Should a Christian Follow Self-Help Teachings?

With all the self-help guff out there these days, it can be difficult to know what is Christian and what is bluster. As always, the answer is found in scripture.

Titus Chapter 3 is an excellent place to turn to in your search for understanding. Verses 1 and 2 advise us on how to live properly toward others. Verse 3 reveals our former state as being 'foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.'

And then Titus Chapter 3 really hits home, unveiling a truth that is in direct opposition to the sham teachings of self-help gurus. It tells us that 'the kindness of God our Savior appeared' and that we were saved not by works we had done, but by Him, through 'the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.' It goes on to reiterate this point, driving home a truth that today's sham artists would not have you know: that though we need saving, we cannot save ourselves, and that we are saved only by His grace.

It also warns that this salvation we have received by grace is to be maintained by us, that we do this (by His grace) by 'being careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.' Verse 8 uses terminology that is eerily similar to modern self-help and motivational charlatans: 'This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who believe in God should be careful to maintain good works . . . '

SHAM artists advise us to affirm things, to use mantra's and repetition, but the purpose of their affirmations is to bring about our desires, which is precisely what Titus 3 warns us against.

In some ways the self-help and motivational industry is a twisted skewed re-imagining of scripture, but in most ways it teaches exactly the opposite of God's Word. We are not called to serve our fleshly desires, but to serve and glorify God. It is only by learning to deny the flesh (which is the opposite of the self-help industry) that we can fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

Self confidence is good and all, but far more important is to: 'seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33). 'Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth' (Colossians 3:2).
selfhelp-and-the-gospel

Who is the God of Your Life?

Psalm 100:3 'Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He who made us, and not we ourselves.'

Ephesians 1:11 'In Him also we have obtained and inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will--'

Ecclesiastes 5:2 'Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore, let your words be few.'

Colossians 1:10 'That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.'
 
We see from scripture--the standard of our faith--that all we have we owe to God; that all power resides with Him and not with us; that we are called to exercise control over our tongues and not to wag them around with naming and claiming; that we should always be increasing in our understanding of our Creator.

Our pastors are failing us in this vital regard. We are not taught to be still and know that He is God. No time is given in church to allow the Spirit to move, because we are not silent before Him. We are not learning about God, but about ourselves. After church service (self-help seminar) ask yourself: ‘What have I learned about God today? Do I know Christ better than when I went in?’

If the answers to these questions are 'Nothing' and 'No' then you better reevaluate your life. Spend time in the word and in prayer. Be silent before God, and know Him. How can you expect to know and do His will, if you give no time to learning of and hearing Him? How much time do you spend with God? How much time to do spend on your phone?

How to Identify False Teachings and Be a True Christian

In order to be more inclusive of all faiths, our church authorities are filtering scripture, diminishing the divinity of Christ, and altogether ignoring the Holy Spirit. As scripture advises us to walk in the spirit to keep from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16), the failure to recognize the Holy Spirit reveals the truth, that church authorities walk according to the flesh, and that they are teaching us to do the same.

They decorate this filtered doctrine with pretty anecdotes and ego-boosting ideology; but it is all just fluff and feathers without substance. We are taught to focus on our desires, voice our desires, and expect our desires to be fulfilled—by the universe, apparently. But scripture teaches something quite different. 1 Corinthians 10:33 admonishes us not to seek our own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. The focus of our attention should be on honoring God; in doing so we stop thinking about ourselves, and start thinking of others. The end result being salvation, changed hearts—not a new car or that dress you’ve been coveting and asking the universe to provide by ‘putting your positive thoughts out there’. The point is the bible teaches us selfless love, while our teachers are starting to teach us self-love, trusting in your own thoughts and power. The world would have your believe that your highest goal should be to ‘find yourself’. However, Jeremiah 17:9 warns us that the heart is deceitful above all things. Our thoughts and hearts cannot be trusted; so we would be wise to trust what our Creator has left us: His Living Word.

I leave you with this thought (which is not mine but Jesus’): What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Mark 8:34-38. With modern teachings, after awhile you get this self-sufficient mentality that all good things in your life are due to your power. It may be good for some worldly accomplishments, but this mode of thinking is dangerous, and it is not conducive to a healthy mindset for the servant of God. Galatians 5:20 shows us that selfish ambitions are the work of the flesh. The work of the Spirit is service. 'Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets’ (Matthew 22:37-40). 

The purpose of a Christian is to serve, not to get. Jesus Himself showed us how when He got on His knees and washed his disciples’ feet. Service, not self-help. What are you, Christian or covetous? 
False Teachings Exposed

The Patience of Saints

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13.

Wait on the lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14.

The Old Paths, the Good Way

Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is. And walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it' (Jeremiah 6:16).
 
We need to go back to true worship, simple faith, obedience to our Creator. Throughout the Psalms we are advised and inspired to meditate on God’s awesome power, His works, His grace, His righteousness, and His majesty. Throughout modern culture we are motivated and pressured into meditating on our potential, our righteousness, basically the power of ‘I am’ (some human-inspired book) rather than on the power of the ‘Great I Am’ (Exodus 3:14). Psalm 145 beautifully captures the essence of what our focus should be on: God’s greatness.

Metaphysics and New Thought and basically everyone, are trying to convince the world that if you just focus on ‘being’ and feeling good about yourself, well then you’re just golden, a righteous little nugget who deserves heaven/paradise/72 virgins/eternity of chocolates. And yet the bible clearly teaches us to focus on God’s goodness and power, and that we cannot earn our way into heaven (Titus 3:5, Romans 8:3-4, Acts 4:12, etc). Romans 10:3 provides unimpeachable God-given guidance that what the world is currently teaching is ignorant and flies in the face of our excellent Creator. ‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.’

Happy thoughts may lift you into the air, but they are not enough to get you to heaven, and they are little use (without selfless righteousness through submission to God’s will) to others. Verse 4 reinforces this: ‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.’ Without Christ we are unrighteous. Without Christ we have only empty words and no salvation. Turn to Christ and live, and there you will find true joy and rest.

Too Busy, Too Bad: Service in the Name of Christ

What does it mean to be a Christian? In a word: Service.

Jesus had compassion on the masses (Matthew 9:36), because they had followed Him and were hungry. So He fed them. That was a service. He had compassion on the sick who were brought to Him (Matthew 14:14). So He healed them. That was a service. Throughout scripture we are encouraged, exhorted, and commanded to do good works, which involves serving the needs of our neighbors. Fortunately the bible gets pretty specific when it comes to ‘good works’. Obey the ruling authorities; speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all men (Titus 3:1). Meet urgent needs (Titus 3:14). Increase in knowledge of God; giving thanks to Him (Colossians 1:10-12). Bearing with one another and forgiving one another (Colossians 3:13). Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:28). Control your tongue and do not lie (Psalm 34:13). Tend to the needs of the suffering (Luke 10:33-35). It is not always easy, but is simple, being a Christian.

You see someone in need, and if it is within your power to help, then right at that moment you have a choice to make, a road to choose. Will you be a Christian, a man or woman of God? Or will you say to yourself ‘I am too busy’ and go about your day, like the priest and Levite who walked by the wounded man lying on the road without helping him? Are you the hypocritical priest or are you the good Samaritan? In other words, are you a servant of Christ, or are you a servant of yourself? It is a vital question to your faith. What will you tell God on the Day of Days, when He demands an answer for your neglect of your Christian duties? That you were busy? Think on this: when you are presented an opportunity to help your fellow man, and you choose not to because you were busy or whatever excuse you favor, you are putting your eternity at risk.

The hard truth is that we put our salvation on the line every time we act as if getting to work is more important than stopping for that accident (if the cops or ambulance have not yet arrived), or that we don’t have time to help that old gentleman cross the street because we really need to get to the store, or that we just can’t attend that food drive because we have a lot of work to do. FOOLS! Helping your fellow humans is your business. THAT is why we are here, to serve and honor and glorify God by ‘doing good works’. It is also just as vital that you take time out of your terribly busy schedule (busy does not equal important, by the way) to close your door and pray, to spend time in the Word with God. WWJD?

50 Shades of Heaven

A number of movies and other medium, both secular and Christian, have portrayed heaven. No matter whether the heaven displayed is meant for comedic or dramatic effect, and even though each heaven is distinct from the other, they have one thing in common: God has no place in those heavens! He never seems to be around.

It’s a bizarre though rarely noted phenomenon. And it is intentional. Modern society (alas, the only society we have today) is big on inclusiveness and tolerance. These can be good things. But when it comes to heaven and to God’s design, in order to make heaven all-inclusive you have to disregard scripture. God is love (1 John 4:8), and He is forgiving (Daniel 9:9). He is also intolerant towards unrepentant sin. The bible pulls no punches where is describes the results of sin left unacknowledged and hearts unrepentant (Revelation 21:8, Romans 2:6-8). To disobey and outright ignore God’s will and design for our lives is to choose a path that leads away from Him—for eternity. This cultural idea that pretty much everyone is going to their own version of heaven, where they will be served up their every whim and answer to no one, is absurd, and smacks of irreverence.

The world is afraid of offending people, and yet no one seems afraid of offending and disrespecting Almighty God, who created the world and made the rules. This is backwards. It is displayed most blatantly in the idea (even from so-called Christian movies) that God just isn’t around in heaven, because there are many faiths and many versions of gods. It is ridiculous and irreverent.

Hard Biblical Truth #1: If all those other faiths were true, then Christianity would be false.
Hard Biblical truth #2: Heaven is exclusive. It’s like a mile-high club; you can’t expect to get in just because you think you deserve to. There are rules and conditions set by the owner. His club, His rules, whether you like it or not.

I have put forth no personal opinions in this post. My views did not come into play. I love God’s word, therefore I believe it and adhere to it. ‘The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works’ (Psalm 145:17). That’s what the bible says, that’s what I believe. In this world you choose what you revere. I choose to revere my Creator, not my fellow humans with their fickle cultural opinions.