The following is an article by Pastor Art Kohl. I considered it too important not to share.

Pride Is Not A Virtue, It Is A Sin!

by Pastor Art Kohl

The Bible speaks against pride strongly. It has nothing good to say about it. Pride is not a virtue as humanism has taught us, it is a sin as the Bible teaches. Notice a dozen despicable descriptions of the sin of pride: 1. Pride is a despised sin. Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." 2. Pride is a defiling sin. Mark 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." 3. Pride is a destructive sin. Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." 4. Pride is a disputatious sin (contentious). Proverbs 13:10, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." 5. Pride is a debilitating sin. Daniel 5:20, "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:" 6. Pride is a deceptive sin. Galatians 6:3, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." 7. Pride is a disrespected sin. Psalm 40:4, "Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies." 8. Pride is a distancing sin. Psalm 138:6, "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." 9. Pride is a disgusting sin. Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." 10. Pride is a divisive sin (resist means to "oppose"). James 4:6, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." 11. Pride is a detrimental sin. Psalm 36:11, "Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me." 12. Pride is a debasing sin. Proverbs 29:23, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." "Pride" is mentioned 46 times in the King James Bible. "Proud" is mentioned 47 times. "Haughty" is mentioned 10 times. A meticulous study of each time these words appear will lead to only one conclusion: They are never spoken of positively, only as sin and evil. Never is it suggested or implied that pride in any form is a virtue. Many believers have problems getting the humanism they were brought up with out of their hearts. Humanism teaches that pride is a virtue, the Bible teaches it is a sin. God expects believers to repent (change the way they think) about things. This leads to a change of actions. Instead of being proud, the believer should become humble. We will never have revival in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ until we humble ourselves. II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Pride is the original sin of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12,17) Pride in religion keeps people from humbling themselves before God and getting saved. It has also been the catalyst for many wars. Pride in children keeps parents from seeing their children's faults and disciplining and correcting them to make them better. Pride in self keeps us selfish and self-centered disabling us from enjoying or helping anyone else. Pride in country keeps us from praying fervently to our God for our nation. Pride in race or culture makes many prejudiced. Only God knows how many nations, marriages, families, churches, businesses, lives, etc. have been wrecked by pride. It is something Satan taught us and not the Lord. Jesus example is quite opposite. Philippians 2:5-8 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Which will you chose to be like: Christ (humble)? or Satan (proud)? May God help our hearts to change towards this ugliest of sins.