SOMETHING IS OUT OF TUNE

“Man has become his own savior, his own maker,” I kept interjecting and mumbling to myself. While exercising, I was listening to an interview with one of the superstar preachers of American Evangelicalism. If ever there were a motivational speaker, it is this preacher. The listening crowd was going absolutely wild with applause and shouts. If there were ever a message on Self-Help/Self-Esteem, his is. Over and over I heard things like (paraphrasing), “In you there is someone great. You can make yourself become that person.” “You form the future you.” “You need to sow the seed of what you want to be.” “You need to build relationships with folks who will help you become a success.” “Follow your dream.” I AGREED with almost everything he said. Almost everything he said was true—IF it were only a parenthetical part of a larger qualifying context. That is the problem: What was said was not a part of a larger message. It was the message. The larger context is man has free choice, but he also has a depraved nature. Man can and must take personal responsibility for himself and his life; but, man cannot save himself, change himself. Each has been specially created by God and bears His image. But, there is none righteous, no not one. Each has been uniquely gifted. But, each is fallen, broken. Man can do great things. But, man cannot save himself, change himself. Presented in its own packaging, its own standalone message, the Motivational Gospel of Self-Help/Self-Esteem is nothing less than Humanism. Yes, humanism. Any references to God, Jesus, the Bible are obligatory, parsley on the plate to make what’s served appear Christian. One could edit out the few references to Scripture, God, and Jesus and not alter in the least the Motivational Gospel of Self-esteem. Oh, admittedly, Bible phrases and illustrations are used. But, the Bible stories are not used to illustrate Biblical truth but the Self-help/Self-esteem philosophy. The Bible phrases are not used within their context-supplied meaning, but as “proofs” of the established tenants of Self-Help/Self-Esteem. If you really just listen to that message, it truly is humanism; man truly is his own savior, his own maker. Thus, although lip-service is given to the Gospel of Jesus, in the end the message is You Are Your Own Savior, Your Own Maker. If you doubt my premise, please, take this challenge: Listen to a message of Self-help/Self-Esteem, and then go read one of the prophets’, or John the Baptist’s, or Jesus’, or Paul’s, or Peter’s, or James’, messages. If you do so impartially and honestly, I really believe you will discover the modern message is totally out of tune with the messages of the Bible. Speaking analogously, if the message of Self-help/Self-esteem is in the key of G, the messages in the Bible are in the key of Eb. Only the exegetically tone deaf would think the two harmonize. The Self-Esteem Gospel by itself can sound awfully pretty. But, played right beside the Bible’s message, it is gratingly out of tune. What sounded pretty becomes recognizable as a cacophony of humanism. By the way, the right key is the Bible’s. Speaking of being in key, listen to the Self-help/Self-esteem message and then listen to Oprah. The Self-Help/Self-Esteem message is far closer in tune to Oprah than to Apostle Paul. In fact, the speaker I listen to referenced Oprah, not Paul. Of course, if the defining measure is what will draw a crowd rather than sharing the intended message of the Bible, then you choose the message of Self-Help/Self-Esteem and defend it. But, leave God out of it. Wait, He already has been left out of it. The Gospel used to be preached proclaiming what God could do with your life, how God could change who you were, how God could mold, shape, and form your life. The Gospel was how God was the Potter and we are the clay. Now, we are told we are both clay and the potter who shapes it. Frankly, I’m more comfortable with God as my Potter. I feel safer in His hands than in mine. God-made sounds far better than Self-made.

SOMETHING IS OUT OF TUNE

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