Take for example my discovery tonight. I was reading a $2.99 copy of 'The Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Self-Image' by Jay Adams. I was merely scanning through the pages as I stood in my husband's study when I noticed a handwritten note in the margin. I first noticed that the writing clearly wasn't mine or my husband's, but the poor theology spoke MUCH louder! Here's what I found written by a previous owner in the chapter titled, "Of Infinite Worth?",
'Would God have let Jesus die if we weren't of worth to Him?'
This line of thinking is common in today's psychologized church--it's not just the L'Oreal cosmetics commercials that teach this man-centered thinking!
I interrupted my husband's studying long enough to read the comment to him, and told him that I'd take care of the necessary "cleaning up". Fortunately, there aren't a lot of comments written in this particular book, but what is there is consistent with the "I'm worth it" thinking of many Xians today.
5 comments:
I'd like to hear more....I understand where you are coming from completely. It isn't about me...it is about who I am in Christ and because of Christ. But, I do think that I am of worth to God. Not because of anything I've done, but simply because He is the Creator.
I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
I'm confused.
I agree with Clarissa and would like to hear some clarification.
"I do think that I am of worth to God. Not because of anything I've done, but simply because He is the Creator."
clarissa and byn: Thanks for your comments AND question!
As I've mentioned recently, I'm not receiving email notification of comments left at my blogs (I'm trying to fix the problem) so I often don't even know a comment is pending!
I will respond briefly here in the comments thread and hope to respond in greater length this week!
Any possible 'worth' we might have is BECAUSE of what Christ accomplished through His death on the cross. Our 'worth' was not the motivation or reason WHY Christ died on the cross. God does not NEED us, so He did not HAVE to save us. It was purely an act of and expression of His love--His good pleasure.
Does that help any, or muddy the water? :-)
Ummm... okay. It all sounds like semantics to me. I think I'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't see anything wrong with thinking that God created something worth saving.
byn: I do understand you considering this a matter of semantics. However, if we dismiss issues/discussions as a matter of semantics rather than a matter of sound Biblical theology we run the risk of misrepresenting God and/or misguiding others.
For example, in this particular matter--"God let Jesus die because we are of worth to Him"--then you must ask yourself why God does not save ALL mankind? Because, if the basis for God saving ANYONE is owed to the fact that we have any 'worth' then God is in fact a respecter of persons which scripture clearly states that He is not.
The basis of God saving anyone is His good pleasure, His will, His purposes, His perfect love, His endless mercy, and His matchless grace!
Now, once He does save us anything we have to 'offer' Him is only because He sees us through/in Christ--who was the perfect sacrifice.
Because this topic goes much deeper and I doubt you care to carry on a open dialogue via the comments thread--you're more than welcome to email me with any further comments or questions!
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