Chapter 14: The Pride of Being Right — When Truth Becomes a Weapon
Truth is good.
Truth is necessary.
Truth is God's.
But even truth, in the hands of pride,
can become a weapon.
Pride loves to be right—
more than it loves to be righteous.
More than it loves people.
Sometimes, more than it loves God.
Truth Without Love
Truth without love is a sword with no handle.
It cuts,
but offers no healing.
Paul said:
“If I have all knowledge… but have not love, I am nothing.” — 1 Corinthians 13:2
That includes perfect doctrine.
Flawless arguments.
Bulletproof theology.
You can be biblically right—
and spiritually wrong.
The Pharisee’s Problem Again
The Pharisees weren’t biblically illiterate.
They just didn’t know God.
Jesus told them:
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;
and it is they that bear witness about Me.” — John 5:39
They loved the law
more than they loved the Lord.
Truth was their badge—
and their bludgeon.
They missed the Person behind the precepts.
Weaponizing Theology
This happens still:
– Quoting verses to win arguments.
– Using doctrine to elevate oneself.
– Silencing others with sharp theology.
– Correcting without compassion.
– Posting truth online with smugness.
But Jesus, who is Truth,
washed feet.
Wept over cities.
Healed on the Sabbath.
Dined with sinners.
And went quietly to the cross.
He never sacrificed truth—
but He never wielded it with arrogance.
The Danger of Theological Pride
We live in an age of information.
And pride feeds on it.
“I’ve studied more.”
“I know the original Greek.”
“They’re not as sound as I am.”
“They need to be rebuked publicly.”
But knowledge puffs up.
Only love builds up.
And the more you know,
the more gently you should speak.
Winning Arguments, Losing Souls
How many Christians
have chased people away from Christ
in the name of being right?
A proud spirit may win a debate—
but it rarely wins a heart.
“A servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome
but kind to everyone, able to teach,
patiently enduring evil,
correcting opponents with gentleness…” — 2 Timothy 2:24–25
Truth is never an excuse
to treat someone with pride.
Standing for Truth with Humility
To be clear:
truth must not be sacrificed.
We are not called to water down the gospel
or accommodate false teaching.
But we are called to correct in love,
to speak truth in grace,
to remember that the goal
is not to be impressive—
but to reflect Christ.
The Model of Jesus
Jesus was never wrong—
but never prideful.
He never misquoted Scripture—
but never used it to boast.
He knew every motive—
but still showed compassion.
He is the Truth—
and yet humbled Himself
to death on a cross.
If we are to reflect Him,
we must be truthful—
and tender.
What Does It Matter?
The church doesn’t need more prideful teachers.
It needs humble truth-bearers.
The world doesn’t need louder Christians.
It needs clearer love.
Truth is powerful.
But in the hands of pride,
it drives people away.
Only truth wrapped in humility
can lead others home.
Reflection and Questions
Do I use truth to build up or to win?
When correcting others, is my tone gentle or proud?
Have I confused being right with being righteous?
How did Jesus treat people who were wrong?
Am I using truth to point to Christ—
or to elevate myself?
