In The Word

Jeff de Ruyter from Worlds Apart shared this video today , published by the Dove self esteem fund. What a great perspective!

It got me thinking self esteem in our culture, and how, really there are two forms which often get mixed up.

“But everyone tells me I’m a great singer”
We have one type of self esteem movement which says “everything you do is good”. It’s encouragement beyond reality. We see this illustrated on American Idol all the time. That’s what makes it funny. We can’t believe these people are serious, and inevitably they are shocked when they hear the judges responses. Then comes the line…..“But everyone tells me I’m a great singer” And the camera cuts to shots of mom and dad outside of the audition room comforting their broken child saying “there there honey, I don’t care what they say you ARE a good singer”.

The point is that the encouragement given by the parents is misleading, and in my opinion is doing much more damage than good. I want my girls to find their gifts and develop them, but I’m shouldn’t coddle them and tell them things just to make them feel good. As a dad it’s my job to make sure they grow up with an accurate picture of the world and a sense of where they fit into that.

“Fool me once…”
The dove ad highlights the good type of self esteem. I think the key is that if we are distorting reality in order to build our children up we’re on the wrong path. That’s why I think this campaign ad is great. It brings our minds back to reality in a culture where we are constantly being lured into a fantasy land, constantly being fooled by billboards, TV, radio etc. about what is important in life.

John 17:15-17 (Listen)

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)