A half-truth that has greatly influenced our culture and the modern church is this one: “Our Well-Being Depends on High Self-Esteem.”
The unsaved world cannot accept the fact that we are fallen, sinful human beings so they've created the self-esteem lie-in-disguise to claim that all human problems, whether violent crime or depression, are caused because people don't think highly enough of themselves.
Scripture says something quite different:
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3
This self-esteem philosophy is loosely related to the “Judge-Not” half-truth that tells us not to judge sin and sinners. And studies show that self-esteem philosophy has created a world of self-assured, self-confident adults who lack motivation and self-control. It's also promoted the boundaries movement because self-assured people tend to end relationships if they aren't constantly affirmed.
Christians must understand that we are called to humility and self-sacrifice, not pride and entitlement.
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus, Matthew 10:38
It's important that we understand the way this self-esteem lie is tangled into many “Christian” teachings. We need to replace self-esteem with God-esteem to have a valid view of ourselves.
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My book Lies in Disguise exposes this destructive half-truth using understandable explanations and multiple Scripture references to unpack the self-esteem movement and replace it with the God-esteem movement.
Lies in Disguise is available:
At a discounted price from the publisher for a limited time: Lies in Disguise.
On Amazon.
And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.
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