Pride: good self-image vs. arrogance

[JackVk]

I’ve been having trouble defining this whole thing about pride as a sin. I can’t determine if I would fall under that category for feeling good about myself, because I believe I have a lot going for me.

This is what other people have said about me: I’m attractive, smart, friendly, I have a strong faith, and that I am a “good person”. Naturally, this makes me happy, but I don’t see myself as some all-holy white knight. I keep it in perspective, knowing that I don’t even compare to God.

So my question is: is it immoral to think of yourself as a “good person” based on what someone said about you? Does that fall under the umbrella of “Pride”?

 

[The_Scott]

From what I believe, “pride” is an excessive-amount of “feeling good” about yourself. Of course, having self-esteem is alright. And I believe that is where you fall into.

But those who essentially worship their own flesh is what I would put into the Cardinal Sin of Pride. Tattoos everywhere; implants; plastic surgery. If all those actions are to “show off” (i.e. breast implants to attract more of men’s attention), then it would be a sin.

You’re fine, as long as it isn’t excessive and doesn’t border on (what I call) “self-body-worship.”

 

[LegoGE1947]

From what I believe, “pride” is an excessive-amount of “feeling good” about yourself. Of course, having self-esteem is alright. And I believe that is where you fall into.

But those who essentially worship their own flesh is what I would put into the Cardinal Sin of Pride. Tattoos everywhere; implants; plastic surgery. If all those actions are to “show off” (i.e. breast implants to attract more of men’s attention), then it would be a sin.

You’re fine, as long as it isn’t excessive and doesn’t border on (what I call) “self-body-worship.”

I don’t see where having a tatoo is such a great thing. To me putting a tatoo on the human body (God’s creation) is like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa!

 

[The_Scott]

I don’t see where having a tatoo is such a great thing. To me putting a tatoo on the human body (God’s creation) is like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa!

I agree. Especially those who have them literally everywhere!

 

[edwest2]

What is self-image? It is a comparison between yourself and some standard.

Physical beauty can be a problem. It can simply exist or it can be used to manipulate others.

Arrogance occurs when the gifts God has given you make you believe that you are somehow better than others. Love your neighbor as yourself and don’t shun the one who is poor and wearing filthy clothes because he is homeless. That is Jesus standing on that street corner.

The Bible tells us not to think more of yourself than you are.

The next time you feel you are the best or brightest or most beautiful, humble yourself before God and thank Him for what he has given you. Beauty is not a sin and the same for talent or ability, so enjoy what you have but do not present yourself as better than others. Men and women with humility often find themselves getting better praise than those who are arrogant. More importantly, God resists the proud.

God bless,
Ed

 

[LilyM]

What is self-image? It is a comparison between yourself and some standard.

Physical beauty can be a problem. It can simply exist or it can be used to manipulate others.

Arrogance occurs when the gifts God has given you make you believe that you are somehow better than others. Love your neighbor as yourself and don’t shun the one who is poor and wearing filthy clothes because he is homeless. That is Jesus standing on that street corner.

The Bible tells us not to think more of yourself than you are.

The next time you feel you are the best or brightest or most beautiful, humble yourself before God and thank Him for what he has given you. Beauty is not a sin and the same for talent or ability, so enjoy what you have but do not present yourself as better than others. Men and women with humility often find themselves getting better praise than those who are arrogant. More importantly, God resists the proud.

God bless,
Ed

Sounds about right. Nothing wrong with acknowledging the good things you have, but make sure every time you start feeling good about them to remember that GOD gave them to you and thank Him.

Rather than feeling superior and (say) pitying those who don’t look as good or who aren’t quite as smart, or who are a bit more socially awkward. Because sure as eggs they probably have other talents and gifts that you don’t.

 

[awatkins69]

Better to acknowledge our sin and sinfulness, and know that whatever is meritorious in us comes from God’s grace. However, we must also acknowledge when we are doing better, so that we can use those same methods to continue to grow.

 

[ab75]

I’ve been having trouble defining this whole thing about pride as a sin. I can’t determine if I would fall under that category for feeling good about myself, because I believe I have a lot going for me.

This is what other people have said about me: I’m attractive, smart, friendly, I have a strong faith, and that I am a “good person”. Naturally, this makes me happy, but I don’t see myself as some all-holy white knight. I keep it in perspective, knowing that I don’t even compare to God.

So my question is: is it immoral to think of yourself as a “good person” based on what someone said about you? Does that fall under the umbrella of “Pride”?

Pride is feeling your better than others. It is good to have pride in your abilities, bad to feel superior because of that.

 

[JackVk]

What is self-image? It is a comparison between yourself and some standard.

Physical beauty can be a problem. It can simply exist or it can be used to manipulate others.

Arrogance occurs when the gifts God has given you make you believe that you are somehow better than others. Love your neighbor as yourself and don’t shun the one who is poor and wearing filthy clothes because he is homeless. That is Jesus standing on that street corner.

The Bible tells us not to think more of yourself than you are.

The next time you feel you are the best or brightest or most beautiful, humble yourself before God and thank Him for what he has given you. Beauty is not a sin and the same for talent or ability, so enjoy what you have but do not present yourself as better than others. Men and women with humility often find themselves getting better praise than those who are arrogant. More importantly, God resists the proud.

God bless,
Ed

I don’t really think of myself as a higher being than other people. Matter of fact, I don’t think of myself all that much. I consider myself fairly humble; I’m kinda shy, don’t like to show off, I don’t spend hours staring at myself in the mirror, and I know that God has blessed me with physical, mental, and spiritual gifts, so I acknowledge those and go about my daily business.

 

[GratefulFred]

So my question is: is it immoral to think of yourself as a “good person” based on what someone said about you? Does that fall under the umbrella of “Pride”?

If they are lying and you are buying into the lie, you may have a problem. If they are telling you the truth, I don’t see any problem. Your conscience, presuming it is rightly formed, informs you about the truth versus a lie.

Being a ‘good person’ is not equal to be perfect. You seem to have that well understood. So I don’t think your awareness is sinful.

The command to love one another includes, I think, the effort to encourage one another on the proper path. Feedback is important, whether it be positive or negative.

More importantly, is USING the talents God has given us to best of our ability. To whom more is given, more is expected. We are called to serve not to be served. We should not rest on our laurels but rather use the respect we are given to do more good in this world for the love of others and for the love of God.

 

[JackVk]

If they are lying and you are buying into the lie, you may have a problem. If they are telling you the truth, I don’t see any problem. Your conscience, presuming it is rightly formed, informs you about the truth versus a lie.

Being a ‘good person’ is not equal to be perfect. You seem to have that well understood. So I don’t think your awareness is sinful.

The command to love one another includes, I think, the effort to encourage one another on the proper path. Feedback is important, whether it be positive or negative.

More importantly, is USING the talents God has given us to best of our ability. To whom more is given, more is expected. We are called to serve not to be served. We should not rest on our laurels but rather use the respect we are given to do more good in this world for the love of others and for the love of God.

the people who have told me this are good Christians, so I’m assuming they are telling the truth.

About serving: this can be little stuff, can’t it? I like being polite to people; when I’m a guest at someone’s house or gathering, I always say “please” and “thank you”. I always tell the clerk to have a nice day.

Of course, I also do things for God: community service, ushering at Mass, and I’m leading a prayer at my youth group tonight. I know God wants us to go out into the world and do works in His name, not just sit around and pray. James 2:20 “Faith without Works is dead”.

 

[GratefulFred]

Sounds like you are well within the center of the path we try to travel when we choose to follow Christ.

The smallest service done with the greatest love is, I think, more pleasing to Christ than the largest or longest service done without any love, or done just out of a sense of duty, or worse done just to be seen doing it.

The question is, I think, WHY? Why do we do what we do?

The best answer, I think, is we do what we do out a sense of pure love of Christ and pure love of others. We see Christ in others and want to serve them. We serve them as if we were Christ Himself serving those He loves.

Pure love is extremely hard to attain and maintain during our lifetime. So we try the best we can and are grateful for the opportunity and humble in our efforts and successes in serving. Being appreciated by others sustains us. We are human and positive feedback matters to us.

But, in the end, it is all about the love we try to share in our service to others whether that service is large or small, short or long.

Just one follower’s view.

 

[JackVk]

Sounds like you are well within the center of the path we try to travel when we choose to follow Christ.

The smallest service done with the greatest love is, I think, more pleasing to Christ than the largest or longest service done without any love, or done just out of a sense of duty, or worse done just to be seen doing it.

The question is, I think, WHY? Why do we do what we do?

The best answer, I think, is we do what we do out a sense of pure love of Christ and pure love of others. We see Christ in others and want to serve them. We serve them as if we were Christ Himself serving those He loves.

Pure love is extremely hard to attain and maintain during our lifetime. So we try the best we can and are grateful for the opportunity and humble in our efforts and successes in serving. Being appreciated by others sustains us. We are human and positive feedback matters to us.

But, in the end, it is all about the love we try to share in our service to others whether that service is large or small, short or long.

Just one follower’s view.

The reason why we still worship and continue to try to follow Christ is because we can’t get lazy in our faith. We have to stick with it till our final breath. If we don’t, then we turn into Once Saved Always Saved Christians

 

[JA25]

I don’t think it’s wrong to think positively about yourself. It’s good to have some self-confidence. However, it’s not good to go around boasting. As long as you keep things in persepective, you should be fine.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

I’ve been having trouble defining this whole thing about pride as a sin. I can’t determine if I would fall under that category for feeling good about myself, because I believe I have a lot going for me.

This is what other people have said about me: I’m attractive, smart, friendly, I have a strong faith, and that I am a “good person”. Naturally, this makes me happy, but I don’t see myself as some all-holy white knight. I keep it in perspective, knowing that I don’t even compare to God.

So my question is: is it immoral to think of yourself as a “good person” based on what someone said about you? Does that fall under the umbrella of “Pride”?

Pride means that you see yourself as being better than you really are. If God has given you the gifts you list above, then it would be wrong to not recognize those gifts and be thankful for them. On the other hand, you should try to be fair about it, in that you have to also be able to see those gifts in other people, and to accept it when someone else is better than you.

Pride could also mean that you give yourself credit for your gifts, instead of God. If you are such a good person, and attractive person, you owe those things to God. To take the credit for it yourself is pride.