Why No True
Christian is Proud

Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgement, and misguide the
mind,
What the weak head with strongest bias
rules, Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.
 Alexander Pope, An Essay on Christians

Twas guilt that taught my heart to fear.
And pride my fears relieved;
How precious did that pride appear,
The hour I first believed!
 How The lyrics to "Amazing Grace" are sung at San FranciscoÕs Memorial United Methodist Church

The term, proud Christian, is an oxymoron. While we see the demonpride raise its ugly head in our "old nature," a Christian, by definition, is someone who has recognized that he is powerless to help himself. He has appealed to God for salvation from himself!

The rewritten lyrics of "Amazing Grace" cannot undo the intent of that hymn, which was penned by a man who came to realize his own wretched nature and, in a state of abject despair, appealed to God for deliverancefor a change of nature.

Another perversion of Christian doctrine appears from time to time as a newspaper ad by a local Christian cult: "YOU ARE NOT BORN INTO ORIGINAL SIN, BUT INTO ORIGINAL LOVE!" Of course it is true that we are born as a recipient of God's Free Love, but it is also true that we are born in sin:
"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Ps. 51:5

One can only come to Christ for salvation (which means healing and wholeness) when he or she understands that they are sick and broken. Again,

 The Bible tells us that we can receive the ministry of God only when we are exhausted and finally finished trying to fix ourselves. No amount of "good works" can open the door to God for us. Religion is the attempt by man to please God through the way he lives his life. But the Bible demonstrates that is not possible:

"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." (Col. 2:20-23)
What keeps men and women from finding God is this pride. It is their failure to understand that they are helpless. The real</> words to Amazing Grace say:

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved>br> How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed"</>

We need to stop trying to please God through offerings of good works or self-sacrifice and glory in our weakness, which has been dealt with by the death of Jesus Christ on our behalf. God's mind in this matter is made up:

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Ps. 51:16-17)