Spiritual Pride

There can be no doubt that the secular world is moving further from God with every generation. There should also be no doubt that the life of the Church has the best remedy to fight temptation and sin in the secular world. We should feel blessed to be part of the Church, not proud.

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.

Ephesians 5:22-26;6:1-2

Just because we are Orthodox Christian should never mean that we look down at others with a sense of superiority. One struggle I often hear is the anxiety that our family members won’t be saved because they are not Orthodox.

I wonder how much of that anxiety is pride, and how much is genuine care for our family members? Of course, I believe the Church has the fullness of the faith and the truth about God. Does that mean God can’t save someone who is outside of the Church? Who are we to say?

Salvation is God’s to give, not ours to grant. This is part of what Saint Paul is saying when he warns us, “Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Just because we are members of the Church doesn’t mean we have a golden ticket. God will save whomever He desires.

That also doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray for our family and friends to find the truth of Christ. Trust me on this. Our family and friends won’t find Christ because we lecture them about the true Church. Nobody finds Christ without Christ revealing Himself. Salvation is from God.

Be thankful you are Orthodox, not conceited. Rather than badgering others to abandon their false religion, try loving them and bearing their burdens with peace. In the end only God knows their hearts, and ours. In the end, God will save whomever He desires. That might not be us.