Why is Pride a deadly sin?

This answer may cause arguementsbut here we go. To me this is a way the church could keep people in their place and not strive for a better life for themselves and their families. It's not pride that goeth before a fall, it's a haughty spirit that goes before a fall. To me that means it's people who think they are better than others that are heading for a fall. You have every reason to be proud of your boys.

Without looking it up in a Bible, I think you are right. I don't think it means your sort of pride is wrong. You are quite justifiably proud of your children and of your own achievements. I would think it means we should all have some humility and be more humble. I think it means we should never boast about how much we own or brag about how wealthy or successful we are. It is wrong to feel superior to other people for those reasons. I think it is not wrong to be proud of how you earned your money or became successful, especially if you had to overcome many difficulties to achieve it.

...I think the sort of pride it's talking about is the "I'm great, I'm wonderful, I have no flaws" type of pride. Whereas God prefers us to have a soft heart, not think we are superior over others, and not feel we have no need for God, or his provided forgiveness (in Jesus). God is aiming for people to be humble with soft hearts toward him and other people.. It seems like people who think they are superior get very hard hearts and often become downright mean when it comes to others, unable to understand how other humans can fall so far short.. and cannot sympathize with other's sufferings, etc..

It's not that kind of pride I don't think. I think it means the 'I'm better than you' kind of pride. I can't really explain what I mean properly, but I think you'll know what I'm on about. Being proud of your children and being pleased with yourself if you've done something good is acceptable, as far as I'm aware, but if you were to rub that in someone elses face, that would be unacceptable, I think that's what that means.

I think the "pride" that the Bible is referring to, is false pride. There's nothing wrong in being proud of your children or of your achievements. We take pride in these things because they bring us joy. Being proud, in the context of being consumed with false pride over others, not being able to forgive or admit mistakes and wrongdoings, not being humble, these are some of the things that are considered to fall in sinful pride. But then again, it's just me and the way I interpret it. :)

Hi pumpkinjam. What I think is self-destructive is when pride, as in everything else, is given excessive importance. I think there is nothing wrong with being proud of our achievements, our loved ones, and even our very ownselves. But a pride that becomes arrogant is something different. When we don't listen to people anymore because we always think we are right, even if we are already wrong, when we start shrugging people whom we don't like because we think we are far better than anyone, when we become too judgmental over people without actually putting our lives into their shoes, when we do not show compassion over those who commit mistake, when we think we are the sole arbiter of what is good and what is bad for us... well these are the types of pride that is not quite helpful in life. Taking pride in the fact that certain aspects of our lives are beautiful, and surely they are, is not wrong. But being proud about wonderful things that happen in our lives does not mean we are better than anyone else. Anything that is taken in excess is dangerous. As the old Roman saying goes, "Virtus in media res." - Virtue lies in the middle. That goes true for pride as well. Any amount of pride must be tempered with a sense of gratitude because we know we are in a place we are right now, not chiefly because we worked ourselves to it, but because we are in a place where everyone works together, and everyone is a fellow to help, encourgae, give meaning, give life to each other. Hope that helps.

I guess it's all in moderation, there is nothing wrong with lust either, providing no one gets hurt, I prefer lust to love but that's my own personal preference, everything is sinful if done excessively and where do you draw the line? With pride the saying goes cut your nose to spite your face when you are too proud to accept something or deal with something. But as you said nothing wrong with being proud of your children or of your own abilities it's when it starts to affect you negatively or others harmfully that it becomes deadly. All 7 sins are healthy it's the way they affect us and others and there is a fine line.

Our pastor just preached on this. It is not pride in saying that your proud of your family and of your accomplishments. It is when pride exalt's itself above people and God that it becomes deadly. Some people who go to church and claim to be saved have gotten to the point where their pride is a deadly pride. They become arrogant and inconsiderate of other people not remembering that they too were saved by the mercies of God.