Transitory Psychosis

In yesterday’s post, I talked about this convoluted interpretation of Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” that twists it into a command to love ourselves. As the reasoning goes, how can we love others if we do not love ourselves? I won’t rehash that previous post, but I do want to answer the question: Where did this come from?

Actually, I can only answer authoritatively about where I heard it first–Christian psychologists. The mandate for self-love has long been a staple of psychology. As often happens, people with a doctorate in psychology and an elementary understanding of Scripture read into the text something that fits their training, but not the Scripture. The result is that countless youth leaders and Bible teachers have followed their lead. The problem is that it just isn’t the truth.

Am I saying no one has a problem with self-esteem? No. There are certainly individuals young and old who struggle in this area–especially those who have suffered physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. God’s Word provides a remedy for this, what some have called “Christ-esteem.” Understanding who we are in Christ, as presented in Scripture, is a great way to counter Satan’s barrage of hatred. (See Ephesians 1:3-14.) We are important to God! So important that He was willing to give His Son for us.

However, to imply that self-esteem is the secret to spiritual life and growth is to contradict Scripture (Matthew 23:12; Philippians 2:5-8). As believers, we are called to self-denial not self-exaltation (Matthew 16:24). It is God’s will, not our own, that must be supreme. We must teach teens that if we humble ourselves, in due time God will exalt us (1 Peter 5:6).

I read it again yesterday in a publication distributed by a huge youth ministry. I say “again” because I’ve read it dozens of times in all sorts of Christian publications. Once again an author has turned the words of Jesus upside down.

The issue arises from a discussion of Jesus words to the “lawyer” or Sadduccee in Matthew 23:36-40). When asked which was the “greatest commandment” in the Law, Jesus cited the command to love God with all of the heart, soul, and mind. He went on to state the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s the popular interpretation of that second command that bugs me.

Countless Christian authors have turned that second statement into a command to love yourself. In fact, many say that a person cannot love others until he or she learns to love him or herself. Thus, the command to love our neighbor becomes a command to love ourselves. This convoluted “interpretation” does not come from sound biblical scholarship. Rather than “commanding” self-love, the commandment Jesus cited assumes it.

Jesus knew that human beings need no commandment to love self. We do it quite naturally, thank you. (Do you doubt that? Just look around at what we purchase for our own comfort, appearance, convenience, entertainment, etc.) The commandments we need have to do with loving outside ourselves–loving God and others.

What concerns me is that so many in youth ministry seem to think the key to helping kids love others is teaching them how to love themselves.

So where did this concept come from? More about that next time . . .