The “Self-Esteem” Gospel
A Warning the KJV Bible Already Gave Us
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
There is a growing message being preached in many churches today — including some large mega-church platforms — that sounds encouraging, empowering, and affirming. It tells people to love themselves more, believe in themselves more, and focus on their own happiness as the pathway to spiritual fulfillment.
It is often packaged as “self-worth,” “self-love,” or “discovering the greatness within YOU.” But when carefully examined in the light of Scripture, this message resembles something the Bible warned us about long ago.
The KJV Bible Warning
In the King James Version (KJV), we read:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves…
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
— 2 Timothy 3:1–2,4 (KJV)
This passage is not describing a pagan culture alone. It is describing conditions that would mark the last days — attitudes that would even creep into places where God’s name is spoken.
The phrase “lovers of their own selves” is striking. The apostle Paul lists it first among a series of spiritual corruptions. Self-love is not presented as a virtue, but as a symptom of spiritual decline.
From Self-Denial to Self-Esteem
Compare today’s popular preaching with the words of Jesus in the KJV:
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
— Luke 9:23 (KJV)
Biblical Christianity begins with self-denial — not self-exaltation. It calls for surrender, repentance, humility, and obedience. The cross is not a symbol of self-fulfillment; it is a symbol of death to self.
Yet much modern preaching has shifted the focus:
From repentance to self-affirmation
From holiness to happiness
From surrender to self-actualization
From glorifying God to improving self-image
When sermons revolve more around discovering your inner greatness than around submitting to God’s authority, something has shifted.
The Subtle Shift in Emphasis
The “self-esteem gospel” does not usually deny God outright. Instead, it re-centers God around you. God becomes the One who exists primarily to:
Boost your confidence
Increase your success
Remove your discomfort
Fulfill your dreams
But Scripture presents a different center.
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
— Romans 11:36 (KJV)
The gospel is God-centered, not self-centered. We were created for His glory — not He for ours.
When Churches Mirror the Culture
We live in a culture obsessed with self:
Self-branding
Self-promotion
Self-care as ultimate priority
Self-expression above truth
It should not surprise us that these values can infiltrate pulpits. Mega-churches with large platforms can be especially susceptible to packaging messages that appeal to human pride because such messages draw crowds.
Paul warned Timothy:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”
— 2 Timothy 4:3 (KJV)
Messages that elevate self are easier to receive than messages that crucify self.
Biblical Love vs. Cultural Self-Love
To be clear, the Bible does not promote self-hatred. We are made in God’s image. We are loved by God. But biblical identity flows from being redeemed sinners — not inherently awesome beings waiting to be celebrated.
True transformation begins not with “I am enough,” but with:
“God be merciful to me a sinner.”
— Luke 18:13 (KJV)
The gospel says:
You are sinful.
You cannot save yourself.
Christ died for you.
You must repent and believe.
The self-esteem gospel subtly edits this into:
You are valuable.
You deserve happiness.
God wants you to thrive.
Believe in yourself.
One message leads to humility before God. The other often leads to subtle idolatry of self.
A Call Back to the Cross
If we are truly in the “perilous times” Paul described, the remedy is not louder affirmations — it is deeper repentance.
The church does not need more self-love seminars. It needs:
Preaching on sin
Preaching on repentance
Preaching on holiness
Preaching on the fear of the Lord
Preaching on the sufficiency of Christ
The gospel does not inflate the ego. It crucifies it — and then resurrects a new creation in Christ.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
— Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
All followers of Jesus must understand that they are loved by God and they are valuable to the Lord, but not because of their own merits, but because of what Jesis did for them on the cross.
The danger of the self-esteem gospel is not that it sounds evil. It sounds encouraging. But encouragement that centers man rather than God ultimately produces shallow faith.
The last days would be marked by people who are “lovers of their own selves.” The question for the modern church is simple:
Are you preaching Christ — or are you preaching a baptized version of self-worship?
