Confidence or Pride?

 

What is the difference between pride and confidence? How can you develop confidence without pride? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1273). 

Nerd defined:

An intelligent but single-minded expert in a particular technical field or profession (WordWeb Pro).

: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits (Merriam-Webster).

I think most parents want a child who has at least one aspect of the nerd; namely, a child with some remarkable talent or proficiency. On the other hand, they clearly would prefer the child not suffer from a chronic, neurotic sense of broadly based ineptitudes. Good parents do their best to instill in the child a self-confidence that has broad applicability and helps build a generalized can-do attitude when facing challenges from a vast array of unpredictable sources. Therefore when I speak of confidence, I am not referring to that based upon a narrow, specialized expertise. It is obvious that an Olympic swimmer will have more confidence in their swimming ability than someone who considers dog paddling 3 feet a major accomplishment.

Now a generalized sense of confidence might seem to hazard the danger of overconfidence or, to put it another way, of an inordinate amount of overweening pride. The essential difference between confidence and pride is that confidence allows us to welcome any challenge with humility. Thus, I realistically compare the challenge presented with my skill set. If it is outside that set, I undergo no psychological gymnastics, but gladly take the problem to someone who does have the ability to take care of the problem. I don’t flagellate myself for not having universal expertise. Pride, on the other hand, lacks this essential humility. It always demands expertise in all matters. To put it another way, confidence allows for a sense of equality. I am on a level playing field when it comes to the initial stages of problem solution. Thus, I am free to objectively assess all matters to determine whether I can positively contribute to the solution of the challenge. I have unabashed certitude that I can make this assessment objectively and with humility and will have the psychological freedom to turn the challenge over to others when necessary. Pride, on the other hand, straps its victim down with a curse of closed-minded superiority—I am not only equal with others, I am always superior to others in all matters. Thus, confidence is followed by problem resolution, and pride is followed by implacable problem escalation.

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My Daddy – A Man of Power

Ed Standifer with sons Wayne (8 1/2) and Bobby (13 )
Lake Junaluska, NC (1952)

To what extent does money equal power in the world today? As much as in Amos’ day or more? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1272).

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV).

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

I believe [the above two Bible texts] encapsulate the essence of Christianity. (Through the Year with Jimmy Carter, page 188).

Grateful within the family of man, he prayed for individuals’ care. (My father’s epitaph).

We only had to be subjected to the past election season here in America (to elect our nation’s president) to understand the extent to which the belief in the power of money is implanted within our society. The hearts and minds of the American people could be purchased (it was devoutly believed) with millions, even billions of dollars spent on unrelenting propaganda. As the saying goes, in America we have accepted in principle the power and rectitude of money in politics; all we have left to do is dicker over the price.

Many of us are severe skeptics regarding the power of money. My father as a Methodist minister was embellished with very few dollars. But I learned a lesson from him that I will never forget. He believed adamantly in the essence of Christianity as described above. In neither text encapsulating his steadfast belief is money ever mentioned. Real power has to do with the hearts and minds of people when they are gifted with simplicity and truth. My father was one of the most humble men I ever knew – and also one of the most powerfully persuasive. Daddy was a power to be reckoned with because he believed John 3:16 and he lived Ephesians 4:32.

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God's Vineyard on Planet Earth

For Amos, the way we treat the needy is the area by which we are judged. What is the Christian church doing for the needy? To what extent do you get involved in trying to alleviate poverty and oppression? Why don’t you do more: (a) Selfishness? (b) Ignorance? (c) Politics? (d) Caught up in “church work”? Other? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1270). 

Charity defined:

An institution set up to provide help to the needy:

A kindly and lenient attitude toward people (WordWeb Pro)

a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor c : public provision for the relief of the needy:

benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity (Merriam-Webster)

Mankind has attempted throughout its history to address the problem of poverty through charity. Certainly one of the clearest calls in the Old Testament is for aid to the poor and suffering. A central ministry of Jesus was for the downtrodden. In our time there are numerous organizations that seek to alleviate suffering. Through all human history the problem of poverty has plagued us and refuses to go away. There is great precedence for poverty. 

As indeed there was great precedence for slavery. No doubt one of the strongest arguments for the continuance of slavery was that it had always existed. Therefore, all must jump in toto upon the bandwagon of precedence and acquiesce servilely to the ongoing and surely eternal slave-friendly status quo - QED. No doubt there were Christian slave owners who prided themselves in the charity they showed their slaves – so long as they – the slave owner – could clearly remain in the driver’s seat. In fact this is one troubling aspect of charity – it puts the charity giver in control. It assuages the conscience without changing the fundamental rules of the game.

Christians look forward to the return of Christ. Certainly that will be a game changer. What would Christ do about poverty on his return? A Christ in charge (CEO) of world affairs might present us with some surprises that would not let us persist in seeing him in idyllic scenes quiescently delivering Sermons on the Mount. But in fact that’s something that all Christians expect and yearn for – a Jesus strongly in charge that will shake things up in fundamental ways. Since in his ministry he showed clear preference for the marginalized and downtrodden, we may see (much to our ideological chagrin) unexpected expressions of divine justice – economic justice rolling down like waters overturning man's heretofore abject submission to the doctrine that possession is nine-tenths of the law. No longer will what has been the status quo for eons stand sacrosanct. Lazarus may well come to find material relief before resting in Abraham’s bosom.

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Church & State: A Fine Kettle of Fish

The Lord says, “Seek me and live” (Amos 5:4). How will you do that this week? What spiritual disciplines help you feel more alive in the Lord? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1271 – 2).

The founding fathers got us out of a fine kettle of fish and in some ways introduced us into a finer kettle of fish. By separating the state from religion government officials cannot claim a special connection to God as a source of their actions. Neither can the state quash dissent based upon the demands of an established religion. This is the fine kettle of fish the founding fathers extracted us from. Yet, the most basic functions of any enduring society must attend to such matters as justice within a context of mutual interdependence – in other words, a type of extended family. That Christianity, for example, also asserts these values is sometimes problematic and can even be seen as conspiratorial. Other values of Christianity have direct implications for public policy: compassion, due regard for the outcast and deprived, equality, the sanctity of the individual, a bias towards humility, simplicity, and the “spirit” rather than simply “letter” of law – all these can impinge upon public policy. I know of no clear path out of this dilemma except for the operative convictions I share with many other Christians. I adamantly object to Christian institutions becoming directly involved in affairs of state. It would require a very rare, exceptional, and egregious situation before I would take kindly to hearing my Methodist minister telling me how I should vote on a matter. And this would include even the Vietnam War which I adamantly opposed. In my view the institution of the church is to propound principles of Christ's spirit from the pulpit not detailed voting instructions. If worship services became political rallies huge losses would ensue – not the least of which would be the loss of the sanctity of individual conscience and the sacred leading of the inner voice. In such event, both church and state would have reason to grieve a perhaps irreparable loss.

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A Certain Deference Due

Can a whole country or political system be sinful? How so? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1267).

The real meaning of the story [of Jonah and the big fish] has much more to do with God’s redemptive grace toward outcast sinners [as in Nineveh] little of which [grace] seemed to be found in Jonah’s heart….. We all harbor attitudes of prejudice and we all have a favorite grudge. We want God to be merciful to us but not so much to our enemies…. We tend to think that we’re a little better than those people, that we somehow deserve God’s blessing more than they do. Yet these are the kinds of people… that Jesus himself specifically reached out to know and to help. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles make it clear that God extends mercy and grace to people from every nation, no matter their color, gender or social stratum; no one person is more deserving of God’s grace that another. (NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter, page 1057).

In answer to this question it must first be pointed out that all people are sinful – no one is perfect. In this sense whole countries and political systems and the individuals within them will not be perfect and will sin through acts of commission or omission, either intentionally or through blindness.

I remember very well when Pres. Ronald Reagan labeled a competitive country “an evil Empire.” Pres. Reagan thus spoke from within his own country which incidentally had a high crime rate, extensive poverty, serious problems with drug and alcohol addiction, widespread allegiance to materialism, racial divisions, and a dubious environmental record. Predictably, many in America applauded his remarks feeling measurably superior and more righteous than those criticized. The conclusion and point that I would make is that we must be aware of human foibles and system imperfections wherever they are found – including our own backyard.

Another point, organizations are made up of individuals who provide multiple perceptions and perspectives. The worst regimes ever perpetrating themselves against humanity are bound to have within them people with dissenting consciences who await only an opportunity to act. The task becomes how to best assist them in redeeming the cultural climate of the organization and in realizing structural change.

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Anxiety and Faith

When have you felt unqualified to do something for God (e.g., give an extemporaneous speech or teach a class of Junior High students), but did it anyway? How did you get past the fear? What challenge is facing you now that you can’t handle alone? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1266-7).

Qualified defined:

Meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office, position or task (WordWeb Pro);

fitted (as by training or experience) for a given purpose : COMPETENT : having complied with the specific requirements or precedent conditions (as for an office or employment) : ELIGIBLE (Merriam-Webster).

Let’s get one thing abundantly clear, the challenges presented in this life--no matter what one’s field or specialty--guarantee that no one is completely qualified to meet all contingencies that can impinge upon human experience. For example, astronauts undergo extremely rigorous and exacting training, but clearly unanticipated things can happen in outer space that no one can be adequately trained for. So there is a sense in which none of us are totally qualified even in our field or specialty. To assume otherwise automatically opens us up to the risks of arrogant blindness. It can even be said that if one is engaging only in activities for which they are totally and completely qualified, then they are shutting themselves off from experiences necessary for continued learning and growth. Sometimes we sneer at those we label “perpetual students.” In fact, that’s what we all must be.

Now as to the question regarding the existence of some anxiety when undertaking tasks for God, I can only say that if you never encounter this anxiety, then the tasks you are being called to meet are of your own selection rather than God’s. God, as Creator, puts us in situations where creativity is called for amidst the unfamiliar and unexpected. Such a perspective is required for us to push past angst and anxiety and to move forward to accomplishment. Faith is not necessary in Elysian Fields of certainty, but rather in a world impinged by uncertainty and challenges not neatly delimited. Paradoxically, in this sense, the absence of all anxiety is an indicator of shortsightedness and should itself rightly be the surest source of it.

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Heaven Is My Home

Source

When, if ever, have you felt slain in the “Valley of Decision”? When have you felt secure in the Lord’s stronghold? What would get you out of the valley into the stronghold? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1264.)

I have written earlier that my greatest vulnerability is the desire to be liked and loved by others. Nothing can send me further into the valley of dejection than a sense that my best efforts are actively shunned, demeaned, and misconstrued by others. An early example is during the Vietnam War when out of patriotism I opposed the war. Predictably, when I decided to act against the war by going to prison, there were those who got in my face and denounced me vehemently for cowardice and treason. Most recently I felt led to cultivate a friendship that was deeply misconstrued by members of my friend’s family.

Ironically, it can be during these periods within the valley of dejection that God telegraphs to me the assurance of his presence and strength. He encourages me to go forward in strength and with the assurance that he is my sustainer. I need not fear, but instead cast my eyes upon Jesus. The blessing of God must of necessity mean more to me than the fickle approval of men. With this conviction I move from the valley of dejection into God’s stronghold re-energized and re-fortified by faith and by heavenly chords sounding from great yet imminent distances.


 

Father, help us remember that you’ve given us every moment of this existence on earth. We want it to be meaningful. We want it to be significant. We want our lives to be good, not as measured by the standards of a constantly changing society, but excellent as measured by your Word, as expressed to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ, who not only taught with words but with deeds. He taught us what it means to love, and continues to teach us through your grace by the Holy Spirit. We want to live in love, in a spirit of humility, not in arrogance or superiority. We want to reach out to others in the name of Christ. More and more, help us be like our Savior. In his name we pray. Amen. (NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter, page 1407).

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