There is a popular movement among social media influencers, even Christian ones, promoting Self love.
Self love is talked about as the solution and antidote to self-hatred, body image insecurities, and low confidence.
However, I noticed that often, in the next breath, these influencers will admit that they still struggle with feeling bad about themselves at times and still have days where they struggle with self-hatred.
This is because self love, whether it be in the form of self care and pampering, or positive affirmations to oneself, fails to address the root problem.
The Bible actually states that self love is a serious problem that will occur in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
King James Version (Emphasis Mine)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The Bible does not promote needing to love oneself as a solution to anything, but rather being reborn through the salvation and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Once under the Lordship of Jesus, we are not to look inward for fulfillment but outward: loving God and loving our neighbors.
There is great joy, not in self love, but in being useful to others. I propose the answer to self loathing is not self love but rather self-forgetfulness. That humble outward focus that acknowledges oneself honest and fairly, but then focuses on the things that matter.
When you are blessing others with your gifts and talents, you aren't self loathing. You're not focusing on yourself at all. It's our self absorption that actually makes us miserable.
When you enter a room and think of your insecurities, you can make yourself miserable. But if you enter a room and think, how can I bless others, you can enjoy the conversations a lot more.
Self-love is part of the revolving door of self absorption that eventually makes its way back to self-loathing again.
Get out of the revolving door. Give thanks and praise to God who made you and seek to do the things that God made for you to do.
That is what's missing. You cannot, within yourself, hold back the tide of negative judgmental thoughts about your body or your identity. But you can humbly receive the mind of Christ who made Himself nothing on behalf of the world and suffered for the joy set before Him.
Self love is talked about as the solution and antidote to self-hatred, body image insecurities, and low confidence.
However, I noticed that often, in the next breath, these influencers will admit that they still struggle with feeling bad about themselves at times and still have days where they struggle with self-hatred.
This is because self love, whether it be in the form of self care and pampering, or positive affirmations to oneself, fails to address the root problem.
The Bible actually states that self love is a serious problem that will occur in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
King James Version (Emphasis Mine)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The Bible does not promote needing to love oneself as a solution to anything, but rather being reborn through the salvation and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Once under the Lordship of Jesus, we are not to look inward for fulfillment but outward: loving God and loving our neighbors.
There is great joy, not in self love, but in being useful to others. I propose the answer to self loathing is not self love but rather self-forgetfulness. That humble outward focus that acknowledges oneself honest and fairly, but then focuses on the things that matter.
When you are blessing others with your gifts and talents, you aren't self loathing. You're not focusing on yourself at all. It's our self absorption that actually makes us miserable.
When you enter a room and think of your insecurities, you can make yourself miserable. But if you enter a room and think, how can I bless others, you can enjoy the conversations a lot more.
Self-love is part of the revolving door of self absorption that eventually makes its way back to self-loathing again.
Get out of the revolving door. Give thanks and praise to God who made you and seek to do the things that God made for you to do.
That is what's missing. You cannot, within yourself, hold back the tide of negative judgmental thoughts about your body or your identity. But you can humbly receive the mind of Christ who made Himself nothing on behalf of the world and suffered for the joy set before Him.
