“Hidden pride is cunning and difficult because the conversation takes place in the chambers of the human heart, where there is no accountability. No mirror. No evidence to speak of. . . . So we have to be brave enough to explore our hearts, be honest about what’s there, and address it. It requires immense vulnerability and courage.”- Joel Muddamalle
“Pride is often a form of entitlement. It’s elation without gratitude or acknowledgement of God.”- Dr. Allison Cook
As Joel Muddamalle moves on in Chapter 6 of The Hidden Peace, he reiterates the danger of hidden pride. Because it’s out of sight in the heart, buried deep. Certainly, it’s natural to feel elated or dejected. But when we take those emotions to extremes, the potential for harm exists.
Most significantly, Joel cautions, hidden pride can strike anyone, anywhere. Hence, we need to cultivate an awareness of how such pride hits us and the symptoms it causes. That creates the opportunity to choose honest. Instead of keeping it hidden.
Therefore, the soil of humility provides the perfect place for the fruit of the Spirit to grow, be nurtured, and mature. However, Joel explains what occurs when we plant pride in the soil of humility. he writes:
“One reason pride is so dangerous is that it has the ability to twist godly virtues into deadly, self-serving ones. On the outside it may look like we are living out the fruit of the Spirit, but on the inside, we are leveraging it to meet our own selfish ambition and vain conceit. . . .
Pride distorts our vision, it corrupts our thoughts and desires, and it ultimately leads us to full-blown idolatry. Friend, where idolatry is present, peace is poisoned. . . . What is the best way to protect ourselves from such a danger? Study it, understand it, outplay it.”
In conclusion, Dietrich von Hildebrand, a German philosopher and theologian who resisted the Nazis, once defined pride as the primal sin. Because pride contaminates us on the inside. As a result, Hildebrand stated, “pride robs every virtue of its value before God.”
Today’s question: How does the cunning and difficult nature of hidden pride play out in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Elevate ourselves to be like God?”