Posted by: Bethany
When I was in gradeschool, we had a weekly self-esteem course. Our school counselor cae in and brought “Pumsy the Dinosaur” to tell us all how wonderful,special, unique and worthy we all were….
Thinking back on that now just makes me want to gag. Just the name of the curriculum–ME-ology–is enough to make my skin crawl.
These self-esteem courses have been in public schools (as well as available on cassettes and CD’s) for awhile now….at least 20 years. What have they accomplished? Do people really feel better about themselves? Have they made us happier? Better adjusted?
The only thing I’ve seen come out of this Me-centric thinking is a stronger passion towards rights…MY rights…what I deserve….what I’m entitled to. It’s culturally sanctioned selfishness.
Where is the compassion? Where is the joy in doing the right thing? Making a sacrifice? Working hard for something? Where is any of this found in Me-ology?
If you are feeling badly about yourself have you considered that it might be deserved? That you should feel guilty/sinful/unworthy because you are? That maybe it is because basically “our righteousness is as filthy rags?”
There is a quote from the movie Spanglish that I absolutely love.
Lately, your low self-esteem is just good common sense.
Philippians 2:3-8 says:
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Funny, you never read about Jesus demanding his rights. He never demanded that he be treated a certain way.
Our Lord, instead, humbled himself, took the form of a bond-servant, and chose to die a terrible death….
Why can’t we just allow ourselves to be wronged? Jesus did. We need to get over it. This idea that we should get whatever we desire, whatever we want….be treated fairly, delicately, nicely and approriapely at all times (ahem. Whether we deserve it or not….I don’t think you want me to get into what we really deserve.)
Romans 5:3 says:
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance
I don’t think Me-ology fits into this verse anywhere….tribulations, sufferering, and perecution are NOT the American Way.
Yet, as Christians, we are called to a Higher Way. The Way. The Truth. The Light.
And selfish desires and demanding our “rights” like a two year old in a tantrum is not His Way…
So, if you’ve been feeling mistreated, underappreciated, abused, overlooked or persecuted don’t sweat it. That’s something to be joyful about…remember?
James 1:2-3
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
And like my pastor says:
It’s all okay. Just wait for the Great White Throne–it will be settled there.
March 4th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Amen, Bethany! Very true!
March 5th, 2006 at 7:30 am
Your post underlines a huge flaw in our thinking. Self-esteem in it’s purist form is nothing more than self-worship.
As to our rights…we give those up completely when we take up the cross. We give up the right to be treated fairly, to be treated with respect, to be able to speak freely or have this or do that. All of that gets nailed to the cross.
Humility? That’s not recognized as a virtue anymore. Pridefulness is the M.O. of our culture.
Excellent insights, Bethany!
March 5th, 2006 at 10:37 am
I too remember Me-ology! It was very creepy. I agree wholeheartedly with you about people and their rights. Our society needs more practice in “turning the other cheek”.
March 5th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
For some reason I was unable to comment on here the other day. I remember our school counselor coming into our classroom in elementary school and giving us feel-o-meters where we colored in how happy we were. Today everything is about feelings and basing things on emotions. I know we as women are more emotional, but I think there is a point where we can go overboard on running away with our emotions and feelings. We need to put feelings aside and look to Jesus!