👉 Just Think About This:
Society’s Approach to Identity
( Trends): ↓
Modern culture encourages people to “define themselves,” focusing on self-esteem, self-love, and self-actualization. Identity is often based on feelings, achievements, social status, or personal narrative rather than any external or objective standard.
The Church’s Adaptation
(Examples & Theological Stances): ↓
In various contemporary churches and ministries, sermons and songs increasingly center on self-affirmation themes such as “you are enough,” “believe in yourself,” or “God wants you to chase your dreams.” This reflects a therapeutic gospel, which shifts the focus from human sin and the need for Christ’s righteousness to emotional well-being and personal potential. As a result, biblical doctrines like total depravity, repentance, and sanctification may be downplayed or replaced by motivational language that aligns more with pop psychology than with Scripture.
The Biblical Mandate
(Scriptural Guidance & Traditional Interpretation):
Scripture teaches that our worth is rooted in being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but our identity must be redefined in Christ through the Gospel (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Self-esteem must be grounded in God’s truth, not self-invention. Humility and dependence on God—not self-exaltation—are key to a biblical view of self-worth (Romans 12:3; Philippians 3:3-9).
