Pride and Preachers

by Bruce Reeves

There has been some discussion lately about preachers and jealousy. Brother Tommy Peeler has pointed out that preachers are not the only ones who struggle with jealousy. I knew a man one time that told a gospel preacher that he did not think that it was fair that he had more personal time to study the Bible than he did. All I know to say about that is “Wow!” This discussion got me thinking about the driving forces of jealousy and other fleshly attitudes among preachers and brethren. At the very heart of it is pride. But egotism can manifest itself in a variety of ways.

It is hard to imagine a more significant work than teaching and preaching the gospel of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). Paul wrote, "How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'" (Romans 10:15). When we fully realize that we are serving the blessed Savior our hearts should be filled with reverence and humility before our divine King.

Preachers are Servants

As we preach the gospel it is critical that we appreciate our role as servants of Christ and our brethren. Apparently, due to the carnality in the church at Corinth, there was an unhealthy attitude toward various teachers. Paul encouraged them to be "complete in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10). Some were claiming to be "of Paul," some of "Apollos," and others of "Cephas." Rather than recognizing the importance of the one who had died for them and in whose name they had been baptized (I Corinthians 1:13), the Corinthians were boasting about those who had baptized them (I Corinthians 1:15-17).

As a result of this thinking, Paul addressed their view of their teachers (I Corinthians 3:1-3) and clarifies the role of preachers in the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 3:4-11). Notice Paul's admonition, "For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one" (I Corinthians 13:4-5). As we proclaim the gospel, we must always give glory to God for the opportunity to do good and acknowledge that it is "God who causes growth," not ourselves. There is no room for jealousy and strife among fellow workers (I Corinthians 3:3, 9), but rather we must determine to preach "Christ and Him crucified" so that those who hear us will depend on the "power of God" and not the "wisdom of men" (I Corinthians 2:1-2, 5).

With that said sinful pride can defile any of us and is quite deceptive. There is no greater tool of Satan in destroying faithful preachers of the gospel than through pride, selfishness, and conceit. Paul warned Timothy of these very dangers, "The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (II Timothy 2:24-26). While teachers of God's word should be confident in the Scriptures and zealously proclaim Christ, we must do so with the attitude of Jesus (Philippians 2:5). John warns us that the love of the world entices us through “the desire of the flesh, desire of the eyes, and boastful pride of life" (I John 2:16).

Can One Preach the Truth Wrongly?

There are those who seem to think that if one is speaking the truth nothing else matters. However, Paul encourages the brethren at Ephesus to "preach truth in love" even as the "deceitful scheming" of false teaching is reproved (Ephesians 3:14-15). Paul describes both those who preach the truth sincerely, as well as those who preach Christ out of selfish ambition, envy, and strife (Philippians 1:15-18). He is not describing Judaizers whom he later depicts as "dogs," "evil workers," and "enemies of the cross" (Philippians 3:2, 18), but rather he is describing those who are teaching the truth about Christ with the wrong motives. Paul could rejoice that they were preaching Christ and commit the final judgment to God regarding their motives.

What this does show us, however, is that pride can enter the hearts even of those who are teaching the truth of the gospel. Even when we are defending the hope of Christ we must do so with "meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15).

What Does Pride Look Like In Preachers?

One red flag of pride in preachers is that of self-promotion.

When our goal is the advancement of our own personal agenda, notoriety, and objectives, rather than the advancement of the message of the gospel and the wellbeing of God's people then there is a definite problem in our thinking. One of the great contrasts between the apostle Paul and the false teachers in Corinth was their motive for teaching. For instance, Paul's boasting was not in himself, but in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 10:1-6, 17; 11:13-14; 12:1-10). Likewise, in Galatians Paul describes the fleshly boasting of the Judaizing teachers who were troubling the brethren (Galatians 1:6-9; 5:7-15; 6:12-14). If our work is designed to gain a following more than it is to bring people closer to Christ, if our teaching is intended to receive the fulfillment of our egotism, rather than to glorify God, or if we are more concerned about people supporting us than the truth then there should be a serious concern about our perspective of what it means to preach the gospel.

Pride can lead to sin

Another sign of pride in our lives as preachers is the thought that our "sins" are more defensible than the sins of others.

We too must constantly examine our hearts and confess our sins (I John 1:9). Satan has destroyed many a preacher's influence because of immorality. As gospel preachers, we must exercise constant diligence to resist the wicked one. We should never think, "Well, that could never happen to me." Paul warns us all to "take heed lest you fall" (I Corinthians 10:12-13). Pride has led preachers to move from offering counseling and instruction to engaging in extra-marital affairs, consuming pornography, embracing doctrinal error, and maliciously slandering their own brethren, including their fellow laborers in the gospel. Pride has led men to neglect their own wives and children because after all they are "preaching the gospel." Yet, the gospel calls us all to love our wives and children, to love our brothers and sisters, and to glorify our Creator through sanctified lives (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Ephesians 5:22-33; I Peter 1:22).

Pride can lead to doctrinal error

Pride can also be seen in those who depart from clear biblical truth to absurdly unbiblical teachings because they have allowed bitterness and a carnal desire for notoriety to fill their hearts. Our objective must always be to teach the truth "in season and out of season" out of our love for our God (II Timothy 4:1-6). Many have condescended to and dismissed faithful and sacrificial brothers and sisters from the past because of egotism to only follow the steps of those who have advocated divisive and unbiblical teachings.

Pride can cause us to become paranoid about the motives of others

In other words, although jealousy is a problem, we have all seen it before – We must always be concerned about the danger and deception of pride in our own hearts (I John 2:15-17). We could begin to believe that anyone who offers constructive critique or expresses concern about our teaching must be “jealous” or “envious.” Of course, we know better than that or Peter would not have listened to Paul (Galatians 2), or the overtaken brother will not listen to the spiritual believer helping him (Galatians 6:1-2). The pattern of conduct can be quite revealing. Is this a person that has demonstrated a pattern of conduct of serving the Lord faithfully? Do they love and support me in doing good? Perhaps there are those who seem to be envious of others – but that doesn’t mean I should jump to that conclusion about brothers who are genuinely concerned for me. “The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).

Let us realize as gospel preachers that we must pursue our Lord zealously, love His word passionately, and share His heart with our families, our brethren, and the lost. Pride is our enemy, but grace leads us to humility. "But He gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:6-7, 10). Great good comes when we preach the truth in love with humility!