The Pride of Self-Attention

For those of us constantly involved in theological disputes, clarifications, and the like are generally the most visible in the public eye. Though this becomes a source of great encouragement to others and aid when we clarify crucial details of the text, this may also be a dangerous road to pride. But just not any pride, but the particular pride of self-attention. The man who values his thoughts, his actions, his appearances more than any other. Our tendency (my tendency) is to never cease to be satisfied until comprehensive attention has been given and if not, we will die looking for it. How different we are from our forefathers who so humbly submitted themselves to the service of others unbeknownst to any of us if it were not for their prolific writings and our dear Lord who with divine and human willingness gave himself for us all (Phil 2). Even in the midst of His glorious ministry, He glorified His Father in heaven. 

Thomas a Kempis brings this to the forefront of his classic piece on Imitating Christ when he writes that, “If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing.” Theologians considered as nothing, seminarians considered as nothing, husbands considered as nothing, loving to be unknown. Now there is a concept.

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