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Response
A deity is whom we turn to when seeking validation, assistance, or motivation because we believe it possesses the ability to provide what we require. The self is a compelling deity as it originates from our deepest longings and instincts. The deity of self is evident in stubbornness, arrogance, defiance, showiness, rebellion, excess, and generally desiring to have things one’s own way.
When the serpent tempted Eve to disobey God’s explicit command regarding consuming the forbidden fruit, he appealed to the deity of self. He used pretended disbelief to entice her to question the fairness of God’s command: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” «Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? », (Genesis 3:1). The deity of self began to stir as it doubted God’s intentions. Eve’s reply: “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’” «And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: », (Genesis 3:2). She added the words “you must not touch it,” which God had never stated. A rival deity was asserting itself by implying that the Lord’s directive was overly restrictive and therefore should be challenged.
The deity of self emerges within us when we believe we have superior knowledge to God. We contradict His Word and prioritize our own viewpoint over His. Paul confronted the deity of self in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.” Speculations and lofty things are traces left by the deity ofSelf as it tramples down absolutes to erect its own throne in our hearts. We think or say things like, “If I were God, I certainly wouldn’t act that way” or “I don’t see why God would do this or that.” Wrestling with difficult truths about God is healthy as we learn more about Him, but exalting ourselves and our human opinions over God’s infinite wisdom is giving place to the god of self.
The god of self is very much active within the church today. Self-help, self-esteem, self-love, and self-fulfillment are topics once left to secular psychologists. Now they are regular themes in mainline Christianity. The awesome, holy God described in Scripture as a “consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24;Hebrews 12:29) and who will “smite the nations with the sword of His mouth” «And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. », (Revelation 19:15) is considered important only inasmuch as He validates our worth or makes us feel good about ourselves. The god of self will gladly worship a God of love but resists learning about His other qualities because those will dethrone self.
The god of self is a hero in cultural Christianity. Self is the major theme of the prosperity gospel. Wrapping the god of self in Bible verses does nothing to dilute its deceptive power. Satan himself knows Scripture better than we do and even tried using it to tempt the Lord (Luke 4:1-13). Worshipers of the god of self want just enough Jesus to feel better about themselves but not enough to pick up a cross and follow Him «And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, a
And follow me.”, (Luke 9:23).
We know we are worshiping the god of self when we approach God’s Word reservedly. The Bible may say one thing, but the self will want something else, and we must make the choice: self or Jesus (see John 6:66; Matthew 6:24). We all struggle with the flesh at times. Romans 7 was written to help us know we are not alone in that struggle. But when following self is a lifestyle, we have a false god (1 John 3:3-9), even if we verbally profess to love Jesus (see Matthew 15:8).
It is wise to check our hearts for this intruder so that we are not deceived “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”, (2 Corinthians 13:5). The god of self can slip in unnoticed and erect a competing throne that is so like the one where God belongs that we are unaware of the switch. Because this god of self can cloak itself in Christian-looking activities, it lives undetected in the hearts of many who profess to follow Christ. It is to such unsuspecting people that Jesus spoke these chilling words: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
We can examine the thrones of our own hearts by considering some questions:
1. Do I love God’s Word and welcome His instruction? «Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them. », (Psalm 119:165)
2. When I read a convicting passage in Scripture, do I eagerly put it into practice or resist it? «But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. », (James 1:22)
3. Who has the final authority over my life decisions? « And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? », (Luke 6:46)
4. Which topic do I enjoy reading about more: becoming a better version of myself or deepening my relationship with God?
5. Can I engage in worship only if the music aligns with my preferences and the band is top-notch?
6. What brings me the greatest joy?
7. Are my closest friends individuals who have a love for the Lord?
8. Do I view “worship” as solely a weekly, hour-long service, or as an integral part of my daily life?
9. Does my demeanor on Sunday mornings differ from that on Monday mornings?
10. Do I justify sin in my life instead of resisting it and seeking repentance?
The god of self does not require a physical temple or an altar. It is satisfied residing in our hearts and having its desires fulfilled. Paul provided the remedy for eliminating this impostor: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” «I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. », (Galatians 2:20). Self will not align with truths that demand its surrender.s submission, so self must die (Romans 6:6-7). God will not share His throne, and we are fooling ourselves if we think He does not notice our service to the god of self. We may shun the external vices and never bend the knee to a graven image, but if Jesus is not Lord over every part of our lives, we are most likely worshipers of the god of self.
