Self-Love: the Antithesis of the Gospel

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.7in;line-height:24.0pt;mso-line-height-rule: exactly">An increasingly common fancy in modern society suggests that self-love is right. Statements such as, “I know my worth,” or even something that proposes the term itself like, “I am focusing on loving myself,” are seemingly prevalent. The idea, while alluring, however, does not reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, such a concept is antithetical to the gospel and should be avoided by Christians. A rebuttal might ask, “Does not Christ want us to love ourselves? Is not self-love merely viewing ourselves the way God views us?” While sincere questions, the gospel message answers such contentions with stark and often difficult truth: truthful in that the gospel realizes humanity’s dire state and difficult because such a realization demands justice, which certainly is not the mercy of God (except that his wrath was poured on his Son Jesus Christ); thus, God’s love, mercy, and grace are consummately underserved for anyone.<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[1] <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.7in;line-height:24.0pt;mso-line-height-rule: exactly">To appropriately analyze the absolute incorrect perpetuation of self-love, one must consider the opposing views which subsist in society: 1) the worldly idea of self-love and 2) what should be considered Christ-honoring love,<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[2] as the two offer diametrically competing concepts; yet, the two concepts are not both right, for only Christ-honoring love permeates the gospel message. The world’s idea of self-love, however, offers only deadlocks and destruction. Human nature enjoys being in control and struggles with the truth that a loving God is also just so reality is that he would be unequivocally right in punishing every single radically depraved person (i.e., everyone) in utter and eternal torment. To conclude such a truth, both concepts should be considered: self-love and Christ-honoring love. <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.7in; line-height:10.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[1] Even suggestions that a loving God would not send an innocent person to hell falls short because such a person does not exist, and the gospel message teaches and realizes this truth. <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.7in; line-height:10.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[2] It should be noted that the opposite of self-love is not low self-esteem, which is itself selfish and self-centered. Rather, Christ-honoring love understands the twofold reality of humanity’s utter and debased depravity and the unmerited mercy of God; additionally, Christ-honoring love chooses to boast not in self but in Christ and understands that the only reason Christians may stand before the Father is the mediation of Christ.