Pride: “it spreadeth, marreth, and corrupteth all”
May 17, 2008 by Donald John MacLeanOne of the greatest dangers of the Christian life, according to James Durham (and scripture!) is pride. One of his exhortations on the danger of pride particularly stuck home with me:
What an evil thing pride is, especially when it entereth among Churchmen: Oh how evil a thing it is! it is the inlet of all confusion, it openeth a door to it and every evil work, and hath a special hand in overturning whatsoever is beautiful in a Church, James 3.14, 16 … The more eminent folks be in place or power, they are sooner kindled with the fire of pride; the higher men’s places be, they are the readier to grow proud … men of gifts sooner than others, they have fuel to the fire that others do want … they being eminently and highly planted, pride hath the more matter to work upon … it is a rare thing to be eminent and humble; to be great and in prosperity, and yet to be lowly: prosperity and gifts are a snare to many … Pride is especially incident to Church-men … It is a great plague and judgement, and bringeth great hurt to the Church: when this fire of pride and contention entereth and kindleth among the Officers of the Church it spreadeth, marreth, and corrupteth all … This should make us all respect unity and peace in the Church, and watch against pride and contention that marreth it.
A Commentary on Revelation, (rept. Old Paths, 2000), 544-5.
What it particularly significant in the above is Durham’s emphasis on the damage pride does, not only to individuals but also to the body of believers. Where pride comes in “whatsoever is beautiful in a Church” is overturned and contention and disuinty follow. Durham himself had personal experience of this. He lived to see the Church in Scotland tear itself apart in the Protester/Resolutioner controversy with men of the caliber of Samuel Rutherford and David Dickson alienated from one another. This was a cause of immense grief to Durham, so much so that his dying hours were spend dictating a final plea for unity “The Dying Man’s Testament to the Church of Scotland or, A treatise Concerning Scandal”. From the above I think we can be sure Durham saw pride was at the root of the division.
Pride is a horrible thing, it has destroyed individual Christian testimonies, congregations and denominations. It is surely the duty of ever Christian to do everything in their power, looking to him who works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, to put it to death in their hearts and esteem themselves “less than the least of all saints”.
Patrick Fairbairn was probably the best exegete the Free Church of Scotland produced. Sinclair Ferguson says that he “was one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of brilliant biblical theologians in nineteenth century Scotland.” His works on The Interpretation of Prophecy,