February 20, 2008...6:12 am
The Self-Esteem Myth
There’s been quite a bit written about the problem of the Self-Esteem Myth. Starting back in the 1970’s we saw the rise of the “I’m OK, you’re OK” culture. The 1980’s and 1990’s were filled with the era of the self-esteem building programs. “Believe in yourself.” High self-esteem was often held up as the silver bullet to all the werewolf that people, especially children, faced. High self-esteem will help children do better in school, improve their relationships, and give them the social and personal skills necessary to succeed in the future. Boosting self-esteem suddenly became a national preoccupation.
In 2005 Scientific America published an article by Dr. Roy Baumeister (Florida State University) et al. titled “Exploding the Self-Esteem Myth.” Dr. Baumeister and his team reviewed all the research that had been done on self-esteem. They found that there was no empirical evidence to suggest that self-esteem could improve school performance or deter undesirable behavior.
The theory was good. The intentions were well meant. But the evidence was not there. Scientifically this is now being challenged. But in popular culture the cult of the self-esteem has gathered too much momentum to be stopped. To make people feel good and believe in themselves is now part of the very culture of America. “God Bless America!” after all.
In the church, the myth of the self-esteem has most prominently been promoted by Psychologists James Dobson. In his moral discourse the main reason he offers for teen to stay away from premarital sex is that it leads to low self-esteem. He also accredited low self-esteem to all kinds of unbiblical behaviors. As a psychologists he might be able to make that argument but from the Christian perspective I think the Bible has already spoken on that. Sin leads to undesirable and unbiblical behaviors.
So what’s the point of all this? What does it matter? Why should a country pastor blog about the self-esteem myth? The problem with the self-esteem problem in the church is that along with the self-esteem myth we now have the therapeutic ethos in America. There are no longer good and bad decisions, no longer good or bad character. They are just “differences” of opinion and personality. Under the cult of the self-esteem criticism has no place. People cannot be criticized. When parishioners come to their pastor, they no longer seek guidance and spiritual advice. They want to be comforted and affirmed, even in their sin. That is just utter nonsense.
The Bible teaches humility. It is the low-view of yourself, in fact, low self-esteem that leads to the humble and Godly lifestyle. I have low self-esteem. And that means that I do not have false illusions that my sermons or my ministry will change any lives or transform any person. I have no confidence in myself or in my abilities. But I have God given faith. Faith in the Biblical definition. Faith that doesn’t come from within me (faith cannot come from within a sinful being). Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I have faith that God will speak through me even when my words fail. I have faith that Jesus will meet the people I encounter, because He loves them, not because of anything I did. And that frees me. That sets me free to minister in total freedom and confidence. I can firmly believe that by the same grace He called me, He is also using and judging me.
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