ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
March 10, 2022
There is a difference between self-esteem and self-absorbed. Self-esteem allows you to feel confident enough in yourself to lift up and celebrate other people. To be self-absorbed is to dive so deep within oneself as to no longer take notice of others as distinctive and valuable in and of themselves. Christianity is strange when it comes to self-esteem. The church is in the business of building people up to the place where they are capable of humbling themselves and fully giving themselves away. On one hand, it is our task to tell every single human being how they have intrinsic value and are precious beyond measure. We want everyone to know they are loved unconditionally by the One whose opinion has ultimate sway, yet the moment someone begins to understand and be transformed by this news is the moment s/he begins to let go of any arrogance associated with self, release any haughtiness that might come with learning about God’s gracious favor. It is a confidence so secure in God’s limitless love that there is no longer any concern about trying to build up one’s sense of self. From that place, a person can fully live for the sake of God and others. I do not need to prove myself. Instead, I set aside my insecurity seeking approval and replace it with the good work of sharing the Good News of God’s love for everyone else.
O Kind and Merciful God, when I am weak and feeling insecure, speak words of affirmation so I can once again find confidence in your unrelenting and unchanging love. I do not wish to live for self, but for the sake of a hurting and despairing world. Amen.
