Ahh, The Pride...

There is a sin that never sleeps. A worm that gnaws at the root of true piety. A sneaky demon that was born with us and that only death or grace can kill — pride

He who, even though he speaks in God’s name, lives as though he has no Father.

Pride is the virtue of the orphan who believes he is more worthy, more mature, more effective, more intelligent, and more perceptive than the Bride of Christ. Deep down, he believes he is more powerful than God Himself. Pride convinces him that he is above correction, above communion, above the cross. And thus, he isolates himself, inflames himself, and exalts himself.

The pulpit, once the sacred throne of the Word, has given way to platforms where theologies chewed up in TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube videos are transformed into catchy phrases, thrown into posts and empty debates in live streams. Content that should edify the Body is manipulated for self-promotion, accusation, and vainglory — all carefully calculated, shareable, and monetizable. “Share, comment, save, follow me.” This is the new call to conversion.

And many times, we make room in our “ministerial” agenda for meetings that mix lambs and wolves, disguised as communion, but driven by networking and personal interests. There is a fine line — almost invisible — between an assembly of brothers and a gathering of self-promoters. There, they promote “my books,” “my school,” “my agenda,” “my words,” “my branding.” What should be service becomes a showcase. Events are produced with GREEN-rooms, full of scripts and structures more akin to Hollywood than the early church of Acts. Ministry, sadly, becomes a market.

All of this is often sustained not by the Spirit, but by flattery — the very thing Spurgeon described so well:

“Flattery is the sweetest delicacy to the taste of the proud man. Not only does he accept it — he desires it. And, upon receiving it, he is not satisfied: he asks for more.”

But what is this sweetness, if not the prelude to vomit? For the one who seeks applause in God’s name is, in fact, seeking applause in his own name.

Flattery is swallowing your own vomit. It does not edify — it sickens. It is a poison disguised as the taste of honey. It makes man forget God and fall in love with himself.

And so, he neglects his family. Forgets the local church. Sacrifices the common life — the sacred ground of existence — all in the name of a “calling” that, in reality, hides a concealed hunger for recognition. The family becomes an obstacle. The home, a secondary detail. Discipleship, a too high demand due to lack of time, because what is at stake is “the calling.” After all, to the proud heart, the world will always be too small for his own glory.

Spurgeon also said:

“Pride is as natural to the human being as breathing. You can no more try to convince a cat to despise milk than you can try to make a proud man reject flattery.”

Ah, Lord… how this confronts us!

How easy it is to confuse visibility with influence, and relevance with approval. The cross, which should crucify us, turns into a springboard. But what begins with applause ends with judgment. What begins with glory ends in emptiness. He who used the cross as a step will discover that it was, in fact, the rope of his fall.

The day will come. The cup of the Lord’s fury, which the prophets announced, is full. And what will become of us, if we have exchanged the glory of God for that of men? If we have used the name of Christ to build our own name?

We will drink from the cup.

And on that day, there will be no editor who can erase, no follower who will defend, no influence that will save. Fame will be dust. Numbers will not weigh on the scale. The lights will go out. And only the truth will remain before the Just Judge.

Repent, O man and woman of God.

Return to your family. Love your children. Serve your local church with humility. Step down from the stage. Tear up your agenda. Throw your crown at the feet of the One who was crowned with thorns.

Remember: He emptied Himself — and you want to be filled? He humbled Himself — and you want to be exalted? He remained silent — and you want to be heard?

Let us weep for this pride. Like David, let us pray:

“Lord, deliver me from secret sins!”

May God make us despise fleeting glory and satisfy us with the privilege of being small before His greatness.

And while there is still time, with fear and reverence, let us bend our knees and say:

“Lord… do not allow us to even be a drop in that dry cup.”