Christians and non - to what extent is pride a sin/wrong?

Question

Christians: is pride always a sin? Is it ever justified? Is all pride the same...pride in yourself, pride in your children, pride in your faith, pride in your country?

Or if you don't believe in "sin," to what extent is pride okay, and when does it cross the line into being obnoxious...even wrong?

Answer 1

In my beliefs, ANYTHING that harms yourself or others is a bad thing.

Pride can only be a bad thing if it starts to negatively affect you and others.

The key is balance. You need to have some kind of self pride to get up and face yourself in the mirror everyday and try to work at life and make your life better.

You need to have pride in yourself so you do not allow yourself to be abused or taken for a ride.

You need to have pride in your work, in your family etc.

But when pride becomes hubris, stubborness, racism, elitism etc. then it becomes a problem

Answer 2

I think pride in the form of self-importance isn't healthy because it blinds you to making improvements.

Consider "proud to be an American." Sometimes when I mention what other countries are doing right, I get written off as "unpatriotic." The retort to mentioning anything wrong with the United States is too often, "Lalala, America is the greatest country in the world, lalala."

To that extent, pride does come before the fall, because it blinds you to the achievements of others that could eclipse your own.

But I think there's another meaning to the word "pride" that isn't wrong. Self-confidence and self-absorption aren't the same thing.

Answer 3

there are different forms of pride- pride in your work, or in your appearance for example is fine because it just means caring for things- it's when pride seperates you from other people- when pride blends with arrogance in otherwords and you think that you're better than everyone else that it becomes a problem.

on the other hand pride in somthing like... your country can lead to prejudice on the grounds that because of this... pride you always think your country/religion is correct and is infallible- this is also bad btu just WANTING your country to be the best; even thinking it is so long as you don't take it to the rediculous degree of believeing your view to be infallible is fine.

Answer 4

The god of Abraham sometimes rewards pride and sometimes punishes it. Maybe a better word for the SIN of pride would be "hubris".

Different attitudes are needed in different social situations. Humble is appropriate to a low resource cooperative situation. It is, also, appropriate to a large group of followers/workers.

Prideful (even boastful) is appropriate in a prosperous competitive situation (often where labor is limited and people need to be won over). It is, also, appropriate (to a point) in a leader.

Answer 5

We can and should be proud of many things. Pride is only sinful when it points to self as the source of the pride.

Answer 6

Hi, Rachel.

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis calls pride the great sin. The essence of pride is thinking you are better then others. Lewis says, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you." The essential Christian act of repentance is the opposite of pride--it is saying God is infinitely better than me, and I am his humble servant. When we take this attitude, God can give us himself, and make us happy now and forever.

When we say we are proud of our children, faith, or country, we are expressing our admiration for them. This is not the sin of pride, because we are not saying we are better than others. To admire our children, faith, or country, we have to have enough humility to say that something outside ourselves is good.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 7

Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Refusing to admit sin and acknowledging that in our own strength we cannot do anything to inherit eternal life has been a stumbling block for prideful people. We are not to boast about ourselves, but if we want to boast, then we are to proclaim the glories of God. What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work. It’s what God says about you that makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13).

Why is pride so sinful? Pride is giving yourself the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and giving it to yourself. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us. That is why we give God the glory...for He alone deserves it.

Answer 8

Pride as a form of self esteem is a good thing. It's feeling good about doing the right thing. But pride swelling up with selfishness is a bad thing. It's wilfull, wants what it wants above what is right and true and good. It's hypnotic and removes a person from the reality of their lives, which is humility.

Answer 9

My perspective (Christian) is that pride is always a sin. Pride means that you take the credit for the positive things that happen in your life. A Christian should give the credit to God for all the blessings. If I'm proud of my job, aren't I discrediting God's hand in giving me the brain, hands, whatever that allows me to do it? If I take credit for how wonderful my child is, aren't I discounting God's role in creating him and in helping me to raise him to be something deserving of pride.

Answer 10

Some pride is necessary to maintain self esteem. I think pride becomes a problem when it prevents someone from admitting he or she is wrong or when it causes someone to abuse others. For example, many parents shame their kids if they aren't making the best grades or aren't the star of the team.