Kalombe D. Edward

Pride rarely introduces itself as pride, this is why it is often difficult to trace it.

Pride often sounds reasonable, measured, even “righteous.” But when correction comes, it's true voice begins to surface, not in open rebellion, but in quiet self-defense.

The Word puts it plainly:
“Only by pride comes contention…” (Proverbs 13:10).

When correction meets resistance, argument, or inner agitation, it often reveals something deeper than disagreement. It exposes a heart guarding itself.

You see this pattern again in Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”
Humility leans in when corrected; pride leans away and begins to justify itself.

Have a sincere talk with self; how do I respond to rebuke and correction?

True discernment isn’t born from surface-level observation or hasty assumptions. It’s born from knowing the full story, the deeper context, the struggles, and the journey.

When pastors and clergy members, who should be shepherds of reconciliation, hastily draw conclusions, they risk causing division rather than fostering understanding.

They fail to acknowledge the rich cultural and relational complexities that shape people’s lives.

We must remember, as men and women of faith, that the heart of God is always one of grace.

The truth is that our role is not to publicly shame those who are already walking in faith but to come alongside them, offering counsel and support.

True leadership in the church is not about making a spectacle of someone’s struggles or perceived shortcomings; it’s about guiding them back to the heart of God, offering wisdom with humility.