Paul's Poor Self Esteem

I've heard the same thing.

Let me add a thought or two.

Low self-esteem and humility are not the same thing. The humble man has a realistic view of himself when compared to the Lord Jesus.

Self-esteem and self-confidence are not the same thing. I don't have a self-esteem problem because Shaquille O'Neal can whip the daylights out of me on the basketball floor. My self confidence will be low because of a realistic assessment of my abilities compared to Shaq's.

But my self-confidence level is high when we compare his singing abilities with mine.

 

From The Berean Call Newsletter, February, 1996 (excerpt)

All the Counsel of God
Hunt, Dave
February 1, 1996

"Of course it was Paul's sense of self-worth, his positive self-image and his high self-esteem that carried him through. Right? Wrong! This pitiful humanistic theory so popular in the church has proved to be so false and harmful that even the secular world is abandoning it. Newsweek's cover of February 17, 1992 announced its feature article in large letters: "THE CURSE OF SELF-ESTEEM: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE FEEL GOOD MOVEMENT ." A November 23, 1995 article by a professor/researcher in Portland, Oregon's The Oregonian newspaper was titled, "Note to California: Drop self-esteem, Self-control is most important...." (California, with its Self-Esteem Task Force, like leading Christian psychologists, has spent years trying to prove that self-esteem is vital, and has failed.) Based upon years of research, the author declares, "If we could cross out self-esteem and put in self-control, kids would be better off and society in general would be much better off." This is precisely what the Bible has always said. Yet this fallacious and harmful theory is the very bread and butter of Christian psychology."

http://www.thebereancall.org/node/5827

 

"Jesus Christ and the apostles did not spend time expounded psychological theories of man; they preached the gospel. Psychology appeals to the mind. The gospel appeals to the heart"
The truth will set us free!

 

Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, "I am competent") and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame. Self-esteem can apply specifically to a particular dimension (for example, "I believe I am a good writer, and feel proud of that in particular") or have global extent (for example, "I believe I am a bad person, and feel bad of myself in general").

The term self esteem seems to be very wide in its definition. In fact it can cover pride which is sin. I would say that from a biblical view we are not to evaluate ourselves so as to promote some sort of self gratification. God is to do that. I would also say however that we are not to beat ourselves down with the idea of showing piety. Let us not judge anything before the time and living our lives for the Lord as anything more then this comes of sin.

 

There is no question that your methods will bring you a great deal of praise in this life, but if you look at scripture and the God of that scripture your method totally goes against anything He ever does. He confronts with truth and never flatters. That is not to suggest that He speaks to do harm either. If He is the example and we are to follow Him and yet went against His model then I would have to ask myself who am I following? I think that it is very easy to justify our actions as long as they do not bring us persecution.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
It is a very good test as to if we have sought to live godly or comfortable in this world.

 

But did you tell those kids what God thought of them? Did you tell them how much God loves them and that they are so worth His son dying for them? That's the most important aspect. You can encourage but was it just worldy encouragment fighting worldly discouragement?

 

Hello Scarlett,
Thank you for the question. First I was simply answering spirit of the entire post not certain individual parts. As to what would I do. Well probably fail in many areas. However knowing that I am prone to fail, and that I have no ability to know or understand what is right without looking at God through His revelation I would and so seek to be like Him in my actions based on what He has revealed of Himself.
For instance let me give an example. my pastor preaches several times a week, and because of tradition at the ned of the message he usually goes to the back to send the people off to their homes. Many tell him (falsely) how good the message was and so on and who knows for some perhaps every message is good to them. However to me that is not the case. As I leave if the message was of a nature that was good I will tell him that I thank the Lord for that message. If I do not feel the message was good and many are not, I simply wish him a good day. I do not try and falsely build him up just to make him feel good or promote self esteem.

Another example is I have had a young girls approach a crowd I am in and someone comment on her looks. They may say " you really look nice today." However I may feel that she really looks immodest today. I do not confirm their statement and if am pushed for a statement or conformation, I would be honest with my response without directly saying something to harm the person trying to be as gentle as I could knowing that her spirit is weak and her understanding is ignorant and also the girl did not ask my opinion. I might say, changing the subject, "it is good to see you how have you been doing"?
I apply that in every part of life. This is why it is not a good idea for someone to say to me in front of the pastor or anyone something trying try to get me to confirm their standards. I will not confirm something as positive if I feel it was not so. I might say to the person am glad that it spoke to your heart, or just smile at then with no answer.

The point is that when i look at the Lord through His word i see a God that does not sugar coat things to build us up (flattery) I also do not see Him as purposely tearing down someone without a cause. I am reminded that we are to be as wise a serpents and gentle as a dove.I am not there, but that is what I seek and i am in constant change to get there. Constantly guarding my words so as to come across with truth and yet not do undue harm.

 

Good self-esteem, I think, is more about being comfortable in one's own skin and having confidence. Healthy self-esteem is not a lack of humility.

Theologically, we have to be very careful when we talk about the "sin nature" or the "flesh" compared with the original nature of Creation, which was pronounced "very good" or even "super good."

Yes, sin is a parasitic presence that we cannot remove or outlast or outrun. It's there and affects our whole self.

But we are still image-bearers of the most high God and were created to be "super good." And we still are, though we're fallen.

If self-esteem is just about a lack of humility, that's one thing, but if it's about being confident in the person we were created to be, especially who we are in Christ, that's another, good thing entirely.

So much of what we hear in the more traditional evangelical church, especially Baptist churches (I'm sad to say) is that we are just so horrible and so sinful and rotten to the core. Well, if the image of God remains intact, that's not true, even though the presence of sin has obscured it. It's the truest and most salient part of who we are.

We're still fallen, and inherently sinful. We can't do anything to help ourselves. We depend on the mercy and grace of God. But only talking about how crappy we are all the time will do nothing other than beat people down and cause them to think horribly of themselves, then we haven't done what we're supposed to do. Sin is part of the story and it's part of the condition, but the good news is that we were created to be different and, through grace, we can be.

 

I've been meaning to get back to this thread but it is a busy week. Let me just say that many times people confuse 'self-concept' with 'self-esteem'. I will try to get back later this week to explain the difference unless someone else takes up the banner for me.

 

I don't know. (just wait )

I have read the pp's because I wanted to get this out first.

I think Paul understood the balance between self esteem and humbleness.

If you have self esteem with humbleness then you get arrogance. If you have humbleness without self esteem you get weakness of character.

Paul was humble before the Lord, but he also understood his value as a child of the King. You can't be content wherever you find yourself, without the confidence you have that the Lord will keep His promises. Paul's self esteem wasn't based on what Paul could do, but on what God could do. And that is the definition of self esteem we should strive for.

What passes for self esteem in our times is just selfishness in disguise.

My two cents.