Re-visit-Do Christians Need Self-Improvement Programs?
I’m still leaning toward a no, but:
Are you a self-help kind of Christian?
I was for several years. I studied quite a bit, read a few books, and was always amazed by the complexity of the human body and how it operates. Of course, we were made to operate in/as/by God’s image. Even with the inappropriate input, God’s handiwork is amazing.
If you were like me, I didn’t think God was interested in my daily life on Earth. So, I went down the self-help path. Gratitude helped me change direction in life. It’s also biblical.
What amazes me even more is self-help studying non-believers do not “get saved” by the droves. Maybe they do. They just don’t know it yet.
God, I call Him Dad, used my self-help/self-improvement study for a deeper relationship with Him. Many of the industries’ most helpful teachings originated in or copied the Bible because studying self-help (with the Holy Spirit quietly guiding) has led me there, time after time, either confirming or disputing something I had read.
It sheds light on why people are the way they are and why they do the things they do. Ultimately, sin, which is separation from God, drives human behavior.
Do we need these teachings? I think only when it agrees with the Bible, and if in doubt, talk to Dad. Now, you can just be yourself in Christ and trust Dad.
Anyone who wants you to decide who you want to be is redundant.
“You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making.”
― Stephen Richards
Nope - Nada - No way. You are a new creation in Christ. That is already decided and done in God’s eyes.
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 2Peter 1:3(CEV)
The Bottom Line
You, Christian, are a new creation. That will not be taken from you. We still have our old thought patterns — and the flesh — we stumble in many ways. God knows all. He didn’t leave us hangin’.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. *The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Cor. 5:17(NLT)
Many churches were and still are giving self-help/self-improvement talks instead of Jesus talks. Must be OK? Right? I lost a lot of years with my Dad because of obsolete teachings. As I said, I went in with self-improvement because I thought God didn’t care about my daily life. He did.
But He worked everything in my life for good. A deeper relationship with Dad was worth the detour.
He has been renewing my mind. I was always safe in Christ. He was and is all I ever needed. I will still struggle. You will still struggle. We’re still in this old world. It’s OK. No matter where you are in your understanding, Dad has you.
I will ask Dad to help me practice what I preach and leave you with some good words. Self-improvement? I am going to stop worrying about it and look to Jesus. Then I will know for sure. I pray the same goes for you.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Till next time,
Cheryl, The Happy Christian
My previous article on self-improvement.
