The False Gospel of Self-Fulfillment Replaces God with Self.
- Jack Selcher
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Most U.S. adults pursue self-fulfillment, as do those who attend a religious service at least once a month, say their faith is especially important in their lives, and self-identify as Christians.
How do American adults and most practicing Christians chase after self-fulfillment? Most try to find themselves by looking within themselves instead of in the mirror of God’s word. They do not criticize others’ life choices because they do not want others to criticize their choices.
They pursue the things they desire most. They maximize their enjoyment. They permit others to believe what they want, as long as they do not hurt others. In addition, most adults (but not most practicing Christians) believe any kind of sexual expression is okay between consenting adults.1
Their beliefs are wrong because their assumptions about life are wrong. They discard God, the cornerstone of life, and the whole building of life collapses. They invent their truth while ignoring the One who is the truth and the key to understanding reality.
Most Americans pursue self-fulfillment and allow others to do the same. Self-fulfillment is an American idol with far more devoted followers than God has. We should not be surprised that the Christian church in America is circling the drain.
Many professing Christians have adopted the “Me first!” creed of those who live in darkness. They get life exactly wrong. It is like scoring a zero on a hundred-question true-false test or driving south from Atlanta, Georgia, to go to Montreal.
What is wrong with the gospel of self-fulfillment? Jesus explains it as paying attention to human concerns instead of what matters to God. Notice the consequences of living a self-centered life in a God-centered universe.
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23 ESV).
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:23-26 NIV)
Denying ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples is the exact opposite of self-fulfillment. If we live for ourselves, we forfeit our souls.
Not only that, but we also discover that self-fulfillment is fool’s gold. It cannot and does not satisfy us.
Like potato chips with no salt, life apart from God’s purpose is tasteless and unfulfilling. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.
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