Is pride evil? If it is, why is it evil?

1 John 2:16; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

In Jer 13: 9,10,15,16; "Thus says the Lord: In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people who refuse to hear My words, who walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing…. Hear and give ear: do not be proud, for the Lord has spoken….but if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride;"

Yes, pride is evil.

It is evil because it unveils and feeds our self-interests and our self-sufficiency, which may seem necessary and good to us. But, when we are self-sufficient, we fail to see our need for humility and relationship growth. Therefore, self becomes our god, and our relationship with God is stunted and His work in us and through us is muted. When this happens, all relationships will be distorted and eventually, utterly destroyed.

A person’s pride comes between them and God and distorts the Word as to what it means. It cancels out relationships, growth, and purpose in life. People who practice arrogance and condescension toward others will not surrender to God as Lord. They think of ones self as self-reliant is an affront to God.

Pride is the sin that caused the Pharisees to reject Jesus as their Messiah and crucify Him instead. Pride is the sin of the religious churches that has led to their incredible blindness and self-reliance. What a horrible evil pride is, it turns angels into devils, rejects God's people, usurps the headship of Christ, gives people the idea that “my religion is right” and others are not, and leads people into a completely false estimation of religious organizations!

Self-reliance is an oxymoron that destroys relationships! Pride is the evil that goes before a fall.