The Admonition Against Pride is, perhaps, one of the most recurrent themes within all of those biblical scriptures; yet, it is very seldom ever considered by anyone; and, particularly, from within all of those churches.
In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how every single church that I've ever personally visited among them is ( actually ):
The One And Only True Church and
Those With The Keys To His Kingdom - while, all of those others are just various other forms of:
" Laodicea " and:
" Spiritual Babylon "!
And, yet, every single one of them suffers quite terribly from
The Very Same Spiritual Problem....
Now, let's just consider
The Dictionary Definition of:
" Pride " - and, see, what it has to say:
" 1. an extremely high or inordinate opinion of one's own: Dignity, Importance, Merit, or Superiority - whether, as cherished in the mind; or as being displayed in the bearing, conduct, etc...
2. a feeling of deep pleasure or sense of personal self satisfaction derived from: One's Own Achievements, The Achievements Of Those With Whom One Feels Closely Associated, or From Qualities Or Possessions That Are Widely Admired By Others. "
So, in essence, what these two definitions are ( quite honestly ) telling us is that:
' Those Who Suffer From Pride Are No Longer Capable Of Any New Spiritual Growth, Since They Are Already So Far Above The Rest Of Us Mere Humans '... and, indeed, in their own eyes at least:
They Already Have All Of The Answers and
There Is No Longer Any Room For New Growth.
Which, of course, goes a long way toward explaining why, despite all of those scriptural exhortations otherwise,
They Will Not Calmly Endure Listening To Any Of Us Others!