Why does Christianity focus so much on the negation of self?

Question

Self-negation seems to be one of the tentes of Christianity. Christian doctrine teaches that a person must come to Jesus helpless; that no strength is favoured as a person is supposed to depend entirely upon the Lord. I have always found this puzzling. Why cannot Christianity allow for personal pride? Believe me, I have had tons of Christians quote to me about pride going before a fall, that my vanity was going to be my ticket to hell, that Lucifer was lifted up in his own pride and then cast out of heaven, etc., etc....

Personally, I think we all could use a bit of vanity. What is wrong with being your own cheerleader? There is little enough in this world to enforce our sense of self, so why can we not admit proudly that we think highly of ourselves?

I'll admit, I'm vain and proud and think absolutely nothing is wrong with that. As an Atheist, I think that I have confidence in myself. I just wonder why this seems at such variance with Christianity.

~Jack

I apparently can't spell this evening:
"tentes" in the first sentence should be tenets.

Answer 1

An excellent question Jack. Well thought out. Keep up the good work. It's about time we had some questions of substance In R&S. Memo to Sloppy: insulting people is not an answer, just an insult. Woe to the lawgivers. Where's Imacatholic2 and Superbobo when you need them? I'm hoping for a kinder gentler answer to that one myself. Looks like we're both hitting mid-life at the same time there Jacko.

Answer 2

As KW has said, Judaism does NOT focus on going to heaven and is rather vague about what sort of afterlife there might be, anyway. Judaism is almost entirely focussed on doing good in the here and and now and many branches of Judaism focus explicitly on Tikkun Olam, or the repair of the world. To try to make the world a better place, preferably without anyone even knowing you've done it, is an ideal in Judaism. I think you're a little unfair to Christians, however - many of them HAVE worked to help others, and not always with a big missionary number alongside it. Oh, and there are people doing good work who don't have testicles.

Answer 3

Its not suppose to be negation of self its suppose to be negation of ego so your ego will not get in the way of a better relationship with god!

There's self repsect and esteem and then there's false pride.

Learn the difference?

Why do your christian acquaintances think you're an egoist?

Are you selfish?

Why do you think Vanity is regarded as a sin?

Vanity is a sin cos it makes you an very empty souless insensitive being obsessed with appearances and worldly things?

And the "Christian doctrine" you're referring to sounds more "fundie" "evangelical" to me?

Christianiyt is more diverse than that!

Just how vain are you?

If people keep bringing this up maybe you need to do some serious thinking about the difference between self respect and pride?

Answer 4

The way I see it, there are two distinct ethics. Those who misinterpret Christianity can go so far as to punish the flesh, as if that negates the fleshly desires. Colossians 2:20-23 and Romans 1:24, 25 show otherwise.

The fruits of the Spirit that are to rule a Christian's life are love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, mildness, faith, long-suffering, self-control. Love is not self-seeking and keeps on record of wrong. You can see from the apostle Paul's writings that he had a sturdy self-identity. In fact, the way I read it, myth necessarily comprises of two parts - traditional mythology and creative mythology (reference Joseph Campbell's "Creative Mythology"), and hypnosis is used to enforce possibly the creative mythology component of this. Hypnosis, according to Robert Baker, is socially induced by relaxation, compliance and suggestion. Therefore, I think that people use this means to "forget" knowledge that they'd rather not have about what they've seen in life. The apostle Paul though had no qualms about remembering his part in various violent events in which he was persecuted. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says that knowledge puffs up, whereas love builds up.

Answer 5

Hi Jack! Christians are just like anyone else. I am one and have been for 33 years. I am good at my job, I have done wonderfully with my family and rising my kids, I am pretty sharp, and I like to believe I Can handle any situation. I am confident and a little proud. yes. However, what Jesus and the Bible talks about in "pride" is "beating on your chest" around others. Nothing wrong with being proud and a little confident. However, I don't go around reminding everybody and pushing it in people's faces. That is what is meant by pride and humility. Hopes this helps, thanks for the question and have a SUPER day!!

Answer 6

Religious folks are hypocrites for the most part. I have a belief that in every relationship there is give and take. It doesn't matter how overwhelming or small the relationship is there is give and take. For example you get full serve gas. The attendant wants his $5/hour so he won't call you names or tell you that you have bad breath and you want gas... Give and take... In religion some folks like the thought of a higher being that will watch over them and some like the money that it brings in... Give and take...

If I was going to start a cult I would follow the successful churches. "Don't use birth control" so that your many kids might become a member... Very hypocritical... Donate 15% of your income... Haahaa... Give unto the shepard as he has given to you...

Bottom line is if you're good with you then that is what matters. If your vainness causes you grief then change.

Good luck, I think you're on the right path...

Answer 7

If one does not practice negation of self, one cannot easily worship a more powerful being.

I do not see anything wrong with pride and vanity. Anything taken to the extreme, even a good virtue such as humility, can be unhealthy. It seems equally unhealthy that many Christians give all of their praise to God and leave none for themselves.

Answer 8

I will not lie. I am a Narcissist. I think I was brought up that way, and I should be, if I don't love me and how I am who will? My family is "Christian", but we never went to church. Honestly, with the Christians out there God nor Jesus did for them what they do for themselves. We are our own people. We choose our paths. It was not predetermined. If it was we would not be able to choose a major in college. I am my own man. I am Christian. I do me. So do the others, they just get a little lost sometimes.

If you respond to this question with a Bible verse I know you are truely lost. I mean come on. The Bible did not get you your job.

Answer 9

In Christianity, the focus really is humility, not necessarily self-negation. You don't start degrading yourself and losing all confidence... in fact the Bible says God made mankind and said we were "very good," and that people are "wonderfully and beautifully made."

However, humility really means just telling the truth. As humans we may be smart, attractive, etc... but it has limits. When we rely entirely on ourselves, we are held back by those limitations. Humility means we admit the truth that we are not invincible or perfect. We do what we can and trust God with what we cannot.

Answer 10

there's a fine line between having confidence in yourself and worshiping yourself...on which side of that line do you find yourself?

following Christ is not so much about 'the negation of self', as it is about being mature enough intellectually, morally, and spiritually to realize that the self is NOT the center of the universe-it's about realizing that you're never more rich than when you give to others, never so intelligent as when you learn from others, never so happy as when you comfort someone who is hurting, and never so important and powerful as when you stop to serve others...

i know this is a culture that places an enormous emphasis on 'me time', doing things 'for me'...i've even noticed more than a few people buying themselves birthday and christmas presents...but a life centered on one's self seems rather a sad and lonely kind of life...