Pride and Faith

September 8, 2002

 

  1. Introduction
    1. 2nd sermon in a 8-week series Dan and I are preaching on Sin & Virtue    [19]
    2. This type of a topical sermon is really an open door.
    3. I struggled to define the topic, as both of these subjects could fill volumes.
      I wrote and destroyed more paragraphs than I care to remember.

                                                               i.      On the relationship between the pride of Satan and the alliance with Eve

                                                             ii.      On the nature of faith, and how it spring from facts, history, relationships, the call of God and the surrender of the heart.

                                                            iii.      Seriously, my minds races on in front of me regarding topics that fall under these headings.

                                                           iv.      So, please understand these will extremely focused discussions of Sin and Virtue, and in this case of Pride and Faith. All in the interest of time and your sanity.

    1. Pride and Faith   [20]

                                                               i.      Not necessarily opposing values. Rather we are handling two lists in parallel.
We will attempt to find some common ground where the two intersect.

                                                             ii.      Hopefully this attempt does not overly damage my pride and challenge your faith.

  1. Prayer
  2. Critical Axis   [21]
    1. I want to lay this particular Sin and Virtue onto a familiar grid
    2. The first axis is our relationship with God
    3. The second is our relationship with others
    4. It is easy to remember, as it forms a cross
  3. Pride Axis X– Perverted Truth
    1. The Father crowned his creation with Humans  Genesis 1:26   [22]
    2. To them alone did he impart his own attributes
    3. For the Love of us, the Holy Godhead was fractured and the Son came to die as a human!
    4. To those he saves, he does not offer allowable servitude, but rather adoption as a full child!
    5. It is a ridiculous position of dignity!

                                                              i.      Look into the sky at night. Let me tell you what you see…

1.      Mostly you see the stars of the Orion Arm of our Galaxy the Milky Way.   [23]

a.      A medium-sized radial galaxy made up of billions of stars spinning around a galactic mass that is swallowing everything including light so fast that its make make-up is largely a mystery.

b.      Our local group, which includes the nearest Galaxy is 2 million light years across

c.       Our local group fits inside our super cluster, centered on the Virgo cluster is some 150 million light years across and includes millions of galaxies.

d.      That Super cluster in merely one of known thousands including more than One Hundred Billion Galaxies, all counting hundreds of billions of stars. Spaced ridiculously far apart.   [24]

e.      Around one medium sized star in a medium galaxy spin nine planets. On which on one of the smaller, live billions of people, of which you are one.




                                                            ii.      If even for a moment you can grasp the shear magnitude of this creation you will shrink down, and into that hole that is “your entirely occupying world” will come crashing the terrible reality that in the scale of things you are completely insignificant.

1.      For a real thrill… hold in that same moment the preceding truths. He has crowned all of this with you.  These stars and galaxies he would crush without concern, but to save you he would rupture the harmony of the Holy Godhead and come to die as a created thing.

2.      If you have any feeling in you, this moment will inspire piercing joy and almost intolerable gratitude.

a.      The Psalmist struck with the same reality says in Psalm 8:3-9

    1. Here in lies the TRUTH of human dignity and self-esteem

                                                              i.      Of our own we are nothing, but by the manifest sovereignty of God we are only short of divine

    1. Unfortunately, this sweet pride has been twisted and perverted into    [25]
      inordinate self-esteem,  egoism, self-glory, self-importance, self-opinion, self-pride, and vainglory.

                                                               i.      Alas, from the very beginning exalted position has been at risk of self-pride

1.      In Lucifer, the shining pinnacle of his order of creation

a.       Could not serve humans. Christ Yes, humans NO

2.      In the King of Tyre accounted in Ezekiel 28

a.       His vainglory was accounted to him as being birthed in humans back to Eden itself

                                                             ii.      We live in a culture unswervingly dedicated to themselves, awash in FAKE PRIDE, a CHEAP COUNTERFEIT of genuine human dignity.   [26]

1.      Self –Esteem, by virtue of self is the ruling philosophy

2.      Apparently insufficient pride, and not 10-hours of television a day is why our children cannot succeed in school

a.       They recently discovered that having children repeat a mantra of self-esteem does not actually give them any!  Wow, really?  It only seemed to engender unrealistic entitlement among children. Only children forced to accomplish something difficult appeared to gain any self-esteem.

3.      Swelling pride in location, occupation, and possessions continue to fracture humans along lines of race and economic status.

4.      Ironically, we are the wealthiest most privileged people on the globe. Even our broken can seek help!

a.       Few of us know what it is like to be without hope or esteem. Many of us have faced adversity, but few hopelessness

                                                                                                                                       i.      Slavery

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Abject poverty

                                                                                                                                  iii.      If we face any harm in life we sue!

    1. Self-Esteem is not the problem. Pride derived from self-glory is the problem. Esteem that comes from understanding your position in the creator is what dignifies humanity   [27]

                                                               i.      Surely there is “good” pride

1.      Pride in your children

2.      Pride in a job well done

3.      Pride of service or affiliation

4.      Paul’s pride in the churches he established

a.       Romans 15, and II Corinthians 1, 5

5.      All prides derived in humility and to the glory of God

  1. Pride, Axis Y – Spiritual Arrogance   [28]
    1. The next axis portrays our relationship with one another, and I have already begun to hint at the many ways the secondary relationship is affected by the disruption of the first.
    2. Spiritual Arrogance   [29]

                                                              i.      If you will allow me the soap-box, I would talk for a moment about the church I love, and of which I am the lowest member.

                                                            ii.      Because we love the church we notice its shortcomings

                                                          iii.      Afflicted with this disease of spiritual arrogance

1.      Jesus does an excellent job of portraying the problem in Matthew 7

a.      The Sawdust and the Log

2.      As a “professional” Christian I am daily acquainted with the problem

a.      Emails and phone calls that begin with the presupposition that I have done something evil, and they are going to correct me!

                                                                                                                                      i.      Students who we get –up to serve everyday are fine examples of this arrogance.

1.      I know I was one!

2.      For goodness sake I DO THIS JOB FOR YOU!

b.      I see it from brothers and sisters in the family of God all the time

                                                                                                                                      i.      Sometimes rather harshly impugning the judgment of the other

c.       We must resist this temptation!  For heavens sake receive if you will Jesus’ warning that you will be judged in the same way.

  1. Faith – An Antidote   [30]
    1. Applied to the same Grid

                                                               i.      We must exercise faith in this regard

1.      Suffering is a bit relative. While few of us know the pain that some others have faced, we all know pain, self-loathing and despair. In that moment we have but a single claim of hope. FAITH, that we do have WORTH in the name of Jesus.

    1. Axis X - To the broken and marginalized, to the hopelessly abused and disappointed.
      Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only place that dignity and understanding of self is found.

                                                               i.      A time will come in your life when all you will have is your faith. Everyone around you, including yourself will have let you down, and FAITH will rescue you from despair. FAITH that you do matter; you are indeed loved and valued.

    1. Axis Y - To your brothers and sisters in Christ extend FAITH in their redemption!  Apply faith to their judgment. Do not begin by assuming the worst, but rather believe that God is as able to guide them as well as he guides you!  I know it’s remarkable, but it is true!
    2. Faith in relationship with God, and faith in relationship with others.
  1. The Grid Simplified   [31]
    1. Axis X

                                                               i.      Have only PRIDE that begins in aching humility, and do not accept sin’s self serving substitute

                                                             ii.      Do not let despair and self-loathing rule in your heart. Have FAITH in this truth-you are a cherished creation, loved freely and incomprehensibly by the creator of everything.

    1. Axis Y

                                                               i.      Spurn Spiritual Arrogance that finds specks in others eyes, for your PRIDE is like a plank in yours

                                                             ii.      Have FAITH in the concurrent redemption and judgment of your fellow believers.

  1. Prayer