Enchantmt
Progress...not perfection
An article I came across:
http://www.epm.org/articles/selfest.html
Two Sources of Self-Esteem: Secular & Christian
by Randy Alcorn
Everywhere in the secular media I've been hearing and reading about the critical problem of poor self-esteem among our young people. A bad self-image is being cited as the cause of teen suicide, drug abuse, crime and violence. Educators and community leaders are trying to find ways to help children bolster their self-esteem.
Where does this plague of low self-esteem come from? Ironically, straight from the atheistic evolutionary view of man with which society has indoctrinated our young people. Where can they get a healthy and accurate self-esteem? From the very Judeo-Christian ethic society is rejecting, and trying so desperately to keep out of the classrooms and public life.
Let me summarize the secular and Christian foundations for self-esteem, then you tell me whether it's any wonder why America's children are feeling like they, their lives and values have so little meaning.
The Secular Basis for Self-Esteem:
You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm that washed up on an ocean beach ten billion years ago. You are the blind and arbitrary product of time, chance and natural forces. Your closest living relatives swing from trees and eat crackers at the zoo.
You are a mere grab-bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an obscure galaxy in a remote and empty corner of a vast, cold, and meaningless universe. You are flying through lifeless space with no purpose, no direction, no control, and no destiny but final destruction.
You are a purely biological entity, different only in degree but not in kind from a microbe, virus or amoeba. You have no essence beyond your body, and at death you will cease to exist entirely. What little life you do have is confined to a fragile body aimlessly moving through a world plagued by war, famine and disease. The only question is whether the world will manage to blow itself up before your brief and pointless life ends on its own.
In short, you came from nothing, you are going nowhere, and you will end your brief cosmic journey beneath six feet of dirt, where all that is you will become food for bacteria and rot with worms.
And now, kids . . . doesn't that make you feel good about yourselves?
The Christian Basis for Self-Esteem:
You are a special creation of a good and all powerful God. You are the climax of his creation, the magnum opus of the greatest artist in the universe. You are created in His image, with capacities to think, feel, and worship that set you above all other life forms. You differ from the animals not simply in degree, but in kind.
Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. God has masterminded the exact combination of DNA and chromosomes that constitute your genetic code, making you as different from all others as every snowflake differs from the rest.
Yes, you are sinners, and in and of yourselves you do not deserve to go to heaven. But despite your rebellion, your Creator loved you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that he gave the life of his only Son that you might spend eternity with him. If you are willing to accept the free gift of salvation, you can become a child of God, the King of the universe.
As a Christian, you are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He has given you special gifts and abilities to serve him in a particular and unique way.
Your heavenly Father is sovereign, and will allow nothing to cross your path that is not Father-filtered. He cares for you so much that He is totally available to you at all times, and listens to every word you say. He cares deeply about your hurts, and has a perfect plan for your life. He has given you the inspired Word of God as a road-map for living. He gives you the truth that sets you free, a life that is abundant and eternal, and a spiritual family that loves and needs you.
Your destiny is to live forever in a magnificent kingdom, to reign with Christ over the universe. You will forever enjoy the wonders of his presence and the marvels of his creations. You will spend eternity in intimate and joyful fellowship with your beloved Lord and your precious spiritual family.
Now, kids . . . how does that make you feel about yourselves? And how does it make you feel about your God?!
http://www.epm.org/articles/selfest2.html
Self-Esteem: Question & Answer
Dear Mr. Alcorn,
I am a third year undergraduate at Staffordshire University, England, completing a dissertation on the relationship between religious orientation and self-esteem.
I have found a positive relationship between intrinsic religiosity and self-esteem, which I feel might be similar to having a biblical self-esteem. However, now I have hit a problem. Despite reading several articles including yours (especially Two Sources of Self-Esteem: Secular and Christian), I still feel no clearer about defining just what a biblical self-esteem is, finding it probably easier to say what it is not, in the context of secular self-esteem.
Could you possibly help me in providing a concise description/definition of what biblical self-esteem is, so that I can attempt to relate it to the relationship that I have found?
Intrinsic relationship and self-esteem certainly appear to go beyond a secular self-esteem, but I can't find the right way to relate it to a biblical self-esteem.
I am becoming ever more confused in my writing and would very much appreciate your help.
Diane
Diane,
I think the proper self-esteem is stated in Romans 12:3: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment." Sober judgment means accurate judgment. Correct self-image is seeing ourselves as God sees us. He created us, so we have purpose. He loves us, so we have value. But we are sinners, depraved and bent on evil (Romans 3). Our nature as sinners separates us from God. If we embrace the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, we become new creatures in Christ and are covered with his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17,21). As such, a correct self-esteem for the Christian means seeing ourselves as we are, forgiven and made holy by the merit of Christ.
This is in stark contrast to much of the self-esteem movement which emphasizes our own supposed merit and worth apart from God. What makes God's grace amazing is our unworthiness, and if we underestimate that unworthiness, we undermine the grace of God on our behalf. It's not about us, it's about Christ. Everything that exalts men tends to bring down Christ. Our worth is not only as a result of His work of creation, but in particular, redemption.
Hope that helps a little. Best wishes.
Randy Alcorn
http://www.epm.org/articles/selfest.html
Two Sources of Self-Esteem: Secular & Christian
by Randy Alcorn
Everywhere in the secular media I've been hearing and reading about the critical problem of poor self-esteem among our young people. A bad self-image is being cited as the cause of teen suicide, drug abuse, crime and violence. Educators and community leaders are trying to find ways to help children bolster their self-esteem.
Where does this plague of low self-esteem come from? Ironically, straight from the atheistic evolutionary view of man with which society has indoctrinated our young people. Where can they get a healthy and accurate self-esteem? From the very Judeo-Christian ethic society is rejecting, and trying so desperately to keep out of the classrooms and public life.
Let me summarize the secular and Christian foundations for self-esteem, then you tell me whether it's any wonder why America's children are feeling like they, their lives and values have so little meaning.
The Secular Basis for Self-Esteem:
You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm that washed up on an ocean beach ten billion years ago. You are the blind and arbitrary product of time, chance and natural forces. Your closest living relatives swing from trees and eat crackers at the zoo.
You are a mere grab-bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an obscure galaxy in a remote and empty corner of a vast, cold, and meaningless universe. You are flying through lifeless space with no purpose, no direction, no control, and no destiny but final destruction.
You are a purely biological entity, different only in degree but not in kind from a microbe, virus or amoeba. You have no essence beyond your body, and at death you will cease to exist entirely. What little life you do have is confined to a fragile body aimlessly moving through a world plagued by war, famine and disease. The only question is whether the world will manage to blow itself up before your brief and pointless life ends on its own.
In short, you came from nothing, you are going nowhere, and you will end your brief cosmic journey beneath six feet of dirt, where all that is you will become food for bacteria and rot with worms.
And now, kids . . . doesn't that make you feel good about yourselves?
The Christian Basis for Self-Esteem:
You are a special creation of a good and all powerful God. You are the climax of his creation, the magnum opus of the greatest artist in the universe. You are created in His image, with capacities to think, feel, and worship that set you above all other life forms. You differ from the animals not simply in degree, but in kind.
Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. God has masterminded the exact combination of DNA and chromosomes that constitute your genetic code, making you as different from all others as every snowflake differs from the rest.
Yes, you are sinners, and in and of yourselves you do not deserve to go to heaven. But despite your rebellion, your Creator loved you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that he gave the life of his only Son that you might spend eternity with him. If you are willing to accept the free gift of salvation, you can become a child of God, the King of the universe.
As a Christian, you are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He has given you special gifts and abilities to serve him in a particular and unique way.
Your heavenly Father is sovereign, and will allow nothing to cross your path that is not Father-filtered. He cares for you so much that He is totally available to you at all times, and listens to every word you say. He cares deeply about your hurts, and has a perfect plan for your life. He has given you the inspired Word of God as a road-map for living. He gives you the truth that sets you free, a life that is abundant and eternal, and a spiritual family that loves and needs you.
Your destiny is to live forever in a magnificent kingdom, to reign with Christ over the universe. You will forever enjoy the wonders of his presence and the marvels of his creations. You will spend eternity in intimate and joyful fellowship with your beloved Lord and your precious spiritual family.
Now, kids . . . how does that make you feel about yourselves? And how does it make you feel about your God?!
http://www.epm.org/articles/selfest2.html
Self-Esteem: Question & Answer
Dear Mr. Alcorn,
I am a third year undergraduate at Staffordshire University, England, completing a dissertation on the relationship between religious orientation and self-esteem.
I have found a positive relationship between intrinsic religiosity and self-esteem, which I feel might be similar to having a biblical self-esteem. However, now I have hit a problem. Despite reading several articles including yours (especially Two Sources of Self-Esteem: Secular and Christian), I still feel no clearer about defining just what a biblical self-esteem is, finding it probably easier to say what it is not, in the context of secular self-esteem.
Could you possibly help me in providing a concise description/definition of what biblical self-esteem is, so that I can attempt to relate it to the relationship that I have found?
Intrinsic relationship and self-esteem certainly appear to go beyond a secular self-esteem, but I can't find the right way to relate it to a biblical self-esteem.
I am becoming ever more confused in my writing and would very much appreciate your help.
Diane
Diane,
I think the proper self-esteem is stated in Romans 12:3: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment." Sober judgment means accurate judgment. Correct self-image is seeing ourselves as God sees us. He created us, so we have purpose. He loves us, so we have value. But we are sinners, depraved and bent on evil (Romans 3). Our nature as sinners separates us from God. If we embrace the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, we become new creatures in Christ and are covered with his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17,21). As such, a correct self-esteem for the Christian means seeing ourselves as we are, forgiven and made holy by the merit of Christ.
This is in stark contrast to much of the self-esteem movement which emphasizes our own supposed merit and worth apart from God. What makes God's grace amazing is our unworthiness, and if we underestimate that unworthiness, we undermine the grace of God on our behalf. It's not about us, it's about Christ. Everything that exalts men tends to bring down Christ. Our worth is not only as a result of His work of creation, but in particular, redemption.
Hope that helps a little. Best wishes.
Randy Alcorn
