Pride: Identity and the Worship of Self

by Matthew P.W. Roberts

  A study of identity politics through a biblical lens, looking at idolatry of the self and the elevations of sexual identity.   Our culture is obsessed with identity and it has been the cause of tense interaction with (and within) the Church. Rather than being a new challenge to the Christian faith, however, the identity issue is a very old one; it is fundamentally one of idolatry. Who we are, who we think we are, and how God in Christ restores our knowledge of ourselves in covenant with him, are central Biblical themes. But these things will only appear with clarity if we have the courage to tackle the idolatries of our own age at the root, and stand true to our calling as Christians to worship God and him alone.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Cultural

184 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

A challenging read but a worthwhile one. Roberts writes a compact theology on identity and worship. We are all ultimately made to worship God, but we create idols in order to live for ourselves (our sinful nature). Roberts makes good point that even in the church we have given too much ground to the pride movement in the language we use concerning sins of lust and identity. Overall, Roberts hits the mark. We are made to worship God as image bearers of him, male and female in the Church. Though some more practical nuance would be appreciated in the pastoral section.

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roberts rightly affirms a confessionally Reformed understanding of concupiscence, making clear that both same-sex sexual desire and same-sex sexual activity are sinful (Rom. 1:26–27). He makes a compelling case that the emphases of the Pride movement are largely rooted in a Western idolatry of the Free Self, and he expresses legitimate concerns about notions that gay identity, orientations, or even predispositions are natural and morally neutral.

But when Roberts evaluates contemporary evangelical approaches to the LGBT+ movement, he paints with too broad a brush. While he's aware of the differences between Sam Allberry, Ed Shaw, Greg Johnson, and Mark Yarhouse, he ultimately treats them under the same heading and uses one problematic statement by Yarhouse to dismiss all their positions as having Pelagian assumptions.

Roberts not only rejects the problematic label "gay Christian" (because of its LGBT-affirming cultural weight), but with an overreading of 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, he also rejects the descriptor "same-sex attracted." This seems to rule out any sin-struggle-specific ministry in churches to, for example, Christians who are also alcoholics, or even pedophiles. On page 153, Roberts specifically says that Christians who have acted as pedophiles should no longer think of themselves with this label.

In my view, this is dangerous. And it represents a gross misunderstanding of the Reformation doctrine of concupiscence. The Reformed confessions all affirm that the old man—our old sinful identity—is, though defeated, still present in our sinful flesh until the resurrection. To put the old sinful identity to death, we must regularly call him by name in confession. Most believers know intuitively that a Christian husband who has cheated on his spouse shouldn't say, "I've committed adultery, but I'm not an adulterer." To do so is obfuscation. Instead, he should acknowledge: "Yes, I am an adulterer, but, thank God, Jesus Christ has come to save even adulterers like me." (1 Tim. 1:15). Why should the case be different with the sin of homosexuality?

[Karen Soole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was encouraged to read this book by someone who absolutely loves it and another who was unsure about it. I too have reservations. It is a detailed theology on the nature of idolatry and desire but I'm not convinced by all his conclusions - taking verses out of context eg..James and Romans , to make his argument - thus is the way of systematicians! In summary he rejects sexuality as an identity and equates the practice of this with idolatry - he basically describes 'desire' as sinful - therefore same sex attraction is sin. I found his criticisms of Ed Shaw to be harsh despite his attempts to acknowledge that Ed is (as far as he can see) a faithful Christian - he believes Ed's experience is worse by believing the 'idolatrous doctrine of sexual identity'. Having read both Roberts and Shaw (and attended Living Out Training) I think Roberts is not presenting this fairly or really listening to Ed's argument. I hope that he spoke to Ed Shaw and the Living Out Team before he wrote this. I understand his theological academic argument but I think he is missing the pastoral issues and the necessity for Christians to use language to describe their temptations, spiritual battles and experiences without being called idolators - particular those striving to live faithful lives in Christ. I am surprised not to have seen more questioning reviews of this book. I hope Living Out can respond.
I would not recommend this book as helpful for believers seeking to understand this issue.

[Peter Dray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a mixed experience with this book.

On the one hand, the early chapters are full of strong theology, and frame contemporary cultural issues in a (mainly) helpful biblical context. I particularly appreciated the way that the author traces through the links between worship, idolatry and desire. I found much of the early chapters thought-provoking and was moved afresh to repentance and faith. It left me more able to see the deficiency in some of the church's approach, especially regarding ssues relating to human sexuality.

On the other hand, I found it frustrating. Confident statements are built upon readings of scripture that are contested (such as the identity of the 'I' in Romans 7). There appears to be little space for common grace understandings of psychology and scientific insight - which could surely be tested alongside biblical anthropology. By the end of the book, the author had picked fights on so many issues with so many people, I felt that his clarion call on some important issues had been obscured. And, as has been said in another review, some of the language would appear so offensive to some readers, it would be considered simply unreadable.

Three stars, then. There are important theological issues to be considered here, but there are few people that I could encourage to read it without a note of caution.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of very clear and strong writing here. Roberts brings a number of key issues to the fore: Idolatry, identity and concupiscence. I really enjoyed much of it. Roberts writes well and concisely with clear thinking and some significant and helpful critiques of contemporary culture and the way the church has absorbed some of this thinking.
However I felt a few issues let it down. It felt to me as though it suffered from a failure of practical theology which resulted in a lack of nuance and a what I suspect is a failure to read some of the key texts. Living Out, etc, will no doubt respond but I'd be very surprised if they have the disagreement with him regarding concupiscence that he thinks they do. The lack of practical theological knowledge showed itself in the comparison with Islam. There are deep discussions in missiology over the use of Allah for God in certain contexts.
It is also written in a way which I suspect will fail to convince. The intentional use of certain words will immediately put off certain readers who Roberts intends to convince. He also felt dependent in places on the secular right.
There are a number of typos and no index which is also a shame.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read on
- Idolatry
- Identity in Christ
- Our culture's current gender/sex madness.
I don't mean it's the best book I've read on those three themes put together. I mean it's the best book I've read on any of them individually, and it does that in 180 pages. Well worth your money.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work requires a fuller review. For now it is sufficient to say that Roberts provides a helpful understanding of the rise in the LGBTQ community and its impacts on Christian culture. He also gives key advice for how we should think biblically about those who identify as Same Sex Attracted by pointing to the beauty of what happens when someone puts their faith in Christ. This work provides helpful encouragement, challenging questions concerning how we should kill indwelling sin, and important dialogue on address the issue of PRIDE.

[Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. New favorite.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely book.

[Coleson White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. Period.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent. Admittedly, I may be slightly biased since he's my pastor but it is so helpful in penetrating to the root of the issue with LGBT+ ideology. It also goes much deeper than just LGBT stuff. It proclaims the call of Christ away from enslavement to our desires and towards the freedom of being remade as the worshippers we were designed to be. Challenged the idolatry in my own heart and pointed me to the goodness of the gospel. Top stuff.

[Emma S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Thoughtful, well-researched, and pastoral, all at the same time. Though this book is small, it packs a real punch. Roberts focuses on people experiencing same-sex attraction, but I think he does well to show us how all of humanity experiences disordered desires, and how it is wrong (1) to define ourselves by those and (2) to imply that some are worse than others (for all are a consequence of the Fall). He presents a very balanced, biblical view of sin, sex and gender 'identity'.
His treatment of how Christ's work on the cross both atones for our sin and enables us to live new lives, with transformed minds and transformed desires, is an encouragement for any Christian.
I think his comments on men and women and what it looks like to fulfil those God-given roles could do with fleshing out. This book is perhaps not the place for it, but it is a sensitive topic and could do with longer treatment, or at least some indication of how to continue to think about maleness and femaleness and how marriage and parenthood shape our understanding of those roles.

Lots of good stuff here. I'll be coming back to it. Quite Presbyterian in some places (e.g. Regulative Principle of Worship;), but a stimulating read that got my brain - and my heart - working.

[Jay King · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 3 chapters were incredibly helpful in seeing the idolatry of personal freedom/expressive individualism in western culture. Would highly recommend them. I give 3 stars because many of the chapters after this focused heavily on the language used to describe/define/identify LGBTQ+ individuals. Roberts’ arguments held a degree of merit but so confused the language we use (without providing a clear alternative) that I’m not even sure how I should have written the previous sentence to conform my language to Roberts’ viewpoint. His arguments on the language we use also reminded me of the root fallacy (the fallacy that every word has a meaning bound up with its shape or components; as defined by Carson in Exegetical Fallacies). It felt like Roberts attributed every description of LGBT individuals (probably including this use of ‘LGBT individuals’) as a primary identity marker and therefore idolatrous, making any adjective that refers to those who experience same sex attraction a tacit approval of idolatry. While these adjectives often are in many cases, other times the language is simply being used to describe because there are few other alternatives (apart from saying those who experience same sex attraction, which necessitates an entire clause to be inserted every time you want to refer to those who experience same sex attraction).

[Calvin Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent treatment of the subject of gender, identity, and idolatry. Matthew Roberts goes further than any author I've read on the subject, in terms of calling out the acquiescence of some sections of the church to a faulty view of identity and the use of language to describe someone with words that too closely define a person by their sexual preferences. He also has so much helpful material here on how the church ought to respond in love to sinners who need to know that repentance is required of them for their sin, and not acceptance.

[Kevin V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important thesis runs through the book: at the heart of our identity crisis is a worship issue. God made man and woman images of himself. Images made to worship him alone. But we turn worship meant for God inward to worship of the creature. The human problem is nothing new. Romans 1 continues to explain our deepest problem.

This is a well-researched and timely book.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very strong rebuttal to Pride identities and, along with them, all attempts to normalise same-sex attraction within the church. While I might disagree with the odd point here and there, Matthew Roberts' overall case is unassailable. Anyone seeking to defend the non-sinfulness of unnatural desires will have to seriously grapple with the arguments of this book.

[Ethan Vroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best new books that I have read in recent memory. I loved what he had to say and how he said it. It would combo well with “Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.” It’s less philosophical and more readily accessible without loss of content or theology. Overall a great book.

[Colin Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The book for our times.

[Michael Kenan Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arguments Matthew Roberts provides in this book were a real mixed bag in my view. At the very least, he's right and brave to be asking these questions, which few seem willing to do.

[Peter Redington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fairly different take on LGBT issues to usual. But more challenging across all areas. Will read again to try and take it in better

[Gillian Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed the way I think about sin and myself = good book

[Bradley Endsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great, some people have said it is offensive and I would say it probably is if your heart idols have been attacked. The whole problem around issues of pride, sexual identity and even how we root our identity flows from worship. Either worship of the true God and therefore we will define ourselves how He does or worship of idols, who like the dwarves in Lewis' Great Divorce turn out to be shrivelling and hollow compared to what they offer. Every Christian should read this and especially if you have been given the privilege of shepherding his sheep.

[Barry Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The obsession with the identity of self in relation to the church is the focus of this exceptional book. In the introduction to his work, the author indicates that he approaches this topic from his position as a Reformed theologian living in the UK. Describing the issue of identity as an old one, he argues “that God’s word provides a better account for what is going in the world’s obsession with ‘identity’ than the world can give of itself” (p.8).

Part 1 of this rich resource is titled “Defined by Worship.” The author stresses that mankind was made to worship God – we are created in the image of God yet what we choose to worship becomes what we are – this false worship is sin and these idols redefine us. The result is a ongoing conflict between our true and false identities. The Idolatry of Self (Chapter 2) is introduced by a contrast of quotes: one from Papa Smurf and one from the prophet Ezekiel! Roberts uses this intriguing point/counterpoint throughout the book to make his case, including quotes from Lady Gaga, Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen, and the rock group Supertramp. Citing philosophers, gay Christian activists, and theologians throughout his work, he notes that these “idols” can include self and supposed “freedom.” The Pride Movement is identified by the idol of Self; he suggests that the selection of the word “pride” for the movement was “chosen as a deliberate rejection of the idea that homosexuality is shameful” (p. 46). What he describes as “The Engine of Idolatry” is the slavery that results from sinful desire, a slavery that can only be defeated by salvation in Christ. After a brief review of the history of Liberalism, Pelagianism, and Pride, Roberts provides a clear representation of the doctrine of Original Sin. His chapter on Sinful Desire invests time on the issue of “concupiscence,” described by Augustine as “illicit desire, desire for sinful things” (p. 71). This approach challenges the focus of orientation as one’s “identity.” Roberts concludes Part One in stating that “The gospel of Pride is that we have been enslaved by external moral norms from following our natural desires – and that now we can be and must be set free from those external norms to follow what we really are….The gospel of Christ is the diametric opposite of this” (p. 85).

Part 2, “Restored to be True Worshippers,” seeks to provide biblical answers to this growing problem. The significance of sex in relation to man, woman and identity is presented, along with attention to marriage, human destiny, sexual desire and identity. Gender identity and sexual orientation are challenged, describing these concepts are “ontologically different” from any teaching in Scripture (p. 108). The good news of the Gospel is “the evangelistic power of exposing idolatry” (p. 109), exposing the harm of worshipping desire and false identity. This powerful chapter (6), offers multiple examples of this damage: human nature is devalued, as is the human body, people are drawn into deeply shameful behavior, it teaches that this shameful behavior is an indelible part of our identity, it traps individuals in a lifestyle and subculture of shame, it promises fulfillment it cannot give and leads to continual disappointment, it encourages limitless sexual experimentation even at young ages, it mandates lust fulfillment with terrible consequences, it destroys families and demands the destruction of children, it shatters humanity into isolated identity groups and individuals, ultimately destroying the concept of human nature, it shuts out God-given blessings, it leads to attempts to replicate God’s blessings with serious consequences to others, and finally it takes away the glory due to God and gives it to others. No wonder, writes Roberts, that the Gospel is Good News!

Proclaiming the Gospel in a world of Pride requires it to be stated without shame with a willingness to suffer for our biblical stand on the subject. Roberts makes the case for four key proclamations: proclaim God and His Christ, cry down sin, expose idols, and call people to find their true identity as Christian worshippers. Chapter 7, “The Redemption of Identity,” stresses that we are sons of God, not identified by idols. Roberts reviews three false approaches to this issue – accepting identity and affirming immorality, curing identity by therapy and/or deliverance, and seeing identity as good while actions are bad. In citing the words of gay Christians, the author notes that this final approach fails to take sin’s guilt and shame seriously, leads to further sin, makes God’s commands seem unbearable, damages the entire church by weakening the understanding of repentance, and allows idolatry to go unchallenged. In addressing the challenging presence of transgenderism, Roberts says such individuals should repent of sin and the desire to sin, repent of pride and failing to trust God’s grace, even as the church should repent of failing to teach repentances. On the positive side, the transgender person should believe that God is the joy their heart needs, believe their sins are forgiven, believe God’s law is good for them, and believe that the church is their home and family. These points are especially important lessons for children as identity is rebuilt in the household of God.

The final chapter of this powerful book, “Losing Yourself and Finding Yourself,” speaks of the centrality of worship in the life of the believer for all of life (even as Roberts writes powerfully of the blessings in Sunday worship). True worship occurs when “We come before Him to reflect His glory back to Him, not in the hope that He will reflect ours” (p. 170). Covenant marriage demonstrates the meaning of gender, including what the author describes as the “gendered” nature of Christian worship. This awareness should inform our duty, our desire, and who we are.

Adding to the rich resources in the book, Roberts has almost six pages of references in the bibliography representing all sides of the issue. He closes his work looking forward to eternity where, “on that day, in the eternal presence of God, with His praises on our tongues, His love pervading our souls and risen bodies, His glory filling our vision, we will never again have any doubt, or concern, about who we really are” (p. 176).

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first four chapters were great as Roberts laid out how we are made to worship God, not ourselves. I felt he lost his way a little more in the more pastoral section (I disagreed with some of his outworking) - it would have been great to see more emphasis on why having our identity in Christ is better than it being in anything else.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book during a five-and-a-half-hour plane flight to Seattle. Theologically informative; grounds the modern notion of identity in the first commandment, hence the title. The title is a play on words. . .the sin of pride is linked to the Pride (Alphabet) movement. I really appreciated the author's point that the church needs to remind herself that her own are full of people whose hearts are full of multiple sinful desires; not exclude or separate false identities from other expressions of hubris.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful, countercultural, wholly biblical response to the modern world's obsession with making and remaking one's own identity. It's a shame that the book was published by a small UK house that won't get much publicity. It's better than anything being written over here. That said, in the discussion of liberty it does have some weird British misunderstandings of the American project that will unnecessarily alienate some readers. Nevertheless, a work well worth checking out by a humble English presbyterian minister.

[David Monreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was the best book on the subject of Same-Sex attraction I have ever read. Having written my doctoral paper on this subject that is the highest praise I can give. It is irenic and polemic in a balance I have not seen before. He has penetrating insight and pastoral care for those wrestling with these issues. If you read one book one the subject, this is it!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and persuasive examination of identity according to the Bible, and how our current cultural confusion about identity is ultimately a worship issue and reflects idolatry. This book may anger or challenge you, but the author makes a compelling Scriptural argument.

[Jeshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enlightening book. Opened up many false pre-conceptions clearly, methodically and truthfully. Huge pastoral impact on me personally

[Jake Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff here. Culturally relevant to LGBTQ controversies within the church. Robert’s comes down on the side of orthodoxy, thankfully. Orthodox AND winsome. Highly recommend.