Dying to self is overrepresented in Scripture yet underpublicized, misunderstood, and unpopular in America today – Christianity’s Best Kept Secret.  The topic is rarely mentioned in our churches, conferences, or media outlets – considered too countercultural for our discriminating, consumeristic palates.  Death to self goes against the grain of the values our nation holds dear in this age of Selfism, entailing:

• Putting Jesus first and following His will no matter the consequences
• Repenting of self-righteousness, realizing there’s nothing inherently good in us
• Humbly acknowledging our unworthiness to receive God’s grace and mercy
• Confessing we’re hopelessly lost without Jesus, solely reliant on the Holy Spirit
• Kicking old habits and earthly desires, adopting a new nature rooted in Christ
• Seeking to please God, not mankind, unless doing so to lead them to the Lord
• Putting down agendas, without any ulterior motives except love or compassion
• Not judging those outside our faith, concerned only about their eternal destiny
• Glorifying God alone, deferring credit to Him for all our accomplishments
• Refusing to worry, knowing Jesus has a plan whatever “good” or “bad” occurs
• Enduring suffering with joy, without feelings of resentment, sorrow, or revenge
• Being less concerned about our wants than the needs of other people
• Sacrificing our safety and security if necessary to live out God’s purposes

Sound like anyone you know?  I’m hard pressed to think of many who fit this bill.

Jesus, the Ultimate Example

Jesus exemplified dying to self because He is its Author and Perfecter.  He understands far better than you and me what follows after death (to self).  The seemingly “negative” connotations of the characteristics on the list above conceal the tremendous benefits awaiting those willing to give up their lives for Christ’s sake:

• Gratitude for what we have, not discontentment with what we don’t
• Better health with less stress about the future, because the worst is behind us
• Freedom from sin and anxiety, which hold so many captive in this world
• Ability to love unconditionally, needing nor expecting anything in return
• Living on mission for an audience of One, not pursuing personal interests
• Consumed with how we feel about others, not how they feel about us
• Courage to take the road less traveled, watching God miraculously open doors
• Making an eternal, Kingdom-advancing difference within our circle of influence
• Dwelling safely in our intended “abode”, abiding while others wander aimlessly
• Acquitted of accusations of hypocrisy due to close alignment of life with faith
• Exclusive access to the abundant life Jesus offers to those willing to die to self
• Awakening the world through radically unselfish acts it can’t process or fathom
• Becoming bulletproof, impervious to further harm, with no life left to preserve

Ironically, we’re most alive when we’re dead (to self).  We’re freest when we’ve surrendered.  We’re only at home (here) when we live for eternity (elsewhere).  If we were dead we wouldn’t notice the trivial, but we do, so we must not be dead yet.

Major Biblical Figures Who Died to Self

Jesus wasn’t the only One in the Old and New Testaments to model dying to self.  In fact, nearly everyone the Bible features from Christ’s lineage, or who followed Him after His ascension, died to self.  In each of those cases, a transformation took place – from alive (but dead) to dead (but alive).  Their stories illustrate the practical application, implications, and transformation of “taking up your cross”, “losing your life to save it”, and being “crucified with Christ”.  As we get immersed in those stories, we come to realize dying to self is integral to Jesus’ story and our place in His-story.

Abraham

Started: The hero known for His faith initially doubted God’s promise for an heir and became impatient, with dire consequences to this day for Christianity and Judaism.

Died to Self: Once the Lord’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled, Abraham surrendered everything, even his only son, trusting God’s sovereignty above his own desires.

Became: As a result of Abraham dying to self, not withholding what he loved most, he became the “father of many nations”, a patriarch of the three monotheistic religions.

Moses

Began: Orphaned, adopted by Pharoah’s daughter, and raised as a royal, Moses retained allegiance to his Hebrew heritage, but fled in fear after killing the Egyptian.

Died to Self: Putting aside feelings of insecurity and unworthiness, Moses obeyed one of the most daunting commands recorded in Scripture and led Israel out of slavery.

Became: Apart from Jesus and His disciples, Moses had possibly the most interactive relationship with God anyone has ever experienced, speaking with Him frequently.

Ruth

Began: Ruth was a Moabite, distant relatives and enemies of the Israelites, notorious for worshipping false Gods and idols.

Died to Self: When her husband and father-in-law died, Ruth sacrificed and remained devoted to her mother-in-law, refusing to abandon her by returning to her homeland.

Became: Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor to Jesus, rewards for her faith in God and willingness to forego comfort for the sake of others.

David

Began: He led a humble early life as a youngest son and shepherd boy, in the modest town of Bethlehem, but David had extraordinary talents, bravery, and faith.

Died to Self: David deeply loved and honored the Lord, wrote worship songs, prayed constantly, and shamelessly danced in the streets despite his regal status.

Became: Although he committed serious sins, David was a “man after God’s own heart”, Israel’s greatest king, an undefeated warrior, and forefather of the Messiah.

Esther

Began: Living in exile in Persia, Esther was a Jew and therefore part of a minority group viewed at that time with suspicion and threatened with extermination.

Died to Self: Esther risked her life for the sake of her people and the Lord’s purposes, uttering the infamous phrase, “If I perish, I perish”, born “for such a time as this”.

Became: Although she wasn’t in Jesus’ direct lineage, if Esther hadn’t foiled Haman’s plot, the Jewish people would have been eradicated, so she preserved that lineage.

John the Baptist

Began: A cousin of Jesus, living an ascetic lifestyle without creature comforts, eating a steady diet of locusts, preaching repentance, and foretelling the coming of Jesus.

Died to Self: John’s controversial messages put his life at risk, but he didn’t seek his own safety or glory, declaring about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Became: The Old Testament prophesied John would “prepare the way for the Lord” and Jesus said of John, “among those born of women there is no one greater”.

Paul

Began: Raised as a Pharisee under the strictest religious law and education, Paul personally pursued and persecuted anyone daring to follow Jesus.

Died to Self: After Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, he suffered imprisonment, beatings, and rejection but never veered from his Gospel mission.

Became: Paul became the leading early evangelist, apologist, church planter, disciple-maker, theological authority, conduit to gentiles, and author of the New Testament.

It’s Your Turn…

When your church tells these biblical stories, does it disclose that death to self is the segue from what they were before to what they became?  Given how infrequently dying to self is discussed today relative to how often it’s referenced in Scripture, it wouldn’t be surprising if your pastor never mentioned that connection.  Transitioning from “before” to “after” without enduring surrender and sacrifice is much more appealing to church consumers.