In my first year as president of Life Action, I have been blessed beyond measure by the humility of the servants who give their lives to this ministry. I often say these days that if the culture of Life Action could somehow be transplanted into every local church, we would have spiritual awakening overnight, because God responds to humble hearts. He “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
At Life Action we believe that six responses to God are key to revival, and humility is right at the top of that list.
That makes pride the enemy of revival. And lately it seems to me that there is a dangerous, prideful arrogance on display among Christians in public ways we may never have seen before.
Social media has created a leadership challenge today that has never been faced in history—the opportunity, and in many cases the pressure, to speak instantly to a wide audience on any subject—at any time, in any way, and as often as we want. Leaders today often feel they are in danger of being perceived as cowards, tone deaf, uninformed, or worse if they don’t share their opinion about every issue.
I believe, however, that this has created a grave danger among the people who claim to be followers of Christ. When we may think we are being “prophetic,” we may simply be prideful.
I almost never see anyone online discuss an issue and then talk about how much they themselves struggle with it. I believe the greatest online need of our day is for leaders who will say, “I am the problem!”
Jonathan Edwards said:
The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment. Pride is the main handle by which he has hold of Christian persons and the chief source of all the mischief that he introduces to clog and hinder a work of God. Spiritual pride is the main spring or at least the main support of all other errors. Until this disease is cured, medicines are applied in vain to heal all other diseases.
I believe he is right. Leaders, let’s pray and discuss this! How do we stay prophetic but hear the prophetic voice of the Spirit about our own sin, our own pride? Isaiah, for instance, spoke strong words of prophecy but also cried out in the temple, Woe is ME!
As I look at most of my own worst leadership mistakes, I am increasingly aware that pride seems to be at the root of all of them.
So would you join me in this prayerful discussion? And understand that, as for me, I may not post about every issue involving injustice … because I am unjust. I may not post about every person who says things they shouldn’t say … because I sense it is often the case with my own words. And I may not post about how unwise people are in their actions … because I am unwise in my own.
In other words, I am the problem.
But I know the answer to the problem. And we can find that answer together. Repentance leads to grace-filled, beautiful, astonishing change. And God is using Life Action to help thousands of people say yes to that change—to God’s call to humility and His gift of revival.
I am the problem. He is the answer. And it’s our joy at Life Action to help that answer come alive across this land.