Leaving Egypt Ministries, Obadiah D. Morris
In the first segment, I try to lay out the basis for a Biblical view of pride as being highly focused on the pride of statism, among both the rulers themselves who believe they have a right to control other men and their patriotic supporters who uphold the ideology behind it. Against the idea that pride is merely about individual narcissism, I argue that pride is much better understood as the ego and arrogance of people who involve themselves with power structures, whether as its administrators or cheerleaders.
In this one I reiterate the points made in the prior article, but address the argument made by many conservatives that Biblical pride is really just about individual pride and not statism, an argument which they use to exempt their idolatry from coming under fire. How convenient that they are able to worship false gods (eg, presidents) while criticizing our rebuke of them as being based in “pride” and lack of humility!
The scriptural references of divine judgment coming against state rulers who are explicitly mentioned as being prideful provides us a great example of establishing the connection between pride and statism, which is obviously there.
If it wasn’t clear that agents of the State and those who support them are what “pride” is all about in the Bible, I make it more specific here who they are: Presidents, police, soldiers, flag-wavers, the fools who shout “back the blue,” etc.
After statism has already been established as the essence of pride, in this piece I show how a major aspect of this pride of the ruling elites who have exalted themselves as “gods” is that they believe they are outside of God’s sovereignty and that judgment will never come upon them. Hence why they make bold attempts to usurp the natural order, thinking there are no consequences for their actions.
Those who have statist pride really show themselves to have an allegiance with the man-made kingdoms of the world, rather than the Lord’s kingdom which is “not of this world.” True Christians are “citizens” of heaven, as the scriptures say; they would never identify as “Americans,” as many foolishly do; this would demonstrate an affiliation with “the world.”
Much like part two, I once again address the incorrect and idolatrous idea that statism is exempt from pride but rather applies to more so to individuals. At the very least, statism must be included in any understanding of pride. But arguably statism is even worse than what most men have watered down “pride” into being.
Here I finish with a word of rebuke against all those men who serve Pharaohs, who are often rather explicit about their pride, eg., “the few, the proud, the Marines.” If men want to avoid the sin of pride, they most definitely have to avoid any association with statism, whether they are rooting for them from the sidelines or, even worse, putting on the boots for them.
Leaving Egypt Ministries 