8/3/2019 Unslain by Pride
1/3
UNSLAIN BY PRIDE
The following is an interesting article, along with the direct
link, that was sent tome recently. It underscores the fact that
there is a pompous, manipulative, anddeceitful ruling class of
church leaders who will stop at nothing to advance theirdestructive
agendas. There are no words too strong to demonstrate the
horrible
deception used by some of these self-serving, self-centered
spiritual monsters!
Many have been deeply scarred through these mind-deluding,
diabolicalpractices. The brainwashers that occupy these pulpits are
smart and clever, andthey understand human nature. They know how to
deceive and they know how todestroy.
May some of you think long and hard about it while you search
your musty minds,trying to support your aggrandizement of carnal
men.
Unslain by Pride
by Dexterous Ehud
http://www.christianforums.com/blogs/u270437-e54306/
On a certain website, a preacher is quoted as declaring this
during his parting sermon:
The four giant-killers of preachers;money, pride, unbridled
ambition, and women;
have killed their thousands.By the grace of God, theyve not
slain me.
Seventy-two comments follow Ryan Martin's "Immoderate" blog
commentary on the ministryof this man. Some praise the preacher and
cast the very best construction on his words.
Others use the blog as a forum for sharing some very deep injury
experienced under theministry of that preacher. Without delving
into the controversy rising from the bystandercomments, let's
analyze the substance of his very telling words as quoted by
the"Immoderate" blogger. Note the subtle message carefully on
display.
1) Money, pride, unbridled ambition, and women are called
"giant-killers." By implication thispreacher is saying "I am a
ministerial giant"(i.e., a great man) who has not been killed
bythese. If you wanted, you could try to construe that he meant
that the money, pride, unbridledambition, and women are killers
that themselves are giants. This however, is not the most
http://www.christianforums.com/blogs/u270437-e54306/http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/http://www.christianforums.com/blogs/u270437-e54306/
8/3/2019 Unslain by Pride
2/3
natural meaning. Plainly interpreted, the man is saying "I am a
giant and these giant-killershave not slain me."
Does he really intend to convey such a pompous self image to his
hearers? Quite possiblynot. He probably works very hard to conceal
this inflated view of himself. However, as Jesussaid, " . . . out
of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) The
internal
indulging of self-aggrandizement is extremely difficult for any
prideful man to conceal orcontain. Like crude oil, it eventually
bubbles to the surface.
2) His assumption seems to be that the only men who are slain by
these giant-killers arethose who have been publicly disgraced in
some way. For instance, a pastor commitsadultery and is cast out of
his office. Nevertheless, we need to consider that there are
plentyof instances where men may indulge such vices without
discovery even up to or beyondretirement. Surely this man knows
this.
Simply declaring that you have not suffered a more public,
widespread disgrace does notmake you innocent. With this in mind,
the assertion sounds more like a self-defense againstthreatening
accusations than a simple, "humble"acknowledgment.
3) The "he's just trying to warn other men"argument does not
pass muster. Neither does the"he's crediting God by invoking the
grace of God"argument. Let's not be simpletons. He issaying "I am a
giant; these things have not stripped me of my 'giantness' . . . by
the grace ofGod."
Does Jesus excuse the Pharisee, even though he credits God?
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: "God, I thank
you that I am not like othermen, extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I givetithes
of all that I get." Luke 18:11-12
The self-congratulatory declaration of this preacher sounds
precisely like the Pharisee in Luke18with very little difference in
quality. The Pharisee thanked God for his ethical fortitude
butstood condemned because of the inherent pride portrayed in his
very words.
4) Not only does this proclamation declare that the preacher is
a giant, but also a rarity. He isa victorious lonely survivor
amidst thousands of slain giants. This amplifies the
grandiosityunderlying his words. "I'm not just a giant; I'm a rare
giant still standing amid the carnage ofthousands of other
giants."
5) The self-congratulatory, grandiose message is so subtle that
it is no surprise that manymiss his almost subliminal influence on
their thinking. Their adoration and hero worshipblinds them.
They not only miss the verbal contraband stealthily concealed
and imported into theirthoughts; they ardently defend the preacher
and his words. Consider this in conjunction withthe allegations of
severe personal, social injury done to several relationships (refer
to theblogcomments section).
This juxtaposition suggests the real likelihood that this man is
not the hero that he says he is.
http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/http://immoderate.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/albert-martins-final-words/
