Self-Esteem vs. Christ-Esteem |
What is the place of self-esteem in the life of the Christian? |
| by David A. DePra |
|
One of the greatest freedoms any of us can experience is to |
see that we are nothing. It spells freedom because you realize |
you no longer have anything to protect about yourself. All of the |
hiding and pretending before God, yourself, and others, is over. |
Spiritual bankruptcy does indeed set a person free in Jesus Christ. |
Most people usually have a secret desire to be free from |
pride, self, and all of the entanglements of human nature. But it is |
the "getting there" that is the problem. Some of us don't have a |
clue as to how to get there. Others of us try to get there through our |
own strength. And then there are those of us who say we want to |
be free, but will not pay the cost of pride when God presents |
the opportunity. |
Allowing God to bring us to spiritual bankruptcy is actually |
a scary thought. Afterall, most of us think to be spiritually poor |
means to "feel worthless." We think it means that we must try |
to develope some sort of self-imposed humility. That creates a |
problem because most of us don't need any help feeling bad |
about ourselves. We do a pretty good job at that on our own. The |
idea that walking with God is going to intensify this feeling isn't |
very attractive at all. |
Jesus Christ, however, did not mince words. He said, "Blessed |
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." He also |
said, "He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles |
himself will be exalted." There is no question about it, God wants |
us to become spiritually poor. In fact, He intends to crucify our |
pride and self-life. Over and over He will bring things into |
our lives intended to expose us as empty and barren. Again and |
again He will point out our failures, showing absolutely no regard |
or mercy for our pride. If we want to walk with Jesus Christ, we can |
kiss self-esteem goodbye. It will no longer govern our lives. |
But isn't self-esteem a healthy thing? Isn't it vital to both mental |
and emotional health? Afterall, look what happens to people |
who don't feel good about themselves. They are crabby and |
insecure; unpleasant and troubled. Their lack of self-esteem |
affects everything they do and everything they are in an adverse |
way. |
Clearly, we must get God's mind on this "self-esteem" business. |
We must understand how it is possible to have self crucified, yet |
not become morbid, depressed, and governed by a sense of |
worthlessness. What is the balance here? |
Think about self-esteem. Natural thinking suggests that |
there are generally two ways to view yourself: Positively or |
negatively. We say that those who view themselves positively |
are generally equipped with "high self-esteem." Those who |
view themselves negatively, well, we consider them to be beset |
with "low self-esteem." Thus, the goal of much conselling, even |
among Christians, is to get people to develope "high self-esteem." |
That, we believe, not only makes them happier people, but |
makes it more pleasant for those around them. |
Note that natural thinking provides that there are only two |
extremes possible for the human condition: That of high self- |
esteem, and that of low self-esteem. Everyone is thought to be |
living somewhere in between. Rarely is thought ever given to |
the possibility of ANOTHER alternative -- one completely |
| outside of those two extremes. |
| Outside of those two possibilities? What else is there but |
| the possibiliities of high self-esteem or low self-esteem? |
| Herein is the surprising answer. There IS another possibility. It |
| is CHRIST-ESTEEM. Rather than be governed by a high or low |
| view of myself, why not leave myself alone and focus on Christ? |
| Ask something about "high self-esteem" and "low self- |
| esteem:" What do the terms have in common? One little |
| word: SELF. That is no accident or coincidence, for both |
| are nothing more than a focus upon self. High self-esteem |
| is a positive focus on self. Low self-esteem is a negative focus. |
| But the focus on self is there. Self-focus absolutely governs us. |
| Man, born in Adam, is fully governed by a focus and pre- |
| occupation with himself. Me, myself, and I. Even the "good" |
| which natural man does comes from some root of self. This |
| motive does not need to be deliberate or conscious. It is |
| what we are by nature. There is no escape from it in Adam. |
| Christ-esteem, on the other hand, is not a focus on self. |
| It is important to understand that. High self-esteem is a |
| postive focus upon self. Low self-esteem is a negative focus |
| upon self. Christ-esteem isn't any focus upon self. It is a |
| focus AWAY from self, and upon Jesus Christ. Christ- |
| esteem is a perspective completely outside of the possibilities |
| known to natural man. |
| Now we can see why spiritual bankruptcy does not equal a |
| sense of worthlessness. Despite being fully aware of the |
| barrenness of myself, I do not dwell on self. I dwell on the One |
| who has saved me from myself. Or, to put it another way, true |
| humility is NOT a focus on my worthlessness. It is a focus |
| upon HIS greatness. |
| Until we see ourselves along side of Jesus Christ, there is |
| no possibility of true humility or spiritual bankruptcy. Only by |
| seeing HIM can we see ourselves, and realize that there is |
| real redemption and freedom. Only by seeing Him along side |
| of our problems, will those problems cease to intimidate us. |
| Christ-esteem is not achieved by practicing mental games, |
| memorizing scripture, or even by following religious rules and |
| laws. It is achieved in only one way: Death and resurrection. I |
| must be willing to take my hands off of myself, and leave myself |
to Him. I do that by unconditionally surrendering myself to |
Him for the inworkings of Christ's death and resurrection. That |
will eventually make Christ-esteem a reality for me. I'll more |
and more live in the freedom Christ has provided. |
Note that I cannot find freedom from self by turning upon |
myself and attacking. No. I must present my "self" to God |
unconditionally, that the same grace which saved me might |
| bring me into conformity with the death and resurrection of His |
| Son. Only God knows how to specifically do this in my case. But |
| as He does it, the result will be REAL freedom. And I'll slowly |
| develope a new perspective completely outside of any that |
| I ever thought possible. I'll grow to see the One who is the |
answer to all of my so-called "self" problems, Jesus Christ. |