Truth in Advertising

I've already stated that I believe the “self-esteem movement” is a lie we've bought. What, then, would I suggest in its stead? I would suggest the truth.

In Romans 1:18 we read this from the pen of Paul:

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness

It would appear from this that one of our primary problems as human beings is that we tend to suppress the truth. On the other hand, Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). So I don't think I'm overstepping my bounds when I suggest that the better course than “self-esteem” is the truth.

This is what we see Paul commanding. He tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Instead he tells us to “think soberly” -- to have sound judgment. What, then, is the truth as it relates to our self and our worth?

1) I recently posted an entry against “groupthink” and the dangers of lumping large groups of people together. Here is one of the exceptions. The truth is “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We are sinners, deserving damnation. We are under the just wrath of God.

2) God, out of His marvelous grace, has placed worth on human beings. In Genesis, God institutes the death penalty because “in the image of God He made man” (Gen. 9:6). The point here is that man has no intrinsic value, but God has placed extrinsic value of His own choosing.

3) Because God has chosen to value His creation, God has provided a means of escaping His just wrath. It is His will to demonstrate His wrath and power (Rom. 9:22), but He also wishes to demonstrate mercy to some (Rom. 9:23). This group who are under His mercy rather than His wrath have a special place, called “the Bride of Christ”, and, as such, special worth. This worth, again, is not intrinsic, but applied by God.

4) From a purely human perspective, each person has gifts, talents, abilities ... and shortcomings. If we lie to ourselves regarding either, we are not free. If, in the name of “self-esteem”, we tell ourselves we are good at things that we are not, we are not free. If, in the name of “self-esteem”, we deny our failings and shortcomings, we are not free. Only a truthful evaluation -- “sound judgment” -- will do.

We need to remind ourselves that we are not intrinsically valuable, but that God places value in us and, as such, we are of inestimable value to Him. We need to remind ourselves that we have God-given abilities -- each of us -- and not deny them. We need to remind ourselves that we each have shortcomings, failures, and not deny them. If we can keep this balance, this “sound judgment” concerning ourselves, it will serve as part of the truth that sets us free.

A final thought on “self-esteem”. Is it remotely possible that the high numbers of people who suffer from low self-esteem is simply due to the fact that there is within each of us a recognition of our sinfulness and, because of it, our own intrinsic worthlessness? In other words, is it possible that a “low self-esteem” is simply the truth? Just a thought.