Christians: Is Arrogance a Sin?

[ChristineES]

I am directing this question to Christians, but others who believe there is such a thing as sin can answer, too, if they want to.

Is arrogance a sin?
Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

My answer: Yes, arrogance can be a sin. But it does depend on the situation. :rainbow1:

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Assuming sin is an immoral action, then, like any other attitude or trait, arrogance itself isn't a sin, but it can contribute to, or result in, someone sinning.

 

[Boethiah]

I'm not sure if it is a sin or not, but it is incredibly annoying. I suppose if being arrogant puts someone else down, it is a sin. From a religious standpoint, if it makes someone deny God or think they are higher than God, then it is a sin. But mostly, arrogance just makes jerks out of people me thinks.

 

[Thief]

So just to be sure , I had to look it up in the dictionary.
It's pretty much...'better than you'....and unable to justify the stance.

Of course, aiming a 'better than thou' attitude at God is arrogant.
But I think the greater concern would be the danger of doing so.
I mean really.
If He is the Almighty, wouldn't arrogance be synonymous with suicidal?

Amongst humans, it flip flops quite a bit.
A fellow toolmaker used to say...'it's not arrogance if you can prove it'...
referring to the way production workers accuse toolmakers of such attitude.
By definition that would be correct.
Toolmakers are held to higher standards. We hold them. We have to.

But the resentment from production workers is still there.

But arrogance is really poor form when played for cause that doesn't reflect the character of the people.
Being rich makes you better?....I don't think so.
Having authority?....nay...you should then be every man's servant.
Appearances?...nay again...you can be ugly on the inside.

Going back to that 'skill' quality.
Sure, when it comes to holding standard, toolmakers do it better.
But I still think of myself as brother and fellow servant.

 

[waitasec]

arrogance begets animosity especially when a christian claims to KNOW the answer through a very fallible book written thousands of years ago and for a time that no longer applies to us today. saying you know or it's more than a feeling and my personal favorite "i have a relationship not a religion" is arrogance. is it wrong to be arrogant? look around you, how does it help anything. again the only way to prove your FAITH is to be it, live it and be an example...,sell everything like jc told YOU...take up YOUR cross...it is not easy though...so you'll just believe and stand on the side lines judging and try to control other peoples choices... because i am a child of god and i have a right to do such arrogant things...god is on MY side.

it is an absolutely preposterous notion that one can claim to know the creator of everything... that in and of itself is arrogance based on insecurity.

 

[Aqualung]

My answer: Yes, arrogance can be a sin. But it does depend on the situation. :rainbow1:

In what situations would it be a sin and in which situations would it not be? Need moar info.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

I am directing this question to Christians, but others who believe there is such a thing as sin can answer, too, if they want to.

Is arrogance a sin?
Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

My answer: Yes, arrogance can be a sin. But it does depend on the situation. :rainbow1:

Sure arrogance is a sin. It is the opposite of humbleness. We are judged not just on our actions, but also on our thoughts, intents, attitudes.
Pride is one of our worst enemies according to the scripture.

My two cents...

Now, in which sense would it not be a sin, as you suggested it depends on the situation?

 

[Dezzie]

Well, I'll put it this way... if God says it isn't, it should be. I personally think it's a sin. It's so rude and annoying.

 

[Aqualung]

Well, I'll put it this way... if God says it isn't, it should be. I personally think it's a sin. It's so rude and annoying.

arrogance begets animosity

But the resentment from production workers is still there.

I'm not sure if it is a sin or not, but it is incredibly annoying.

There seems to be a common theme here that fits nicely into 1 Corinthians 8:13. Paul said that doing things, even if they themselves are not technically sins, still qualifies as sinful behaviour if your actions causes other people to sin. Being arrogant causes people to resent you, to act harshly towards you, to be mean to you, to think bad thoughts about you, to not act lovingly towards you. So yeah, I think in that case it would be a sin.

 

[Thief]

There seems to be a common theme here that fits nicely into 1 Corinthians 8:13. Paul said that doing things, even if they themselves are not technically sins, still qualifies as sinful behaviour if your actions causes other people to sin. Being arrogant causes people to resent you, to act harshly towards you, to be mean to you, to think bad thoughts about you, to not act lovingly towards you. So yeah, I think in that case it would be a sin.

Then resentment is an accusation?

In the post I presented a situation that cannot be avoided by the skillful worker.

The lesser worker assumes arrogance....but it isn't.
If I can do it better...then I can.
Any display of 'humility' would be false....a lie.

If I can do it better I should be allowed to say so....and if you don't like it...
how is it my fault?

 

[rkm7878]

arrogance begets animosity especially when a christian claims to KNOW the answer through a very fallible book written thousands of years ago and for a time that no longer applies to us today. saying you know or it's more than a feeling and my personal favorite "i have a relationship not a religion" is arrogance. is it wrong to be arrogant? look around you, how does it help anything. again the only way to prove your FAITH is to be it, live it and be an example...,sell everything like jc told YOU...take up YOUR cross...it is not easy though...so you'll just believe and stand on the side lines judging and try to control other peoples choices... because i am a child of god and i have a right to do such arrogant things...god is on MY side.

it is an absolutely preposterous notion that one can claim to know the creator of everything... that in and of itself is arrogance based on insecurity.

Just wondering if you think it may be arrogant to say to the creator of everything that He has no right to make Himself known to His creation? I am just saying if He is real and he made Himself known to me who would you be to say that He cannot do that?

 

[Aqualung]

Then resentment is an accusation?

What?

Any display of 'humility' would be false....a lie.

I certainly agree with that.

 

[sojourner]

Of course arrogance is a sin! If I weren't so perfect, more enlightened, and better-educated than the rest of you low-lifes, how would I know that?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

You can not devise a list of sins.
sins can not be separated from circumstance and intent.
Some of the worst sins are sins of neglect or inaction.

 

[ChristineES]

You can not devise a list of sins.
sins can not be separated from circumstance and intent.
Some of the worst sins are sins of neglect or inaction.

There was some story in the bible that spoke of someone starving to death and the people who were able to stop it, didn't do it and were guilty of murder. It was in the Old Testament in Jeremiah or some other prophet. So even the Bible says inaction is a sin.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

I am directing this question to Christians, but others who believe there is such a thing as sin can answer, too, if they want to.

Is arrogance a sin?
Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

My answer: Yes, arrogance can be a sin. But it does depend on the situation. :rainbow1:

Dear Christine,
As someone who not so many years ago, used to be arrogant to the point of not even being able to begin to understand the concept of humility - much less feel anything resembling it - I would say, arrogance is most definitely a sin.
Sin in my view, stems from the Ego of man and gets in the way of, what I believe, is the Will of the Absolute: to comprehend existence for sake of comprehension alone.

Besides being disliked by so many (a strong sign, something's wrong with ones' way of approaching the world), the arrogant are seldom even at peace with their own [inner] selves. In fact, I am almost inclined to go as far as to claim that arrogance is a symptom of an insecure personal Ego, afraid of discovering its true self and not thinking it good enough. Perhaps though, that only goes for my own arrogance and not for arrogance in general?

Regards,
Hermit

 

[jtartar]

Dear Christine,
As someone who not so many years ago, used to be arrogant to the point of not even being able to begin to understand the concept of humility - much less feel anything resembling it - I would say, arrogance is most definitely a sin.
Sin in my view, stems from the Ego of man and gets in the way of, what I believe, is the Will of the Absolute: to comprehend existence for sake of comprehension alone.

Besides being disliked by so many (a strong sign, something's wrong with ones' way of approaching the world), the arrogant are seldom even at peace with their own [inner] selves. In fact, I am almost inclined to go as far as to claim that arrogance is a symptom of an insecure personal Ego, afraid of discovering its true self and not thinking it good enough. Perhaps though, that only goes for my own arrogance and not for arrogance in general?

Regards,
Hermit

Hermit Philosopher,
Arrogance is always a sin for mankind!!! Rom 3:23.
Arrogance goes against every precept of The Bible.
The Bible tells us not to think more of ourselves than is necessary, Rom 12:3.
The Bible says that pride is before a fall, Prov 16:18.
The Bible says that we should consider that others are better than ourselves, Phil 2:3,4.
We should put others interests before our own, 1Cor 10:24.
We should even be like Jesus and be willing to DIE for others, 1John 3:16.
An arrogant person would not do any of these things!!!

 

[ZooGirl02]

Arrogance is very similar to and sometimes is considered the same as pride which is condemned by the Bible.

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
(Mark 7:21-22 RSV)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.
(1 John 2:16 RSV)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5 RSV)

What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
(James 4:1-6 RSV)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.
(1 Peter 5:1-6 RSV)

 

[Thief]

Too much preaching going on....not enough thought.

By definition....to be arrogant is to think more of yourself than you can justify.

So if I am able to.... and do so...it is not arrogant that I do so.
That you resent me for my greater effort doesn't mean I am arrogant.
Only that you are envious.

If I can...and fail to do so...it was arrogant to have made the boast.

If I can...and refuse to do so....is not arrogance.
"It is not well to cast the bread unto dogs."

Still, if you were willing to fess up....to someone's greater ability....
and to receive what is offered....
Then no one is arrogant....and all are humble.

 

[waitasec]

Just wondering if you think it may be arrogant to say to the creator of everything that He has no right to make Himself known to His creation? I am just saying if He is real and he made Himself known to me who would you be to say that He cannot do that?

because if you make yourself the mediator between me and my freedom then that is putting yourself in a higher position than me...
we are both equally free...