Emotions, Stress, and Health: Christian Perspectives on Self-Esteem
Jason A Redcay
Regent University

Introduction
The meaning of the term “esteem” is favorable in that it gives a person to his own self. It is the well regarded condition and feeling of delight approval. Therefore, self-esteem is a regard for self to think and favorably honor oneself. Undoubtedly, it is a chief part of our daily life in which people engage. Christians who spread the teaching of self-esteem create a weak showing at finding self- esteem ideologies and patterns in the Bible. The pure fact is that the concept of self- esteem movements is neither scientific nor Biblical. It is only an exaggerated zeal that ultimately passes away and does astonishing damage in our society and which is unfortunately found in the majority of our churches. By the grace of God, Christians are not required to come into the lies of Satan. Most Christians disagree with this concept and they badly try to attempt some possible efforts to scratch some Biblical support. What is further, they ransack Scriptures and its verses in order to provide some Biblical acceptance to the theory. But the Bible does not contain such phenomenon to fall in favor of self-esteem however few Christians will disagree to believe. This study is very important to discuss for getting proper knowledge about the self-esteem perception.
Thesis Statement
The paper is designed to highlight the facts about the biblical and non-biblical concept of self-esteem, which is the conflicting issue.
Discussion Analysis
The Non Biblical View of Self-Esteem
In recent times, the initial education in pop-psychology is that people in general have a low self-love, self-image, self-worth, self-esteem, low-health etc. They truly do not love themselves and think that they are not very good and as well, lose their self-confidence. It has been observed that people find themselves in poor condition due to these beliefs. It is suggested that if people would feel a certain way about themselves, they will perform greatly and do well in their lives. We are sinful by nature and therefore every person contains a bad self-image of varying degrees. Most people try to hide their bad self-image by applying different methods to cover it up: some do with shyness, so people cannot catch their bad personality. On the other hand, people try to portray themselves as naive and a good person. We should take some examples of image proponents by both Christian circles and seculars, for getting the teachings of self-esteem.
It is suggested by James that women should require a dose of self-esteem and personal worth, for their good health (1981).
Barnett and Rivers wrote that feeling good about themselves can be the reason for a person’s total well-being (1984).
It is suggested by Philip that mothers decide to go for an abortion, due to their low self-esteem (1984).
Moreover, Walter suggests that self-love is the criterion for good self-conduct. Without it there will be no love for other people. We cannot love our neighbors or God, until or unless you initially love your own self (2001).
Another prescription is formed by Shirley that low self-esteem can be directly related to depression and other physical and emotional illness, such as sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, and even suicide (1991).
According to all proponents; depressions, stress, poor mental health, unhappy emotions, are all the results of low self-esteem or poor self-image. We have analyzed that self-image advocates build a strong sense of self-esteem into the lives of people. We closely glance over the matter of fact, if people are unable to love God and others because of poor self-image than building self-esteem may become the core goal of all the churches.
The Biblical View of Self-Esteem
It has been observed that the force of deceiving human minds seems endless. We can learn by biblical examples that deny the concept of self-esteem and poor self-image. In Psalm 139:23-24, it is understood that none of the two-hundred criminals exposed their selves to be evil; they all thought good about their selves and were considered as a good person even when planning for attempting crime (1976).
It is important for every person to know that one of the major goals of the Bible is to correct the high view man has of himself. On the other hand, these things are now understood by Christian leaders to propose the opposite of the actual fact. The imagination and observation of such possible things propose that the Bible does not cater to our self-deception, but it seeks to correct it. An interesting observation of C.S. Lewis provides positive information about self-esteem before self-esteem became exaggerated and popular. The saved soul to whom Christ says, ‘well done,’ the woman whose beauty is praised by her lover, the child who is patted on the back for doing a lesson well, is pleased and ought to be. In these situations, the pleasure lies not in what you are, or your self-image, but in the fact that you have pleased someone you wanted.
We should be clear on one thing that the Bible does not designate about self-esteem on oneself. It is analyzed that when the person thinks more highly about their own self than should, it changes into pride, which is not acceptable in Christianity (Romans 12:3). We should find that there are two kinds of self-esteem. The first is worldly based and focuses on self and the exaltation of self. We can learn by the instance of Pharisee, who had an esteem which was deeply grounded on self. He alone judged people whom he considered lower than himself. Indeed, this type of self-esteem is dominant in the world and is vigorous in most of the discipline. It is also observed that religious people consider themselves more special than someone else in the world, due to their religious knowledge and activities. They regard people with contempt, to whom they consider less pious and naïve. This kind of self-esteem is not acceptable by God.
The second kind of self-esteem is grounded on a Christian perspective. This type is founded on God's view about us and not simply a view of ourself. 1. It is good to realize that whatever you are is because of Jesus Christ. 2. It is also suggested that you are not better than anyone else. 3. Our knowledge, wisdom, and education are not better than anyone. 4. Whatever, we are because of God, not by ourselves.
Sayings of Scriptures
In the Luke 18:14, Jesus taught about the virtue of humility and the importance of self-denial, rather than self-love (Matt. 16:24). Hardy agreement is found in the epistles, with the words of Jesus, that the Bible has not warned us to think lower about ourselves than we ought (cp. I Tim. 1:15; Rom. 7:24; 12:3; and Phip. 2:3-8). We should be made aware that the Bible and its discussion on the topic of pride will clear up the picture of self-esteem. In short, the Bible does not present self-esteem as the problem of man however it does provide the opposite side of self-esteem; pride, which is submitted to be the problem. It is also found in the New Testament, neither John the Baptist nor the prodigal son were corrected when they announced themselves as undeserving. In the view of Norman Wright, it says "Worthiness is a feeling of ‘I am good.’", if this philosophy is true than what about the statement of Jesus, ‘there is none good but one, that is God.’
Here is the point which requires particular attention. We should notice in the instances of Old Testament: Moses (Exod. 3:11; 4:10-13), Job (Job 42:6), Amos (Amos 7:14), Isaiah (Isa. 6:5), and Gideon (Jud. 6:15). Every one of those men found greatness of the Lord and smallness of their self. It also describes that we find the strength of God only when we find ourselves weak. We should deeply think about and wonder why God had not mentioned or talked about self-esteem in all the scriptures.
Main Conflicts between self-image and biblical image God in His Word | Self-Image Advocates Says | Put confidence in God (Phip. 4:13) | Have self-confidence | Deny yourself (Mt. 16:24-26) | Find yourself | Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) | Do what you want to do | We are sinners (Rom. 3:10,11) | You are of great value | Be humble (Rom. 12:3) | Think highly of yourself | Put others first (Phip. 2:1-4) | Put yourself | Heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9) | Believe in yourself | None righteous (Rom. 3:23) | You are good | Build up others (Heb. 10:24,25) | Build your self-esteem | Love God & others (Mt. 22:37) | Love yourself |

Falsehoods Prediction about Scripture
The advocates of self-image claimed that Scripture directs us to love ourselves. They misinterpret the verse of Matthew 22:39 which says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself", which is used as the best support. This verse has been wrongly interpreted by many of self-esteem advocates who claim it is the clear proposal of Biblical command for loving ourselves. However, in the whole passage, there is no command from the Lord to ask for loving ourselves (Mtt. 22:36-40).
Conclusion
The whole study concludes that there is no space in the Scripture that can tell us to love ourselves. It is always suggested by the Scripture to love God and his creatures, instead of being filled with self-esteem and pride. God is the superior force in the making of the universe and discourages mankind to not be dominated by images of self. This entire paper reflects different concepts and views that attempted to relate self-esteem under biblical sayings, but failed.

References

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F. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970): American psychologist. He is noted for his conceptualization of a “hierarchy of human needs,” and is considered the founder of humanistic psychology.
Garry Walsh, (2012) Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence, New Church of Phoenix
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