I have some doubts that made me think that maybe I was wrong for thinking the way I do. I would like to share. I have a very specific question. Even the egotistical/sinful/far from God/evil person has the "right" to basic, healthy self-love (the kind that allows life without suicide because it is minimally healthy and does not completely and voluntarily denigrate God's creation, which is human beings)? Am I being heretical/wrong for thinking that yes, they have this right given by God's grace and the minimum necessary to be a steward?
Note: I know that the most correct thing is to be in God, He is the center!! But I have this doubt because if they didn't have this right, life wouldn't be permitted and everyone would live in depression or necessarily with very low self-esteem.
Even the sinner has the right to a minimum of self-love because he was created by God and is sustained by Him.
If I was still 35 years old, I'd agree with you. Now I'm 63 and have learned much so I must disagree with you. I think you might be having an identity crisis, i.e., you don't know who you are...
Scripture says we were created for God's pleasure, to worship God. and so I'll ask you, are you born again, a Christian, Believer? Do you believe scripture is truly God's word? The Bible is our human Manual on how to be a proper human being and to live correctly. Don't know how? Read your Bible. Then, read it some more, pray more than you used to, ask the Lord to show you, you have not because you ask not.
" Even the egotistical/sinful/far from God/evil person has the "right" to basic, healthy self-love (the kind that allows life without suicide because it is minimally healthy and does not completely and voluntarily denigrate God's creation, which is human beings)? ..."
Your life doesn't belong to you. You belong to God your Creator. Your above question brings more questions to mind...Why would you be willing to live minimally when you were born to live an abundant life?
Your asking if it is ok to turn your back on God and live your own life? I would not advise that, your life is not your own, but...you can choose whatever you want. He will not push Himself on you, that's why it is, you have not because you ask not!
Do you understand that we are living in a corrupted world because Adam & Eve fell in the garden? Man has a serious flaw to his nature when he is born here. Loving yourself generally involves the lusts of the flesh. There is two Wolves within you and they are tied together and fight over who gets to control the flesh and it's actions. In reality it is your spirit and soul. If you live for the flesh the spirit loses. If you live for the spirit, you win! He reminded us in scripture, be led by the spirit. That is what you must do.
Because living for yourself is turning your back on God, and the future does not bode well for these ones. The Lord is the one that can turn a bad thing into a good thing and He made the earth into a school for His followers and people. The university of Brotherly love, and final exams are coming up soon! Everything is a test. Everything is a test! Have you learned how to bring your soul and body into subjection to the spirit? Say no to them about that candy bar! I know you work hard and like chocolate and deserve a candy bar if you want it. In the OT, they say, Lord I will humble my soul to you Lord...which means to deny your flesh and say No, and you do it for God.
Scripture says, Deny yourself and pick up your cross daily. Sometimes when I am fasting, my flesh will start asking for food! I tell him, shut up or I will add a day to the fast! And he has learned to shut up. So...fasting isnt really that hard. Man does not live by bread alone, but every one of God's words...Now bread feeds the flesh, and God's word feeds the spirit.
Don't put your spirit on rations, feed yourself on His word while you fast and every day.
