The Fruit of Self-Love

Matthew 7:13-29 is a sobering passage. It tells us that the way of genuine faith is a narrow path, warns us against false prophets, and explains that we can recognize the truth of a teaching by the kind of fruit it produces in its teachers and followers. Finally, it explains that many people build their lives on the sandy teachings of man instead of standing on the rock of Christ.

With that passage in mind, let me share an email I received from a subscriber after publishing 6 Ways the Self-Esteem Movement Contradicts Scripture. 

💬 "You contradict God and the Bible!!!!! Self-hate and spending your life being abused doesn't do much for God!!! God is all love and wants His children to love themselves as they are His children!!!!!! When you know love, you can give love. I have unsubscribed and find your self-hatred movement disgusting, vile and satanic!!! Never send your spam to me again!!!!" 

Let's examine the fruit of the self-esteem teachings in this woman's life:

1. She misrepresented the devotion—nothing in the devotion promoted self-hate or abuse.(1)

2. She claimed it contradicted Scripture despite the fact that each point was supported by a Scripture passage.

3. She claimed that her self-esteem beliefs resulted in love for others, but she wrote one of the most hateful emails I've ever received.

I’m not sure I could have had a better illustration of the bad fruit of the self-esteem movement. I believe she proved each of the 6 points in the devotion she criticized.

Esteeming ourselves leads to narcissism. Esteeming God leads to wisdom, humility, and grace. 

Please pray for this woman and others like her who are standing on the sands of man-made teachings.

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Note: Bible Love Notes doesn't send emails to anyone unless they subscribe. And when a person unsubscribes, they no longer receive devotions, so this email had no purpose aside from venting her anger.

If you'd like to read more about the damage of the self-esteem movement, please see the Bible Love Notes collection of devotions about Biblical Self-Esteem.  

(1) It is a common tactic in ungodly disagreements to misrepresent the other person's view. It's usually accompanied by Name-Calling and Ad Hominem Disagreement.

Bible Love Notes