Self Esteem - Not 8/9/89

August 9, 1989

Editor
Englewood Independent
107 W. National Rd.
Englewood, OH 45322

Dear Editor
Poor self-image, poor self-esteem, and poor self-worth are catch phrases of our modern culture to explain the problems with drugs, unwanted pregnancies, violent crime, and any other problems that might be in our society. This attitude might not be so dangerous if it was only some New Age cult fringe element that was preaching this doctrine. However, this modern humanist concept has become so popular that most every element of our multifarious society has been infected with this insidious doctrine. Like any popular deception, this one has enough truth to be dangerous. It is true that many people ruin their lives because of a deficient concept of their self and their humanity. However, the proposed cure simply trades arrogance, haughtiness, and narcissism for self abasement; it really looks in the wrong place for a person's worth. It is virtually axiomatic that the character of any craftsman is seen in his craft. Likewise, we would expect the character of God to be seen in His highest earthly creation, man. In truth, God declares what is in agreement to the natural intelligence He has given us. God's word teaches that man is created in the image of God, Gen. 1:26, 27, et. al. The creator has communicated some of his attributes to His creatures. ( Albeit those attributes are greatly marred by the fall, and only partially restored in conversion. ) The worth or value of any person is the value that God, their creator, places on him or her. Capital punishment for murder is on the basis that the murder victim had value as an image bearer of God, Gen. 9:6. The immorality of disrespect for any person is based on that person being an image bearer of God, James 3:9, 10. Clearly the worth of a person is in being an image bearer of their Creator. The correct self-image or self-esteem of any person is to recognize they are an image bearer of God. When any society forgets this or teaches otherwise, they become pagan. We certainly cannot expect any worth while self-esteem from people who are taught that their worth is within themselves apart from their Maker. Apart from being a Divine creation, people are just some chemical combination and only worth the cost of the chemicals. But as an image bearer of God they have an awesome responsibility to portray the character of the Creator of the whole universe. A person's value is that they are an image bearer of the Lord of Glory. The most important thing for any young person or adult to learn is that they exist to please God, Rev. 4:11. We are not on this earth to please ourself or to grab all the gusto we can. Each person will glorify God. You will either be an eternal monument to the holy justice of God or His gracious mercy. Let us not be dazzled or deceived by the impressive sounding and formidable phrases of the New Age cult or the self-inflated cerebral humanist. A person can only have a right view of himself, or a proper self-image if he or she has a right view of God. A person's self-respect cannot be any greater than the respect they have for God. John Calvin, the 16th century reformer, expresses this by saying that man can obtain true knowledge of himself only after he has contemplated the nature of God.

By His Grace and For His Glory

Pastor Charles J. Arnett Union Baptist Church
528 N. Main St. Englewood OH 45322