I think there’s a fine line that needs to be drawn here… yes, it is important to die many deaths to self during our lifetime. What I think this means is that we learn not to respond to others out of our EGO - instead, we respond out of love. The ego wants to maintain how we appear to others, how we measure up, and how often we are right. Responding out of love considers the other person as equal to ourselves.
However, I do not believe that Christ would expect us to sacrifice ourselves entirely - to the point of allowing abuse, being taken advantage of, walked on, or dominated by a bully. Taking care of ourselves is part of loving ourselves, which we are also expected to do as Christians. Just my take on it as someone who fell into the lie of constant sacrifice and wound up severely depressed as a result.
Hi Korie ... Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I completely agree that there is a vital distinction to be made between self-denial for spiritual growth and neglecting our own well-being. You’re right; responding out of love should never equate to accepting abuse or being diminished by others. The Christian tradition emphasizes loving others as we love ourselves, suggesting a balance that honors both our own needs and those of others. It's important to maintain this balance to avoid the extremes of self-neglect or ego-driven interactions. Thanks so much for your comment!
I think there’s a fine line that needs to be drawn here… yes, it is important to die many deaths to self during our lifetime. What I think this means is that we learn not to respond to others out of our EGO - instead, we respond out of love. The ego wants to maintain how we appear to others, how we measure up, and how often we are right. Responding out of love considers the other person as equal to ourselves.
However, I do not believe that Christ would expect us to sacrifice ourselves entirely - to the point of allowing abuse, being taken advantage of, walked on, or dominated by a bully. Taking care of ourselves is part of loving ourselves, which we are also expected to do as Christians. Just my take on it as someone who fell into the lie of constant sacrifice and wound up severely depressed as a result.
Hi Korie ... Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I completely agree that there is a vital distinction to be made between self-denial for spiritual growth and neglecting our own well-being. You’re right; responding out of love should never equate to accepting abuse or being diminished by others. The Christian tradition emphasizes loving others as we love ourselves, suggesting a balance that honors both our own needs and those of others. It's important to maintain this balance to avoid the extremes of self-neglect or ego-driven interactions. Thanks so much for your comment!