Hi friends,
An interaction I had this week led me to think and pray about this question:
How can I believe in myself as a Christian?
There are so many barriers for Christians to think positively about themselves:
- Worship songs declare that we are nothing and God is everything
- Sermons constantly reminded we are sinners destined for hell, so evil that God had to die on the cross for our sins
- Spiritual leaders call us to imitate Jesus’ example by denying ourselves
- Friends criticize us for being proud if we think or say something good about ourselves
- Bible studies ask us to compare ourselves to people like Abraham, Ruth, David, Mary, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus
Can you think of other examples?
In raising these examples, I feel the internal pressure to shut down. Isn’t there a Biblical argument for each of these?
If you evaluate my writings, don’t I commend the greatness of God, the sinfulness of humanity, the importance of humility, and the wisdom of imitating godly leaders?
Each of these points has its place in the context of the entire Bible story and a mature Christian theology.
But what if these points become the entirety of what we believe and how we try to live?
It generates a negative, insecure, and pessimistic view of ourselves.
By overemphasizing some Biblical themes and underemphasizing others, we can create a toxic theology that tears people down. Root this into the culture of a church, and the relationships within it will work to hold people down.
So what’s missing?
For the sake of length, I’ll cover just five Biblical themes that restore a healthier view of ourselves:
- Creation
- God’s love
- Our Identity in Chrsit
- Purpose
- Wisdom
Creation:
It seems like a big mistake to overlook the very first page of the Bible.
But in Genesis 1 we read,
So God created man in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it…
It’s good to celebrate these truths! We are not accidents. Our value is not found in our net worth or appearance or popularity.
Our very being reflects the reality and goodness of God. We begin life with God’s blessing.
Psalm 139 reflects on this truth:
For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
If we deny that we are made remarkably well, then we are denying God’s truth.
It is Biblical to wholeheartedly believe and say - I am wonderfully made!
It is good for us to know this truth very well.
God’s Love:
Any theology - or church culture - that isn’t saturated in the love of God is missing out.
Why would we do that to ourselves?
The Bible tells us repeatedly that we are loved not because of what we do, but because of who God is. Because of God’s perfection, he is always loving us. Right now. Tomorrow. Yesterday. God’s love is like a star that always shines - but his love is personal.
For instance, Romans 5:8 says:
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The famous words of John 3:16 affirm:
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:8 teaches,
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
The gospel isn’t a mere legal transaction. It’s very good news that we now know a God who always loves us.
We matter deeply to God. In his infinite wisdom, it made sense to die on the cross to save us, restore us, and love us.
When we internalize being beloved, we no longer have to strive for approval or live under the weight of insecurity.
We can be confident that we are deeply cherished and valued by God, always and all the time.
Our Identity in Christ:
Too often, we say we are “sinners saved by grace.” But if we are saved by grace, we gain a new identity.
That’s what the Apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
The old has passed away.
Do we still sin? Yes. Are we sinners? Well… technically, of course. Someone who sins is a sinner.
But through the Scriptures, God reveals another, better identity for us.
For instance, Peter calls us a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession” (1 Peter 2:9).
It is Biblical to say, “I am one of God’s royal priests.” If you know Christ, that’s true.
And it is good to meditate on and celebrate God’s truth!
We are no longer defined by our sin, shame, or critical voices - even if it comes from a pulpit or a Bible study.
Instead, we are defined by who God says we are: his beloved sons and daughters.
Purpose:
There’s a self-affirmation movement lampooned by the SNL character Stuart Smalley’s Daily Affirmations. As he says, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog gone it, people like me.”
Knowing that God values us is a critical foundation. But our identity is not for navel-gazing. Instead, our new identity gives us the strength to serve others.
In particular, God has given us a high purpose. As his family members, we are invited into God’s business plan: to restore all of Creation.
As Ephesians 2:10 declares:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
What we do matters. Though God could do it all himself, he invites us to contribute to the growth of his kingdom and the renewal of his Creation.
Wisdom:
One of the ditches that I see Christians fall into is an obsession with righteousness. We get a tunnel vision about getting right with God - and consequently, we miss the rest of what the Bible teaches.
This is a bit odd because the Gospel assures us of salvation. Because of what Christ has done, we are saved! We might experience anxiety over this from time to time, but it is a done deal.
As we rest in the security of God’s promise to save us, we are freed to grow in wisdom.
Think wisely: why would God want us to hate ourselves when he loves us?
Why would Jesus become incarnate as a human if God despises our flesh?
Consider what Paul says in Ephesians 1:
This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Why would Paul constantly give God thanks for people who are garbage? That doesn’t make sense!
No, these are treasured, beloved, honored friends. He sees them as co-heirs with Christ! As he would see us!
And what does Paul want for his friends?
For God to give them wisdom so they can see themselves as God sees them.
We are invited to pray to God, and rely on God, to view ourselves as positively as he views us.
In conclusion…
It’s past time for us to challenge ‘worm theology’: the attitude that emphasizes human worthlessness.
Sure, God is greater than us - incomprehensibly so.
But it’s on God’s authority that we know our value.
It can be hard to trust what God says. But we ask him to give us faith, to assure our hearts, and to confirm his truth in our hearts. And as Christians, we remind each other of what God says. We want to build communities where we encourage one another, help each other become like Christ, and wholeheartedly participate in the noble mission of loving God and loving others.
I want to hear from you.
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How have Christian leaders or friends discouraged you from believing these truths?
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What is helping you to know how God sees you - and to live accordingly?
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