Inspired by a fantastic conversation on a long car-trip with a loved brother yesterday, I've decided that I'm on a campaign to encourage a language change.
I reckon that instead of thinking about "self-esteem", maybe us Christians should instead be thinking about "God's-love-esteem".
Christians ought to get our sense of value from God's gracious love for us. Right? It's not that we're so worthwhile that God loves us (self-esteem thinking in drag). The truth is that we are bestowed incredible honour and value because of God's love for us. The other way around. His love being the giver of worth.
God's love brought him to create you, in His image, for relationship with Him. A fact that should lead to wonder that he's done so, ala Psalm 8. (Seriously, go read it. Now! ;) ) On top of that, for those who're reading this who belong to Jesus, God loves you with an everlasting, unbreakable, infinite and personal love that he demonstrated at the cross.
But sometimes, as my dear brother shared, that just doesn't feel like it's enough. It doesn't "do anything for me". I'd probably get a bigger boost from a 'like' on my latest selfie.
So I reckon what we really need is more "God's-love-esteem". That is, how much esteem do you hold for the fact that God loves you? How highly do you value it? How much do you allow the fact that God loves you to affect your personal sense of worth?
In other words, are you feeling the love? Are you letting the objective reality of God's love for you affect your subjective experience? How's your "God's-love-esteem"?
So, what do you reckon? Instead of abandoning self-esteem for nothing, can we replace it with "God's-love-esteem"?
Or come up with something that's better, catchier and easier to remember but means the same thing. And then email it to me so I can edit this post. :D