Pride plus Christianity equals Christi-vanity. Christi-vanity is not essential. Humility is. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Christi-vanity is void of heart-felt humility, meekness, sorrow, mourning, apology, and repentance. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Christi-vanity tends to pridefully look down on humanity. The risen Jesus compassionately shows people love and mercy. Christi-vanity tends to promote self-focus. However, Jesus taught that a Christ-follower “must deny himself.”
I can sometimes be an ego-gelical. I need this Scripture to help me avoid Christi-vanity: “Consider others better than yourself.” Christi-vanity is tricky. I have to be on constant guard. Sometimes I catch it sneaking up inside me and making me proud.
Christi-vanity and ego-gelicalism are much easier to see in other people than in myself. Lord, help me see my own sin!
John the Baptist gave the key to avoiding Christi-vanity. He said: “He (the living Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.”
The Christi-vanity prayer is Luke 18:11. “God, I thank You that I am not like other people–robbers, evildoers, adulterers.”
