From the kitchen star chart to the Therapists couch, Americans today, younger Americans more specifically, are being fed the same line of heresy....you are special (more special than others), you excel where you are average, you do well what you are poor at....you're good enough, you're smart enough and doggonit people like you!
This seems harmless enough, but the overall message is damaging and possibly damning. We have placed an unhealthy emphasis on the self-esteem of others (mostly our kids). Rather than truthful praise and constructive criticism, we just want others to feel better about who they are.
The most dangerous form of this self-esteem gospel is the blasphemous message that God is "captivated" by you. You are the center of His world, and He has shown your inherent value, worth and beauty by sending His only Son to redeem you...you are worth it! That is a lie from Satan himself and the damage it does to a young person is massive.
The most amazing thing about it is that the truth is even more mind blowing than the lie. God does love you...God does delight in you...God does think you are beautiful...to the unfathomable extent that He loves, delights in and finds beauty in His Son! That's a lot!
Here's the problem. We are searching for a standard and rather than finding that standard in Christ...who is God, we strive to make ourselves the standard, or at least that we meet the one our society sets. We make ourselves the center of the universe, we make ourselves God. God is primarily concerned with one thing...His own glory. You have one purpose....to be a vehicle to that end. The nasty side of self-esteem is that if I am going to build mine up, I have to tear yours down....after all, there can only be one true god!
Who cares if you're not a genius and truly couldn't do "anything you put your mind to," who cares if your not incredibly attractive and just got rejected by some hottie, who cares if your not athletic, who cares if your not popular. Worry and anxiety over these things leads to other things like depression, suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, anger and the like. STOP trying to increase your esteem in yourself and esteem Christ! You are created with a purpose and every part (especially your shortcomings) of you was Created intentionally to bring glory to God in a way that only you can! Remember, God uses the weak and foolish to shame the strong and wise...praise Him for that, I know I do daily.
In whatever you do, do to the glory of God...not your self-esteem.
