The Measure of a Sermon: Disabusing us of self

Here is another measure of a Gospel-driven sermon: it disabuses people of their self-righteousness and self-help. . . .

"Disabuse" is a great word.  It means "to free from falsehood or misconception" and it also sounds violent.  I picture it as the old pressure point hold in the theatrical fight scene -- forcing the opponent to drop his gun.  It is always a struggle, but finally the hero wins and the right pressure is applied and the gun drops from the hand.

I like the image because I have a lethal grip on my self-righteousness and an fierce commitment to self-justification in my soul. If God's Spirit strips me of my boasting, I quickly boast in that new state. 

I am an intensely self-oriented being -- sin has "curved my affections in on myself" (one of the best descriptions of pride I have ever read) -- and I live in a society that is individualistic, not communitarian.  being "me" is our highest good -- finding "me" is the quest.  (Let me be clear, all societies are self-focused -- ours is not more so than others, just more explicitly so.  I have to know the vocabulary of the USA to speak to it.)

Two of the finest books critiquing this self-focus I have ever read are the profound sociological study of Robert Bellah's Habits of the Heart and a very very clever and thoughtful critique of the emptiness of self-focus, Walker Percy's Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-help Book.

My society expresses this self focus in an endless round of therapeutic and self-improvement counsel for which people pay big money. Everyone I run into in the US of A knows they have a problem -- something is wrong with their self -- and they want a solution -- whether diet or exercise or therapy or spirituality.  They do not think of this as sin -- but they feel the pain of their distorted souls and they want help.  And when they begin to find a solution that may work, they speak of it as "I am just feeling so much better about myself."  It is intensely self focused and self reliant.

So, the Gospel opposes all this self-focused heavy breathing that is the warp and woof of US culture and the human heart.  It takes all the "Dummies" books, which assume I can fix my problems all by myself, and throws them in the rubbish.  The Bible is not about us and the Gospel is not about how to live a happy life.  The Gospel is the news that God has acted in history through Christ to rescue helpless people from their sin and its consequences in their lives -- in time and eternity. 

It is as counter-intuitive as we can imagine -- and so, it must constantly be preached as opposed to all our self-focus. I instinctively (and instincts formed by sin) take up the cause of self-focus and self-improvement -- and the Gospel must tear it all down.  This is why most forms of self-help and "how to" preaching are, at their core, a different Gospel.  Most attempts to show people the relevance of the Bible by preaching to their felt needs in communication, child rearing, marriage, financial management, etc -- are really a catering to their self-reliance and showing them a false Gospel. The Gospel says, "CEASE your self-focus and self-reliant efforts at self-improvement.  You are helpless.  Look to Jesus."

So, my preaching should frequently disabuse people of their self-righteousness and self-help and self-improvement.  And after I pry their self out of their hands, place the glory of Christ there and call them to faith in Him.  In Him there is sweet peace.

Comments

[Pete Williamson]

Thanks for the post, Mark...where did you get the quote describing sin as the curving of affections?

GDL: I think it is in Plantinga's book on sin: Not the Way its Supposed to Be.

[Martin Thorley]

If I may make a comment here on your response to Ann: personally I would recommend Jerry Bridges Disciplines of Grace ahead of his pursuit of holiness. Pursuit of holiness still left me with something of a feeling of I must work harder whereas D of G is both as practical and encouraging as it can get. I think Bridges himself has admitted that he became more gospel-focussed in his thinking after he wrote Pursuit of Holiness.

Grace and peace,
Martin

[Ann Addison]

Excellent post…as usual. Are you familiar with NANC? It is a wonderful organization credentialing *Biblical* counselors. Your post reminded me of NANC because so much “Christian” counseling is still self-focused. The NANC counselors I am familiar with use the term sin instead of problem. They have a radically Biblical perspective. You can learn more about them here https://www.nanc.org/page.asp?contentid=44

GDL: Thanks -- know them well -- we have NANC certified folks here in the church.

[anon]

I just discovered your blog, and intend to be a return visitor. Thanks very much for discussing your insights.
I do have a question for you about this post, however. Obviously the world's definition of "self-help" is not the answer for a Christian - we need to believe in Him, and then follow Him and rely on Him.
But I've known this for a long time, and still have many personal traits that are a hinderance to living a proper human life. Perhaps these can be described as "sin," perhaps not, more like "bad habits." But in any case, I find myself stumbled by my own inability to overcome them.
The problem is this: I feel bothered in my conscience when I once again endeavor to overcome my weaknesses (it seems like I'm no longer trusting in Him). But when I give up this approach and simply trust in Him, I find myself very passive, and still in the same situation I'm already in. Does that make sense?
To be honest, this has been a confusing paradox for me since I first began following the Lord. I go back and forth between recognizing my need for Him, and trying to change myself. I know I need Him, and I'm thankful for all that He's done. But what parts of my life does He give me permission to try and change on my own? If the answer is "none," then does that mean I'm just stuck here?
Sorry to ramble, but I'd like to hear your own perspective. Thanks for listening.

GDL Good question. I think my critique is of the self-help model of life that Christians have adopted. Sanctification is a very different thing -- it is a work of God and we join him in his work. God is at work -- so work out your salvation -- Phil 2:12-13. I would recommend Jerry Bridges great book, The Pursuit of Holiness. It is never changing on our own -- it is grace enabled seeing sin and putting it do death. It is dependent and disciplined at the same time.