Pride, Self, and Hell

Pride is the bond between Satan and sinners. It is the in by which he so easily manipulates us. (Lk 23.12.) Pride is what makes the devil go, and it is what makes us go, apart from the transforming work of the Spirit. What makes pride go is self. Self is the coziest den and the deepest dungeon. This dungeon also goes by another name – hell. Hell is the telos, the eschaton of self. Wherever self reigns on earth, you have a foretaste of hell. Wherever self reigns in the Church, you have the subtle yet unmistakable affirmation that all is well with the gates of hell. For Jesus to declare that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church is for Him promise that one day, by the Spirit, Christians will love Jesus and one another more than self. And that will be a foretaste of heaven on earth.