SELF-DENIAL

There is little possibility of understanding self-love and acceptance without understanding the process of self-denial. Self-denial has a bad history in that the old and early saints, and some currently as well, took extreme views and made extreme example by severe fasts and improper ascetical practices that were exaggerated and self-justifying rather than obedience to gospel suggestions of denial. The purpose of Christian self-denial is ‘for my (Jesus) sake and the sake of the gospel’ (Mark 8:35, see also vs. 34-38), that is, for the sake and promotion of the kingdom of God. The word deny in Greek means to say ‘no,’ or to rule out, or negate. So we are taught to say ‘no’ to certain things because they negate the ‘yes’ of following Jesus and promoting His kingdom. Self-denial is most accurately understood as being directed against any form of selfishness that would make us unavailable for the service of Christ.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Jesus