Living in the Gospel in an Age of Self-Help

Look around — we are the most medicated, treated, psychoanalyzed, self-helped generation of human history and the fruit is slavery to all kinds of desires. Marriages are no stronger, people are no more “together”, and one does not get the impression of society overflowing with peace and well-being. Self-help is a secular version of self-salvation. Take the word “God” out and you have the same thing. Follow these rules, keep these rituals, do these disciplines, make these sacrifices — and you will be free. So, any accommodation of the Gospel to self-help is a denial of the Gospel. The Gospel is humbling because it treats us as helpless and no one likes that (“What do you think I am, an invalid? I can handle it without your help.”)

By Mark Lauterbach

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