Selfish Christianity

Daily Old Testament Reading: 2 Kings 15; Jonah 3-4

Daily Focus Passage: Jonah 4

People often attempt to define God and define the ways of God to match their selfish, fleshly nature. Jonah followed his moment of repentance by minimally fulfilling the Lord's call to go to Nineveh in chapter 3. Jonah traveled only about a third of the way into the city and used less than ten words in his sermon. Yet, the power of the declaration led the people to repent. The people's repentance and God's response ignited the selfish nature of Jonah, and chapter 4 details his selfish nature that mirrors the attitude of selfish Christianity today.

SELFISH CHRISTIANITY FLOWS FROM BAD THEOLOGY

Theology occurs when we think about God. Theology must find its foundation in God’s Word and not from the thoughts of humanity. When our theology becomes based on our “thoughts” and “beliefs” instead of God’s Word, we set ourselves up to enter a state of holding bad theology. Bad theology leads us to live in a false sense of who the Lord is and attempt to redefine the Lord in an acceptable manner. When this approach to theology sets in, we enter into a god complex, attempting to equate ourselves to the Lord and lower the Lord to us. Bad theology flows from selfish Christianity because it becomes all about us. In what ways does the selfish nature of the flesh tempt you to develop bad theology? 

SELFISH CHRISTIANITY MAINTAINS AN INWARD FOCUS

Jonah’s response to the redemption of the people of Nineveh reveals his inward, selfish focus. In his prayer to the Lord, Jonah used “I” or “me” nine times. The use of the first person pronoun demonstrates his pre-fish condition still exists. Jonah did not concern himself with the need for redemption for the people of Nineveh or God’s desire to show compassion. Jonah only wanted his will to occur and not the Lord’s.

Jonah demonstrates a presence of self-righteousness. He mentions his honorable character compared to the people of Nineveh and believes he is greater in righteousness and value than others. As a result, he develops a sense of victimization and a martyr complex. He thinks he is a victim of God’s mercy shown to the people of Nineveh and sees death as better than living in such a state. These feelings flow from the inward focus.

Jonah is more concerned with his comfortableness than the working of the Lord. The growth and shade of the plant create a sense of comfort for Jonah. As the plant is taken away, Jonah complains and cries out. The inward focus of Jonah is displayed because he is concerned more with his plight than the city's redemption. When we live with an inward focus, we make everything about us and seek to live for the Lord for personal benefit.

Selfish Christianity is a temptation all believers battle. We battle against the temptations of the flesh that fuel our battle against the presence of traditions and the threat of falling into bad theology; at other times, we can over-elevate our righteousness and lessen the worth of others. We must learn to identify these threats in our lives and seek to overcome the danger of selfish Christianity.