In 1621, Robert Burton wrote in his The Anatomy of Melancholy, "They
are proud in humility; proud in that they are not proud." How carnal men are to
twist virtue into sin!
It is enough to make us suspicious when we come across a "humble" person.
We have undoubtedly crossed paths with those who were so proud that they
oozed with false humility. Many religious leaders in the
world today openly appear this way, as they wax eloquent on their televised
evangelical programs. Authors have written dozens of books and Hollywood has
produced many movies to expose the hypocrisy of such individuals.
Uncountable numbers of both religious and secular leaders have risen to power
on the banner of humility. Feigning an image of heartfelt concern for those who
can help place them in the limelight, they glow with an air of counterfeit
humility. Eventually, this hypocritical image always becomes apparent, just as
our sins expose us in due time (Numbers 32:23). The sin of pride
is no different.
Of the many things that people have written on humility, as much as one-third
refers to false humility. For instance, the French moralist La Rochefoucald
wrote in Maxims in1665: "Humility is often only feigned submission
which people use to render others submissive. It is a subterfuge of pride which
lowers itself in order to rise."
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