| A Review & Critique of Dr. David Tyler's book, "Jesus | | | | sufficiency of scripture, grace, faith and Christ-a |
| Christ: Self-Denial or Self-Esteem. | | | | complete and utter opposition of what Schuller wants.) |
| If one didn't look at the title of Dr. Tyler's book, "Jesus | | | | Dr. Tyler seeks to declare that the Bible's emphasis is |
| Christ: Self-Denial or Self-Esteem," they might think | | | | on self-denial, a concept that is apparently anathema |
| they were reading a book about the life of Christ | | | | to modern day authors. And where are, Dr. Tyler asks, |
| instead of a refutation of the self-esteem movement. | | | | the words of Jesus when he supposedly tells his |
| Dr. Tyler takes a different approach that's | | | | followers to "love themselves, esteem themselves, |
| characteristic of some of the other books on critiquing | | | | accept themselves, believe in themselves, develop a |
| self-esteem. He doesn't exclusively argue that the | | | | healthy self-image, or nurture feelings of significance |
| self-esteem position is defective from a humanistic | | | | and worth?" Dr. Tyler looks for them in the next three |
| psychological approach as Paul Vitz does. Nor does | | | | chapters of his book as he explores the words, works, |
| he attempt to contrast each heretical thought and | | | | and parables of Christ. |
| compare it to an exhaustive look at scripture | | | | Dr. Tyler explores Christ's encounter with various |
| references. Instead, he compares the notion of selfism | | | | people. Jesus was always other-oriented in that He |
| to the life and practices of Jesus Christ. By so doing, | | | | was continually about His father's business. His baptism, |
| he demonstrates that self-esteem flies directly in the | | | | the cleansing of the temple and the meeting with the |
| face of what Christ was teaching others, especially | | | | Samaritan women are just a few examples that Dr. |
| His very own disciples. | | | | Tyler cites as proof. The most striking evidence |
| In the introduction, Dr. Tyler makes the case that the | | | | appears in Christ's Sermon on the Mount where Jesus |
| new pop culture words, self-image, self-esteem and | | | | tells the crowd how to obtain blessedness (happiness). |
| self-worth have one central focus: self. This being a | | | | One would expect to find here Christ giving |
| recent phenomena (within the past 25 years), it has | | | | exhortation on seeking self-affirmation if the |
| had a significant influence on the church and its | | | | self-esteem zealots were true. However, Dr. Tyler |
| teachings. He quotes Robert Schuller who says that a | | | | cites five Beatitudes that Christ preached which |
| new reformation is needed and that being one | | | | further disappoints the selfism crowd. Christ proclaimed |
| centering on self-esteem. (It's ironic that Schuller uses | | | | blessedness would occur to those who are poor in |
| the word reformation. "The Reformation," nearly 500 | | | | spirit, mourn, practice meekness, are hungry and thirsty |
| years ago, affirmed the utter ruin and insufficiency of | | | | for righteousness, and are merciful. |
| man's condition and reinforced the complete | | | | |