"Self": serve, deny or eradicate?

Without a doubt the biggest cultural movement in the Western world, if not the whole world, is for people to find themselves - you must get in touch with "true self". "You must love yourself before you can love anyone else."

I have blogged about the problems with "self journey" previously, but the knee-jerk reaction to this journey of bias and deception can be just as problematic. People who desire to be more spiritual and pious flock to the other extreme noting the Biblical call to "deny self". Like most journeys fueled by sincerity and passion, the message is not always well understood.



Two points before I make my feeble attempt, (1) I don't have all the answers but I ponder it a lot and (2) this is not really new.

Let me make a simple reference to the second point first. The issue with "self" focus is as old as humanity itself. While cultures may have been more collectivist throughout history, there are references to people choosing to get their own way from the beginning of recorded history. Regardless of emphasis on the community over an obsession with the individual, it is clear we all are "fearfully and wonderfully made." We are individuals and can't get over it.

Now for point number one. My pondering is all I have to offer.

The notion of salvation suggests that each person has some keen interest in the destiny of their own soul. Death and eternal life is a personal experience. Society we live in and heaven or hell on the other side of this life do have a collection of people, but we can only experience it through "self".

 Have you ever wondered if the desire for salvation is self-serving? 
It is a personal ambition is it not?

How is the Christian life, even if it is one of service, not serving self at its foremost core benefit? Even when John Wesley was living the most self-deprived existence, he was trying to accomplish something for him-SELF, become a Holy self. Historically monks try to remove all creature comforts from life but they can't get away from "self".

Paul says be transformed, become a new creation. he does not say become NO creation or "be gone with self". Jesus says deny self, but He says it within context of not losing your soul, not going away.

So what do these three words mean?

serve - to act as a minister of, to work for
deny - to refrain from or abstain
eradicate - to destroy thoroughly

The soul has needs, such as purpose, joy, freedom, hope, love and belonging. Life, in the moment and forever, is not serving, denying or eradicating these needs. They are what they are. Our soul is what it is. Its the created intent of God.

Serving self is when we believe we can generate what is necessary to satisfy these needs. Denying self is abstaining from getting these needs met through self's own efforts, and eradicate is to destroy the nature of the flesh that instinctively seeks exchange with circumstances around us to get our needs met.

God gave us self, but He also bestows on us everything we need for self's abundant and virtuous life. Faith in the redemptive work of Jesus gives us the heart to serve, and everything we need for our soul so that we do not have to spend our attention and self resources on getting our own needs met.

Walking in the Spirit is a self that fearlessly and boldly moves out with no anxiety, guilt, or oppression because we need nothing but what God has already provided.

Self is created for good, just not for the purpose of being its own advocate and "self-sufficient" ....