Subscription Lists

There are many definitions and theories regarding self. Even in the dictionary. Many word doublets have been evolved in an attempt to describe the self. It appears that there are so many that the whole concept of self becomes hazy and almost indefinable, and yet most everyone knows what or who is being referred to when they hear the word. So it would appear that there are many "selfs" (not a real word), in the sense of what we are in thought, word, action, feelings, and attitude. Some of these are: myself, yourself, selfish (and selfishness), self centered, self confidence, self absorbed, self willed, self assertive, self consciousness, self sufficient, self exaltation, and that all important one - self preservation. And there are many more.

The Bible takes a more composite view of the self (selfs). It simply defines it in terms of its nature and its condition. From there, it is manifested and expanded upon throughout the history of the world as revealed in God’s Word. We could say that self describes human nature with four letters (another four-letter word). In God’s sight, self is simply - us - as we are, or were, in our fallen state. It is the "us" that is, by nature, God’s enemy. Self is also our enemy. No one has ever become a true Christian until he/she has come to agree with the courier from the front lines when he said: " we have met the enemy - and he is us!" In God’s view, the self is described as the "heart", the sum of all our parts of who and what we are as images of Him. However, the images are marred: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"- Jeremiah 17:9. But the world is still trying. It seems the more they try the more hazy it gets. It would be much better - and easier - to just take God‘s for it.

From the short list above of types of "self", most if not all are considered basically good, or at least profitable and useful - for the self of course! However, along with them there is an inexplicable, dark cloud of "quiet desperation". And it is true that some aspects of self are good within limits, or temporarily. There is a natural (another definition of self) preoccupation with the "selfs". Regarding self-preservation, animals have built-in a law of self preservation. No wonder many believe that we have evolved!

In the scripture above Jeremiah begs an answer. The short answer is: God can! He has the cure. In the case of the self, it must be cured by dying (Galatians 2:29). If it is not cured by dying, it will not be cured, and we will die spiritually. Our "selfs" will destroy us. We have within us a deadly disease that often seems so pleasant, or natural, so automatic (we do not even have to think about them), so compelling that it seems absurd to even think of getting rid of it. I was horrified to realize one day that so much of my prayer is just about self. It may have involved others, but the hidden motive was "myself" This sickness is deified, honored, extolled, promoted and worshiped. Unfortunately, much of modern "churchanity" has severe symptoms. Nominal Christians, driven by self, fed on smooth things (Isaiah 30:10), not understanding the grace of God and convinced they are set free from restraints, and yet they are slaves of self (Romans 6:16). The birthday of self, as defined by God, was long, long ago (Genesis 3:9-13). Self was born in Adam and Eve the moment they disobeyed. Clearly disobedience leads to self exaltation. Self will fill the vacuum left by the absence of God. And the more of self that controls, the more Jesus Christ is forced out. The sickness has spread to astronomical proportions to all human kind. It rules supreme in the dominion of man, and many vassals are loyal to the throne! The sickness that this deity infects us with will crush out Godly character, and strangle the spiritual growth which was beginning to take root and grow (Mark 4:18-19). Jesus said this was to be so, but woe unto those who help make it so (Matthew 13:30).

The enthronement of self in our life must be destroyed to the point that we no longer feel that self has any rights. Our world is preoccupied with rights or the lack of them. But for the Christian, self must be conquered and put out because it is corrupt, and not something to be nourished (Ephesians 4:22-24). The principle characteristic of the self is hard heartedness. This is both the cause and the effect of all the "selfs". It is the root of sin, rebellion, disobedience and a host of evils (Psalm 95:7-11; Ephesians 4:32). When the self begins to die, one of the first things to appear is humility. When it is completely dead, there will be complete surrender to Jesus Christ. It has no more rights, and no more presence in us. He is in us, and we in Him (John 17). The "new man" has replaced the "old man". The self has been dethroned...

But how do we keep from having relapses of this sickness of self? Maintain a constant attitude of repentance, and inner realization of our own unworthiness before Jesus Christ. A constant sense of inner brokenness is not a popular theology, but to the extent this is there, the more Jesus will be there - forming and shaping a new creation. In Him the self cannot feel at home. Sooner or later, it must go. In this, there is a paradox, another enigma. In so doing there will be poured in Jesus Himself. Then - and only then - will come the joy of our salvation and all the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-24). Paradoxically, the way to peace is through war (Romans 7). And the way to life is through death. Then peace and final victory come in Jesus. But there is another death that must occur first. Sometimes it is painful - but sometimes it is necessary. The self...the "old man"(self) must be put to death and replaced with a new "self". It is a parallel death. There is the death of the body (see last two articles), and there is also a corresponding "death" of the self. For the Christian, both are occurring simultaneously (Colossians 3:3-10). Finally, the hard hearted self will have been killed. It has been replaced with a new "self" which is Christ in us, our hope (Colossians 1:27). We will have had a spiritual heart transplant, created in the image of Christ Himself (Galatians 5:19-24). We will have become one in God (John 17:20).

While I was congratulating a minister on the occasion of his ordination, he paused and said to me, tearfully and quietly, "if I can just get self out of the way...".

How does your self feel about yourself? Are you sick unto tears, longing for the death of self...?

I pray that our "selfs" may "die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31)

"...seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." - Colossians 3:9-14

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept