Self Affirmation
Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash
Hey Mosaic,
This past Sunday I preached on Romans 5:7-8,
7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It was a personal sermon for me because the big idea - God’s love is categorically different than human love - is a truth that I have had to learn in order to survive. The temptation to treat God’s love like human love is scary for me because some of the most significant relationships in my life have been marked by hurt and shame, not love. If you didn’t hear the full sermon, you can listen here.
At the end of the sermon, I introduced the “Way of the Cross” and explored two ways we embrace God’s love on the cross: 1 - Self-Denial, and 2 - Self-Affirmation. A Christian is called to deny the “fallen self” and affirm the “true self.”
The “fallen self” represents your sin, selfishness, and idolatry.
The “true self” represents who you have been created and redeemed to be. This gets at the intrinsic way God has wired you, and the convictions you hold because of your life experience - both good and bad.
The question you might be thinking is, how can I discover my true self? Here are three ways to get started:
Seek a deeper understanding of God and His love. This may seem counterintuitive, but this is precisely what makes “self-affirmation” Christian. The more trust and intimacy you can build with God, in relationship, the deeper He will invite you to know yourself. Spiritual practices like silence, solitude, and meditation will help you step deeper into this understanding.
Learn a deeper understanding of your story, especially the pain. To be honest with you, this is a lifelong journey. I’m currently processing hurt that I’ve buried for my entire life. And it’s scary. But one thing I’m learning - to feel pain is to feel alive. To feel pain is an inviting God to heal you.
Humans were created with a good desire to seek healing. When you are sick, you go to the doctor or take an aspirin. But this good desire is not the same as avoiding pain. The point - and the truth of your relationship with God - is that unless you explore the pain in your story, you will never find the healing you so desperately need. You need to feel and know your pain so that you can mourn with God and others.
Become aware of your emotions. Everybody - regardless of gender or personality - is a “feeler.” You have been created to experience the world through your emotional life. And yet, based on your life experience, you were either trained to deny your emotions or to give them too much authority. To deny your emotions is to try and live like a self-sufficient robot and you will likely struggle with anxiety and anger. To give your emotions too much power is to neglect the grounding realities of your mental, spiritual, and physical faculties and you will likely struggle with relationships and a sense of shame.
How can you feel in a healthy way? When you feel, recognize the feeling, accept it, and share it with God and trusted friends.
You must remember that the Christian life is a journey, and healing is a process. It will take time, but it’s worth it. If you want to talk more about these topics, I know our staff and pastors would welcome an invitation to walk alongside you.
Mosaic is also available to help you explore counseling recommendations, and offer some financial assistance if that’s a deterrent.
Resources to explore on your journey…
Grace & Peace,
John McHale