Before I share what that was, just a little background. I’m part of a Christian group of therapists, and some who aren't that have Christian clients, that practice team CBT and we been collecting Bible verses and go along with what we are learning and what we’re practicing. So, that's been on my mind and when Dr. Burns started talking about acceptance it made be wonder how does that fit the Christian model since we are to grow in grace, do good works, be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, etc. We will talk about that later, as the Bible harmonizes with itself.
An epiphany just washed over me as I thought about the Bible verse, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. KJV. I can't fear (be anxious) when I accept myself and the circumstances life throughs at me. And accepting myself, or loving oneself, is a Biblical truth, "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31. NLT.
Then came to mind, 1 Corinthians 13, as it struck me as how to define love in the first place. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. NLT. What does the Bible say is love? Well it’s a lot of things
but a big part of love is it keeps no wrong, is not irritable, it is patient, and kind. These are things we should be for ourselves. Keeps no wrong - accept it and move on, not irritable - accept it and move on, patient - don't be so hard on oneself, kind - don't be so hard on oneself. When
you combine all three of these Bible verses we see this high-level solution to
fighting negative thoughts which is acceptance using humour piece and disarming
to squash thoughts of anxiety and fear about ourselves. When we have this kind of love it
casts out fear.
I’ve
never been a fan of the terms self love. One Christian author puts it this way, "Those who are filled with self-esteem and self-love do not feel the need of a living, personal union with Christ. The heart that has not fallen on the Rock is proud of its wholeness. Men want a dignified religion. They desire to walk in a path wide enough to take in their own attributes." E.G. White, Christ's Object Lessons. Just accepting all your flaws and not worry about them is not only in conflict with the Christian experience of growth in moving
forward, but also that selfishness or focusing on oneself too much takes our eyes off Christ. That when we feel bad we see our need of Jesus. Then, as I was reviewing all these principles, praying for harmony of the concepts, it occured to me, definitions and context.
It seems rather than argue or try to twist and idea, often we have to go back to how we define something. Not just from the dictionary, but all the weigh, emotion, and other thoughts we have about a word or concept. For example, self-esteem can mean holding oneself as important, even putting one's needs above others or it can mean, a confidence that allows that person to complete a task, or both. This article isn't about self-esteem or self-worth or self-love, maybe I'll do one on that in the future, but obviously we need to see all the scriptures as a whole. That we do have to love ourselves or we can't love others.
Add to that the Bible is clear we do have worth and value, so I’ve
always been OK with self-worth, in other words that all human are infinitely valuable because the God of the universe would have died for even just one of the 'least' of us. From that same author, "One soul is of infinite value; for Calvary speaks its worth." The Review and Herald, March 13, 1888. But when I was listening to that podcast on acceptance, I realized without loving ourselves as in the definition of 1 Corinthians 13, self-worth is an intellectual assent and we’re still fighting fears and anxiety
about ourselves. The Bible verse and love others as yourself is a clue that God
does expect us to love ourselves, not that we are placing more value on ourselves or ignoring what God as done for us, but in a way that we are not treating ourselves like garbage. Because we are to love others in an equal
amount, neighbour as yourself, how can we express the beautiful love revealed in scripture to others, if we
have no "love" for ourselves?
So
how do we get this love, the love of ourselves that is within a Biblical model of selflessness and yet not unduly critical of ourselves? The same way we love others. Acknowledge while we all make mistakes and have things that really do need changing, we all still have infinite value because Jesus died for you, for me. If you’re not a Christian, you can take the view that every human being
has value because they’re human. The second step would be forgiveness, "keeps no wrong" from 1 Cor 13.
Pretty hard to love someone you’re angry with, or holding a grudge against, and
that includes yourself. Of course, in context self loathing may have a place to give you motivation or self
awareness of what you need to change, but you cannot stay in that moment. In
fact, I would go so far as to say we can acknowledge our flaws without self loathing. Can you not see other
people as imperfect, see their flaws, and yet not hate them or think they’re
horrible, terrible, awful people? Of course, then you can do this for yourself as well.
Remember there is an amazing paradox at work here, acceptance of our flaws can actually empower us to move forward in growth and even changing those flaws. We are no longer fighting ourselves in an unwinnable battle, rather we see our need and are able to give that to God.
It is truly powerful when we put it all together, harmonizing all the principles we've talked about so far. Our fear is the beginning of wisdom, it drives us to God, to self-reflection, then as we accept that we are flawed human beings, that we need God, we can embrace change and are empowered to move forward.
PS: You are always welcome to chat with me. I offer a free 15 minute consultation.
