by a particular school because of an episode of violence with which they were unable to cope. When those involved refused to obey verbal commands, the police proceeded to handcuff the culprits, which then resulted in a lawsuit by the parents. Even worldly people are wondering where all this will end.
Authority
What then is the answer? First of all, we must recognize that all authority ultimately comes from God. God has established authority in this world, whether in government, in the home, or in the house of God. Such authority is to be respected, not only for its own sake, but because God has set it up. When God is lost sight of, and even His existence challenged, then respect for all authority breaks down. This is the first degenerate step. God will hold responsible those whom He has placed in such positions of authority and leadership, as to how they have exercised this authority before Him, for along with authority from God comes the responsibility to use that authority to accomplish the purpose for which God gave the authority.
God’s Wisdom
Second, we must recognize, as believers, that “through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” “His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:2-3). Paul also reminds us that “in Him [the Lord Jesus Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him” (Col. 2:9-10). In any moral or spiritual subject, man’s wisdom can add nothing to the wisdom of God. In fact, God’s wisdom is always the opposite of man’s wisdom. We must bear this in mind, for whenever man’s thoughts are not founded on the Word of God, in any moral or spiritual matter, he always thinks in a wrong way.
Balance
Third, we must remember that God’s Word, far from teaching the abuse of children on the one hand or laxity and permissiveness on the other hand, gives us a perfect balance. The Word of God teaches us proper discipline, first of all of ourselves, and then of others under our authority. We must recognize that ultimately all of us are under authority, for only God is supreme. The word “discipline” is similar to the word “disciple,” which means to teach and to guide. This should be the proper attitude of all who find themselves in a position of authority. We must also remember that we teach much more by example than by either word of mouth or corrective measures.
The Rod and Reproof
On the one hand, the Word of God strongly advocates strong and consistent discipline of children. We read in Proverbs that “the rod and reproof give wisdom” (Prov. 29:15), and both are needed. Instruction should be given to the child, bringing in the authority of the Lord and His Word, but punishment is needed occasionally too. This is the wisdom of God. Corporal punishment need not always be used, for it is right to “make the punishment fit the crime,” but to assume that we can raise children without any physical punishment is not of God. Corporal punishment instills a memory that nothing else can. However, God’s Word guards against abuse, for it says, “Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope, but set not thy soul upon killing him” (Prov. 19:18 JND). Likewise, we read in the New Testament, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4 JND).
Rebellion
A lack of discipline in younger children has far-reaching effects, for it is in their younger years that the character of children is largely formed. This is when serious bad tendencies, such as rebellion, anger, disobedience and lying, should be dealt with and “nipped in the bud.” The longer such behavior is allowed to go on, the more difficult it will be to correct it later. Today, for example, we see children being put into special classes or given special help for “anger management.” We fully recognize that some individuals have a harder time than others in dealing with certain sins, but this only emphasizes that firmness and consistency are needed in dealing with these issues when they are young. Parents must be willing to persist until the battle is won, not give up when one or two punishments are not effective. Usually at least one major “battle” must be fought when the child is very young, but once it is won, it becomes easier as time goes on. An older brother, long since with the Lord, used to remark that in a normal Christian home, most of the spankings will be administered before the child is three years old. After that, the child may surely have the tendency to sin, but the child’s will is already shaped and the spirit of rebellion largely gone. We are, of course, speaking in a general way; this may not happen in every case.
Preparation
Under normal circumstances, the discipline of children is intended to prepare them to be able to discipline themselves as adults. But children who are not disciplined by parents and teachers when they are young grow up with a self-willed and rebellious attitude, and while the outward behavior may change with maturity, the bad attitude remains. As a result, the world (at least the Western world) now has a large population that is unable or unwilling to discipline itself. Self-will has become rampant, and this is the real essence of sin. According to the Word of God, sin is simply lawlessness; it is the doing of our own will, without regard to God’s claims. In adult life the sin becomes greater and more serious, resulting in generalized rudeness and self-centeredness, coupled, of course, with violence and corruption. The children and grandchildren of such people will turn out much the same, for we cannot teach our children what we have not learned ourselves.
In summary, then, let us be aware of how far the world has departed from the principles of the Word of God. We should not be surprised at this, for God has told us that the world will become worse and worse, until finally God brings down His judgment on it. But we should be willing to stand out from the world and to exercise that needed discipline, first of all on ourselves, and then on others who may be under our authority. God will surely give us the needed grace and wisdom to do this, if we look to Him.
W. J. Prost
Deceit and Lying
Deceit and lying are some of the special sins connected with the tongue, that unruly member which no man can tame. Over and over again they are emphatically forbidden and condemned by the God of truth (Col. 3:9; 1 Peter 3:10; Prov. 24:28; Prov. 12:22).
No Deceit in Christ
When Peter speaks of the life of the Lord Jesus as an example for us to copy, he emphatically points out that no deceit was found in His mouth. Those who are deceitful are, therefore, evidently most unlike Christ. As we write for those who profess to be children of God, in looking at a few examples of this fearful sin in Scripture, we will consider only those applicable to children of God, or at least those who profess to be.
Lying Through Fear
In Genesis 18:15, we find Sarah telling a direct lie through fear. How often this is the case, resulting from our having done or said something of which we are ashamed! It may have been a right thing, and we are thus ashamed of Christ, or it may be a wrong thing, and we are ashamed of being found out. In either case, a lie slips from our lips before we are aware. The rational cure for this is not to do what we are ashamed of, or, if the thing is right, not to be ashamed of what we do. If, however, we have slipped into a sin, let us not add to it another, but rather when the lie is about to leave our lips, let the thought, God hears me, instantaneously arrest it. A lie of this sort to screen oneself is perhaps the most contemptible kind, despised alike by Christians and men of the world. Having thus looked at it, let us resolutely avoid it, even in the smallest things, and never lend our tongues to such base deceit.
Lying for Our Own Advantage
The next instance is in Genesis 27:19, when Jacob tells a direct lie for his advantage — another despicable variety of this sin. Notice, too, that Jacob was a child of God, and the result is that through the next thirty years of his life he suffered from the consequences of his sin. And by the lie he gained nothing, for God would have given him all in due time. Have any of my readers fallen victim to this sin? Making haste to be rich or improve their position or in some way run in advance of God, have they ever, through selfish motives, told a lie? If so, I am sure in consequence they have suffered, and there can be no real restoration until that lie is confessed to God and man. Too often one lie leads to another, as in Jacob’s case, and once embarked on this fatal course, who can tell where it will end? I plead with you, never, never allow yourself to tell a lie for your advantage. Think for one moment what a horrible denial such a sin is in contrast to what Jesus ever was and did.
Lying to Cover a Sin
Passing over several cases of lies, we come to David, who was guilty both of lying (1 Sam. 21:2) and deceit of the most fearful character (2 Sam. 11), by which he sought to cover up an awful sin, thereby making it twice as bad. Oh, how often some previous sin is the cause of a long course of deceit and lying. Beloved friends, let us, above all things, seek to be straight with God, with our fellow men, and with ourselves, and should we fall into a sin, never, never seek to cover it up by another, still worse than the first. A course of deceit positively blights the soul, destroying all simplicity, joy and communion. The result of these sins in David’s case was a course of sufferings almost unparalleled in their severity, from the hands of his own children. Let us not, therefore, think we can escape the all-searching eye of God.
Lying From Habit
We find in 1 Kings 13:18 a prophet of God lying in a most flagrant manner, without any apparent reason. We find such characters now, even among God’s people — some who apparently have no regard for the truth and find it easier to tell a lie than to avoid it. The only remedy when the disease has so developed is to go straight to God and cry to Him for strength and daily watchfulness to overcome it. I remember one such case. I noticed that a person was almost always silent, and one day I asked the cause. He said that he had been so addicted to lying that he was determined now not to speak at all if he could not speak the direct truth, and, therefore, he seldom opened his lips, and he always considered well before he spoke. Deep-rooted sins require some such radical measures.
Two Solemn Cases of Lying
In the New Testament the two solemn cases, one of lying and the other of deceit, in Peter and Ananias, stand out above all others. Peter, forewarned by the Lord, yet strong in his own strength, lied three times to save himself, actually going to the length of denying the Saviour while He was standing dumb before His accusers. Sad to say, such sins are not unknown even now. Many of us are ashamed of showing our colors, and when suddenly asked an unexpected question, through fear or shame, are betrayed into a lie, to the triumph of Satan and the grief of our Lord. Let us watch earnestly against this, and, if entrapped, let us follow Peter in his path of restoration. It is remarkable to see that the very one who fell himself is so perfectly restored as not only to be able to charge home the very same sin to the Jews (Acts 3:14), but was also chosen by God to be the executor of His justice on the flagrant deceit of Ananias. This too was a flagrant sin — a course of deceit being practiced merely to give others a false impression of his generosity and to appear better than he was. This is another common variety of this sin. Anxious to stand well in the eyes of our fellow men, rather than in those of God, we do not hesitate sometimes to descend to deceitful practices to appear better than we are, and so get praise from men that we do not deserve. Surely, such a course needs only to be named to be condemned by every upright heart. All these instances have been selected from the lives of professing children of God and will well repay careful consideration, giving, as they do, striking illustrations of the main causes of deceit and lying among Christians. Lies may be told without using the lips; we may act so as to deceive and seek to excuse ourselves because we have not said what is untrue. This is a worthless subterfuge and will not stand before God for a moment. All such refuges of lies He will sweep away.
The only way to be happy before Him and to be in any degree like Christ is to turn our backs firmly and resolutely on deceit in every shape and form, and determine, in God’s strength, that we will earnestly seek to say and do nothing that is not absolutely true. This will save ourselves from reaping the bitter fruits of shame and sorrow that follow such a course. May God help each one of us that is tempted by this sin to overcome it in His strength and to learn to abhor and hate it because it is so hateful to Christ and so dishonoring to His name.
“The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Prov. 12:19).
A. T. Schofield (adapted)
Sexual Immorality
Sexual immorality, while it is surely not the only moral problem today, is certainly one of the most serious, and one which is closely connected with several others. It is safe to say that it is probably causing more harm than most of the others and destroying the fabric of society more than any other single issue of moral decline. More and more Western societies are becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Sexual Revolution
The so-called “sexual revolution” began in the 1960s, when a relatively rapid change came about in the Western world. Suddenly all of the old morals of past generations were being challenged, and worse still, the bases of those morals were being defied and set aside as well. All of this paved the way for further gradual decline throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but then came the Internet, which gave the impetus for another huge decline in moral standards, perhaps greater than that of the 1960s. One secular writer described it this way: “I thought we were in the basement [referring to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the further changes over the next 30 years], but now the basement floor has given way, to reveal a pit of yawning dimensions, the bottom of which we have not yet seen [referring to the changes during the past 20 years].”
There is no need to elaborate on the details of modern immorality, as it is sadly familiar to all of us. What would have shocked even worldly people a generation ago is now not only tolerated, but broadcasted as being normal. In addition to adultery and fornication, people are engaging in every twisted sexual perversion imaginable, and then, in the name of tolerance, are permitted to disseminate it all over the world. While immorality among adults is bad enough, the most serious side effect of all this is the spoiling of innocent children and the “sexualizing” and “sensualizing” of those whose minds are not ready even to think about such things. It is scarcely possible to view a television program today that does not have sexual overtones, and the impact of the Internet cannot be overstated. What was once done privately and among a few is now available for all to see. Our minds are literally bombarded by what some have called this “sexual immorality explosion,” and it is easy to see how the impressionable minds of young children are first of all confused and then converted by all this.
Amoral
When young children, especially girls, are “force-fed” a diet of sexually suggestive clothing, makeup, and behavior, when parents themselves are often openly promiscuous, and when schools teach perverted lifestyles as if they were normal, it is not surprising that we are raising a generation that is not only immoral, but literally amoral. The cycle has now been going on long enough that some who were raised under such standards are now having children, who in turn are finding that one kind of sexual immorality often begets another. Such entities as divorce, homosexuality, pedophilia, and viewing of pornography (to name a few) are on a precipitous rise — all related to, and often initiated by, heterosexual immorality.
Forewarned
On the one hand, we are properly horrified at all this, but on the other hand, we should not be unduly surprised, for the Lord has foretold in His Word that all this would be part of the character of the last days. Some entities mentioned in 2 Timothy 3 are that men will be “unholy,” “without natural affection,” and “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (vss. 2-4). In verse 6 we read of “silly women laden with sins” and in verse 8 of “men of corrupt minds.” While these phrases are not limited to sexual immorality, surely it is included.
Forearmed
What, then, for the believer, is the answer to all this? First of all, as the world says, “To be forewarned is forearmed.” We need to be aware of the moral decline going on around us. Paul could warn the Thessalonians that “they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night” (1 Thess. 5:7). This is the state of the world, and it can easily overtake the believer who is not watchful. Then the damage is done while he is asleep. For this reason we are told, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:6).
Avoid Exposure
Second, we must seek to avoid exposure to those things that cause harm. We have mentioned television and would only encourage parents by saying that it is still possible to raise children without a diet of television. In fact, even the world admits that children raised without television seldom miss it, and they are also better read, better adjusted, and often better students. Likewise, the Internet, while doubtless useful and necessary in today’s world, must be carefully controlled. This, of course, goes for adults as well as children, for the temptation to look at that which is morally wrong can be very strong, when the click of a mouse can remove the image before someone else sees it. We must heed Paul’s admonition: “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14). Even in legitimate use, electronic media in every form (such as browsing the Internet, texting and Facebook) can be very addicting, and parents should not only control their own exposure, but also that of their children. I know that this has often been said before, but it cannot be stressed too much.
Education
With sex education in public schools, the problem is more difficult, and there are no easy answers. For this very reason some parents prefer to homeschool their children, while others send their children to private or Christian schools. In the public school system, parents are usually able to remove their children from programs with which they do not agree. Perhaps a better way is to ask the child what he/she was taught, and then go over with them what the Word of God says about it. In this way the child is not simply an “open vessel which hath no covering bound upon it” (Num. 19:15), but rather is covered with the Word of God. Every parent must be before the Lord about how to handle this, and there is no one simple answer. But the Christian home can be a safe shelter in this immoral storm.
Better Things
Finally, it is a principle with God that He never takes away something without giving us something better in return. While we cannot prevent our children’s exposure to this world (nor should we attempt entirely to do this), we can give them something better to fill their hearts and minds — things which are of eternal value. This means more than simply reading the Word of God to them and praying with them. These things surely are most important, but the Christian is meant not only to take in, but also to give out. An old brother used to remark that if we were more diligent in the work of the Lord, we would not have time to get into so much trouble and sin in our lives. So much of today’s electronic media is a “time waster,” and our time down here is so precious, in view of our Lord’s near return. Let us center our lives around the Lord and be found not only learning more of Him, but teaching our children how to use their time for the Lord and for the help and blessing of others. If we look around us, we will find that there is no lack of opportunity for us to do this. Then we will find, with the Lord’s help, that “our whole spirit and soul and body” will be “preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
W. J. Prost
Pride
“Every form of pride is wrong and ought to be condemned.” In my growing-up years, I well remember hearing this being emphasized frequently by an old brother. And to quote another, “Pride is the greatest of all evils that beset us, and of all our enemies it is that which dies the slowest and hardest; even the children of the world are able to discern this. Madame De Stael said on her deathbed, ‘Do you know what is the last entity to die in man? It is self-love.’ God hates pride above all things, because it gives to man the place that belongs to Him who is above, exalted over all. Pride intercepts communion with God and draws down His chastisement, for ‘God resists the proud.’ He will destroy the name of the proud.”
Nowhere today is the difference between the world and the believer more pronounced than in their different estimates of pride. In the Word of God, pride is condemned from one end to the other. In the list of seven things which God hates, pride heads the list: “a proud look” (Prov. 6:17). It was pride that brought about Satan’s fall, before the present creation and before man was created. For this reason, the believer is warned about being “lifted up with pride” and falling into “the condemnation of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:6). It was pride that led the family of Cain to go out from the presence of the Lord, rather than repenting and returning to Him. Ultimately it is pride that keeps the sinner from coming to Christ. Finally, we know that in a coming day, “the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:17).
The Last Days
The last days, in which we are living, are leading up to this condition of things that God will judge unsparingly, for Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:2 that among other characteristics, men will be “lovers of their own selves” and “proud.” Since the fall, man has been proud throughout his history, but all this will reach a zenith before the judgment of God falls. I would suggest that we are heading quickly toward that apex today. In our modern world, therapists seek to instill pride into their clients, while children are taught in school to be proud of themselves and their achievements. Our modern economy is saturated with pride, and the phrase, “You’re worth it!” is constantly used in advertising. In every way the world today is the very antithesis of what the Word of God says about pride.
Own It and Judge It
As with other vices in the modern world, pride must first of all be recognized for what it is, before it can be dealt with. Unhappily, within the influence of the world today, pride can infiltrate and become such an integral part of our being that we fail to recognize either its presence or its sinfulness. Our attitudes can be so formed by it that we fail to see how far we have come from the teaching of the Word of God. Also, Satan has done a good job of persuading us that pride is not wrong in itself, for should we not be proud of ourselves — our appearance, our work and our achievements? But I am reminded of a Christian young man who asked his godly father this same question. The father’s answer was excellent: “If you remember that in your dress and in whatever you do you are a child of God and that you belong to Christ, it will take care of a proper appearance and good work habits, but without engendering a spirit of pride.” We cannot be proud as long as we are walking in the presence of God. Rather, this will keep us both humble and happy — humble because we are so little like Christ, and happy because He loves us so much.
It Is Serious
Why, then, is pride so serious? I would suggest that there are several reasons which we should bear in mind. First of all, pride in man takes away from that which is due to God only and gives that glory to man. As a creature, man is to be subject and to recognize that God alone is worthy of glory. Man has no glory of his own, and any glory that we may have as believers is only what God is pleased to share with us. This is the main reason why pride is condemned so severely in Scripture.
Communion
Second, pride interrupts our communion with God, so that we can no longer enjoy His presence. The world system today was started by Cain, who “went out from the presence of the Lord” and who then surrounded himself with everything to make himself happy, but without God. Pride started this system, and pride carries it on today. The believer who wants to learn more of Christ and walk with Him will find that a proud spirit and fellowship with God cannot exist together.
Greed — Envy — Power
Third, pride spawns and supports a number of other serious sins, such as greed, ingratitude, envy, and ultimately a lust for power. All of these are rampant in the world today, and they essentially drive the world economy. Again, this has been true throughout man’s history, but is reaching epidemic proportions today. These sins, in turn, can lead to many other related sins, such as hatred, theft, violence and even murder. The results are seen in the way man tramples on the rights of others in order to gain advantage for himself, and in his general ungratefulness for that which he receives.
Growth
Finally, pride hinders any kind of spiritual growth for the believer, for it occupies him with himself and makes him comfortable and accepting of that which God wants to change. Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”; we also read, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Prov. 9:8). Judging those things in our lives which are not in keeping with God’s character is dependent on a humble and teachable spirit, so that we are willing to listen, not only to God Himself through His Word, but also to others, who may be able to point out to us what we cannot see ourselves. Elihu was used of God to do this for Job, and great blessing resulted from it. But pride will keep us from entertaining rebuke and correction, thus stifling our spiritual growth. This becomes full-blown in the aggressive and belligerent behavior we see so often in the world around us, but can be just as much part of the character of those who normally appear well-mannered and polite.
If we realized the seriousness of the sin of pride and how detrimental it is to spiritual health, we would be more and more on guard, lest the attitude and spirit all around take hold of us too. To walk in the dignity of one who is a son of God is not pride and will enable us to display the character of our blessed Master, while we exhibit that humility that is not only proper for a creature, but is also fitting for those who follow a rejected Christ. The day of glory is not far off — a day when we shall live and reign with Christ. For now, we follow Him who “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:9).
W. J. Prost
Plain Papers Concerning Pride
The sin of selfishness may be specially characterized as the sin most unlike Christ, but the sin of pride is directly of the devil. The one is anti-Christian, and the other is Satanic. Such, indeed, is the plain language of Scripture. In 1 Timothy 3:6 we read that being lifted up with pride was the cause of “the condemnation of the devil,” and in Ezekiel 28 we read the detailed account of how the heart of one who was once “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” was lifted up because of his beauty, his wisdom corrupted by reason of his brightness, and who therefore fell from heaven to hell.
Pride Springs From the Heart
Pride is in every human heart; all are afflicted with this disease, though by many, it is regarded rather as an ornament than a blemish. The Word of God says “a high look, and a proud heart” are sin (Prov. 21:4). With men of the world they are well thought off. They are hateful to God (Prov. 6:16-17; 16:5) and to Christ, typified by wisdom (Prov. 8:13).
The root of all pride is in the heart: “Out of the heart of men, proceed ... pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). How can a young believer get rid of a proud heart? There is indeed but one way, and that is by sitting at the feet of Him who is meek and lowly in heart until we are ashamed any longer to cherish a quality so unlike Christ, but so like Satan.
Spiritual Pride
Let us consider two varieties of pride spoken of in the Word. We find the type of one variety, spiritual or religious pride, in the Pharisees of old, who were not ashamed to come before God with words like these: “God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are.” Surely no vestige of such an expression should find a place in our prayers.
We must remember that pride is one of the characteristics of the last days (2 Tim. 3:2), and therefore we have need to be greatly on our watch against it.
Spiritual pride is perhaps the worst variety, because it is not ashamed to show itself in connection with Christ’s name, a terrible thing when we think that such profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Let this sin, then, be kept far from us, and let none of us sin so fearfully against God as to use His truth to help us to commit the very sin of the devil — spiritual pride. When we really get into His presence, this can never be the case. “Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?” (2 Sam. 7:18). But when we are out of God’s presence, then boasting begins (2 Cor. 12:7).
Pride of Position
Another sort of pride arises from riches and position. We may see an instance of this in Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:13), in Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:30), in Belshazzar (Dan. 5:22), in Herod (Acts 12:21), and in many others. The question is, Is it seen in us? Do we in any of our acts betray this mean, debasing, and un-Christlike spirit to any who are poorer and humbler than ourselves? If we do, this clearly shows that we have never really understood the place where God’s sovereign grace has set us. It is alluded to in James 3.
Sensitive Feelings
When we talk of having very sensitive feelings and being hurt by remarks of others, it is often only pride and shows how miserably we are taken up with ourselves. Another variety of pride is shown in outward adornment, dressing after the fashion of the world and in a manner unsuited to Christian position. Another variety is being puffed up by any abilities or gifts God may have given us.
The Remedy
Having spoken of the evil, let us look for a moment at the Lord Jesus Christ for the remedy. We find, in the first place, that He Himself expressly declares that He is “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). We find Him showing this in various ways — by taking our nature, sin apart (Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:16), in His choice of station in life (John 9:29). How many of us who profess to show His spirit, if left to ourselves to choose our place in this world, would have made such a selection? We are called to be conformed to the image of our Lord. Who among us is so? We may well ask this question when we see Christians trying to be more than their fathers were and pushing their children still higher than themselves. We strictly obey the first half of James 1:9-10, but how many rich rejoice when they are made low?
Christ or Self
There is a line made evident from heaven concerning the stand of those who are on earth. On one side are those who, be what they may, would still be something more, or seem to be something they are not. They cannot enjoy what they have, because they desire more, and cannot be gratified because they are not satisfied. These are ashamed of the position their Master chose and are proud of a place He refused to occupy. Christ and those that bear His image are on the other side of the line. It is not that we are called to change our earthly occupation or position in life, but we are called to change our attitude or mind. But having emphasized this point, we must pass on.
The Lord took a lower place even than being a carpenter and became the servant of all (Matt. 20:28; Luke 22:27), even washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:5). On account of all this, He was despised (Mark 6:3; John 9:29), and those who follow Him will be despised too. They will be called mean or poor spirited and will be pushed aside and trodden down by the proud and ambitious. It matters not, if they have drunk at the pure spring of humility in Philippians 2; their souls will be so refreshed that they will be full of joy at bearing ever so little of the beauty of their Lord.
What God Thinks of the Humble
Hear what God has to say of them. He hears them (Psa. 9:12), they enjoy His presence (Isa. 57:15), He delivers them (Job 22:29), exalts them (Luke 14:11; 18:14), gives them more grace (James 4:6), while He resists the proud. Saints are exhorted to put on humility and be clothed with it (a beautiful word, meaning that on whatever side we are approached, humility is seen; 1 Peter 5:5), to walk in humility (Eph. 4:1-2), but to beware of false humility (Col. 2:18,23), which is only pride in disguise.
Nothing, perhaps, shows more the transforming power of the grace of Christ than when a man that was once naturally proud and haughty becomes really meek and lowly in spirit. And nothing tells more strongly of the way in which the letter of truth held apart from the proper display of Christ corrupts, than when we see a humble, quiet person, after coming among Christians, become vain and puffed up. It is a sight, sad to say, not less common than the former.
We plead, then, in closing, that our dear readers will seek to cultivate the two graces of which we have already spoken — unselfishness and humility — and thus make progress in becoming like Christ, putting away from them, as hateful things, the anti-Christian sin of selfishness and the Satanic sin of pride.
But who is sufficient for these things? Thank God, the answer is not far to seek: “Our sufficiency is of God”; the meek will He teach His way. May we look to Him there in all meekness to put upon us more of the grace of Christ and fit us better to become humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Oh, may that mind in us be found,
That shone so bright in Thee —
The humble, meek, and lowly mind
From pride and envy free.”
A. T. Schofield (adapted)
God’s Resources for Living in an Evil World
We are instructed in the rich provision that God has made in order that His people may be preserved and act as becomes the man of God in the last days.
First, we are told that the great safeguard against all that is false is the knowledge of that which is true. Thus the Apostle can say to Timothy, Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, endurance, persecutions, afflictions. There is no necessity to know fully the evil, for we do not escape evil simply by the knowledge of evil. It is by the knowledge of the truth that we can detect that which is false and contrary to the truth and “turn away” from those who pursue it.
Second, the Apostle can appeal to his “manner of life.” His life was wholly consistent with the doctrine that he taught. He proclaimed the heavenly calling of the saints and, in consistency with his doctrine, his manner of life was that of a stranger and a pilgrim whose citizenship is in heaven. It was a life governed by a definite “purpose,” lived by “faith,” exhibiting the character of Christ in all “long-suffering,” “love” and “endurance,” involving “suffering” and “persecution.”
Third, we read of the support of the Lord. To this Paul can witness from his own experience, for, speaking of the sufferings and persecutions that his life involved, he can say, “Out of them all the Lord delivered me.” If we are diligent to know the doctrine, if we are prepared to live a life consistent with the doctrine, we shall realize the support of the Lord.
Fourth, in the presence of evil, the godly will find safety and support by abiding in the things we have learned. Too often believers make no definite stand against error because they are not “fully persuaded” of the truth. In the presence of error, and especially of error mixed with truth, we need to be absolutely assured that the things we have learned are indeed true. Thus the final safeguard against error is trust in the inspiration and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures.
H. Smith
Keep Us, Lord
Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him;
Who can tell how much we owe Him?
Gladly let us render to Him
All we have and are.
Jesus is the name that charms us;
He for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves and nothing harms us
While we trust in Him.
Trust in Him, ye saints, forever;
He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever
Those He loves from Him.
Keep us, Lord, oh keep us cleaving
To Thyself and still believing,
Till the hour of our receiving
Promised joys with Thee.
Then we shall be where we would be;
Then we shall be what we should be;
Things that are not now nor could be
Soon shall be our own.
T. Kelly