Jesus was not unclear. "Whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt 10:38-39). "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matt 16:24). Jesus made it clear that denying self was critical to being a follower of Christ. That, of course, is not one of the selling points for most people. You don't often hear a preacher at a revival suggesting that to unbelievers. (Of course, when you think about it, that seems odd, since the Jesus they're encouraging you to place your faith in said it.) Denying self is a necessary lifestyle for a believer.
The whole concept sounds off. It gives off a vibe of constantly looking back and making sure you're surrendering self. It exudes false humility and self-righteousness.It calls up images of priests whipping themselves like that's the right way to go. It seems ... backward. That is because, I would suggest, it is. Surrendering self is not the aim -- it's a starting point. The idea of denying self is a look at Christ. Paul wrote that he had learned contentment with much and with little. How? Not be looking at what he had, but at looking at Who he served. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Php 4:13). Jeremiah found his hope in the steadfast love of the Lord rather than circumstances (Lam 3:21-26).
Here ... let me put it another way that might make it easier to get. Self-denial is not about you. By definition, self-denial is not about you. It is, then, about Christ. Hebrews says we are to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb 12:1-2). That's the idea. If we are in full pursuit of Christ, we are led to ignore self for Him and for others. The problem is that this is in direct opposition to the basic sin nature. That means that it won't be natural and it won't be easy and it won't be fast, but there is nothing better than a life pursuing Christ as your all in all. And, of course, the alternative is not pretty.
2 comments:
Just like the way to overcome temptation isn't just to deny the temptation but to focus on something else. We need to deny ourselves, not for the sake of denial but to better serve Christ. Just like the reason Paul gives for it being better to not be married, not because the single life is inherently superior (see Genesis), but because it frees you to serve God more fully.
This notion of denying oneself would seem to exclude basing one's conclusions about scripture and the nature of YHWH on Reason, rationality, or anything else that is totally grounded in one's self.
Post a Comment