~See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col. 2:8)
*My Circumstances?
The most popular simplistic approach to change focuses on external circumstances. "I need more money." "If I could change my looks, my life would be better." Finger-pointing is the strategy, and the goal is to change my life by changing the circumstances around me.
This approach to change is not only deceptive, but hollow as well. It misses my need for Christ's redeeming grace, and it places the blame for my sin at God's doorstep! We blame God for placing the problem person or circumstance in our life. If only this or that were different. With this approach, the grace of God will not be sought or received.
*My Behavior? (Similar to the "Self-Help gospel")
Your behavior does need to change! But this approach only addresses external actions. It does not go after the reasons why you continue to do these things (which is the sinful human heart that only the power of Christ can change). Instead the person simply hopes to replace bad behavior with good. He believes he just needs some skills. He doesn't want to do the time-consuming and painful work of looking at motivation. He just wants to deal with the problem behavior with techniques that will help him navigate life more smoothly (For example: Christian self help, 5 steps to this or 7 keys for that).
Behavioral approach to change is hollow because it ignores the need for Christ and his power to change first the heart and then the behavior.
The Bible passages that emphasize the need for new behavior are all built on the foundation of God's grace at work to change our hearts through the power of the Spirit.
*My Thinking?
In this approach to change, your thinking needs to be adjusted so your behavior will reflect appropriate thought about your circumstances.
This view of change is closer to a truly biblical understanding of change, but it is not sufficient, it is not the main goal...Christ is. If you have a problem with anger, you are told to memorize certain verses so that you can recite them in moments of anger. If you struggle with fear, you should read Scripture passages that focus on trusting God when you are afraid.
This emphasis on thinking as the solution to our problems fails to introduce the Person who has come not only to change the way we think about life, but to change us as well. Jesus comes to transform our entire being, not just our mind.
*My Self-Concept? (Similar to the Self-Esteem gospel)
"Believe in yourself!" "You can do anything you put your mind to!" This approach to change looks within oneself for the power to change.
"You can't love God or others if you don't first love yourself." It all sounds so biblical! But it makes assumptions about the human heart that the Bible does not. This view is deceptive because it seems to capture how we feel inside, but it makes us look far more passive and innocent that we really are. The Bible describes us as defectors and enemies of God who want to fill ourselves with things in creation rather than the Creator (Rom. 1:21:-25). This view flatters us far more than we deserve.
"If I can just deal with the oppressive guilt and increase my self-esteem, then I will be free to live and love." This approach is hollow because it does not offer good news for the guilty and self-loathing person. Instead of connecting our guilt and shame to our own sin and rebellion against God, this view downplays our guilt and misses a great opportunity to call us to esteem Christ's work on our behalf.
The cross reminds us that though we are made in God's image, we are deeply flawed and bent toward loving ourselves above all. Deep down we know that we don't measure up. We feel small because we are small, but false teaching encourages us to reject those thoughts of smallness by affirming our own greatness. The cross of Christ shows us how glorious, merciful, and forgiving God is and how great his love is for us in Christ. This recognition of my guilt and God's glory is the only thing that can eradicate shame and self-loathing. Bottom line: I am called to esteem God, not myself.
*Jesus the therapist
If Jesus is my therapist, he is the One who comes to affirm me. Instead of trying to love ourselves, we think about how much Jesus loves us. This approach is deceptive because it latches onto a very powerful aspect of the gospel: God does shower his love upon us in Christ! Everyone who reads the Bible knows this. But this approach subtly turns Jesus into the One who meets my needs and fills my emptiness-as I define them. It turns God's love into something that only serves me. We turn Jesus into someone whose goal in life is to make us feel good about ourselves. A good feeling about ourselves is not the ultimate goal, Christ is. The holy love of God for sinners is humbling and uplifting at the same time. It calls the sinner to admit his own self-centeredness while cleansing and freeing him for the cage of false love for himself.
Jesus is not a vending machine that dispenses what we want to feel good about ourselves. He is the Holy One who comes to cleanse us, fills us, and change us. He does not do this according to our agendas. He will not serve our wayward needs. He loves us too much to merely make us happy. he comes to make us holy. There will be many occasions when he will not give us what we think we need, but rather, the will give us what he knows we need.
From: How People Change, Lane/Tripp
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