Idolatry Masquerading as Holiness

I want to be known for my holiness. But this desire impedes my actually becoming holy. My pride makes holiness my boast, and that cuts me off from my only hope—the grace of God (James 4:6). My pride hides my sin, and that cuts me off from the help of other Christians. My pride minimizes or excuses sin, so I never deal with it with sufficient force. Every day I struggle between the desire to be known as holy and the desire actually to be holy.

—Tim Chester, You Can Change

I tend to believe the form of this lie that says I ought to be known as a Godly man. This quickly turns into a desire to impress people, wear my piety, prove myself, or sink to despair. It's truly freeing to know that I don't need to impress anyone, and to see how I'm doing it anyway. We work for God and not for men, and because of the cross that is really good news.