Pride Cannot Save the Church
I encounter it quite a bit in discussions with keyboard warriors. Mostly new converts and even some who are not yet Orthodox think because they read a couple books or ‘that one’ blog post, they are the ‘last standing true Orthodox’ in the world. Everyone around them, especially those with canonical authority are ‘sell outs’ for power and prestige. Such thoughts are the symptoms of pride.
Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 5:22-26;6:1-2
You will notice that pride is NOT a fruit of the Spirit. We simply cannot find our way to heaven, let alone lead others, by thinking we are the only ones with the answer. In my many encounters with keyboard warriors, one saint is the core of their pride, Saint Mark of Ephesus who was the ‘lone ranger’ by refusing to sign the union between the East the West.
I don’t question Saint Mark. As you can read from this brief description he lived as a monastic with years of piety and asceticism. He was recognized by the Church for his wisdom and faith. He may have been the lone hold out in refusing to sign the union, but he was not standing alone in the Church.
I have yet to meet a keyboard warrior who has the credentials of Saint Mark of Ephesus to even begin to debate the questions that face the global Church today. I mostly hear talking points that ignore historical context and often deny objective facts.
Saint Mark didn’t defend the truth of the Church after reading one book. He wasn’t a new convert that was sent to save Holy Orthodoxy from Rome. He lived a pious ascetic life for years under the authority of the Church long before being sent to the council.
If you think you have what it takes to ‘save’ the Church, start by taking a step back from your pride. Saint Paul’s teaching today is as much for you to be corrected as it is for you to correct others. At the very least acknowledge that Saint Mark was sent by the Church to represent the Church. If the Church believes you have what it takes, the Church will call you.
