{"id":11365,"date":"2021-11-17T21:21:45","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T21:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/?p=11365"},"modified":"2023-06-30T15:31:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T15:31:24","slug":"the-false-self-and-the-true-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2021\/11\/the-false-self-and-the-true-self\/","title":{"rendered":"The False Self and the True Self"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many years ago, I learned about the false self and the true self. I learned that everyone struggles with the tension between these two selves. The false self is the person we wish we were, the person we think we should be but aren\u2019t. The false self is the person who wants to impress others with the gifts God has given us. We rarely know it, but the false self is ego driven and self-serving. The false self is defensive, protecting the image we want to project. The false self is full of pride. The reason we don\u2019t recognize our false self is because, through our good works and holy behavior, the false self masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The true self, on the other hand, is the person God created us to be, full of God\u2019s gifts, full of the talents God have given us, and full of God\u2019s grace and love. Paul wrote that in Christ, we have \u201ctaken off [the] old self . . . and have put on the new self\u201d (Colossians 3:9-10). This new self, John wrote, is \u201cborn not of natural descent, nor of human decision . . . but born of God\u201d (John 1:13). Because the true self is created by God, it lives freely. It does not need to control things in order to protect a self-image. The fruits of the Holy Spirit seem to flow out of who we are, often surprising us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tension between the true self and false self has been with us throughout our lives, from young adulthood, through midlife, and into our senior years. And as we age, the false self grows old with us. I wonder if another purpose of the aging journey is to give us more time to recognize the egotistical lure of the false self in ways we could not see in our younger years. And as we age, we also have the opportunity to see the fruits of the true self, which were hidden in our younger years by the glitter of the false self. This will take a lifetime because the false self tells us lies and teaches us to lie. Jesus did not use the terms false self and true self, but he did talk about the lies of the Great Deceiver. He said to his followers, \u201cIf you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free\u201d (John 8:31-32). Those listening challenged him that they had never been slaves and did not need to be set free. He said (for our ears and for theirs), \u201cWhy is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil . . . There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies\u201d (John 8:43-44).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong words from the Son of God. They remind me that my own native language, the language of my false self, is full of lies I have believed for decades. And Jesus\u2019 words remind me that I usually do not know that I am enslaved by these lies. But the truth will set me free if I can admit to the lies of my false self. Here is a short list of the lies I have lived with and bring into this season of life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n