WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

160 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
SELF ASSESSMENT
Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:3 is for Christians to think of themselves
“with sober judgment” - that is, with sound mind or realistically. In Galatians
6:3, 4 Paul further states “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing,
he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take
pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else.” This “pride”
coupled with true humility enables us to view ourselves realistically and to
serve others to the glory of God.
Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:3 (italics mine) has been translated in a
variety of ways. J B Phillips states, “Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself
or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the
light of the faith that God has given to you all”. Kenneth Wuest uses the phrase
“sensible appraisal”. The New Living Translation says, “Be honest in your evaluation
of yourself”. The New International Version is more literal – “Think of yourself
with sober judgment.” These expressions speak of how we are to assess ourselves.
A young Asian doctor was preparing for missionary service. He was asked
to complete an evaluation form, which included assessments on his gifts and
strengths, and aspects of his personality. He rated himself abnormally low on
most areas. He did not think he had achieved much. Some of his co-labourers
who knew him well were also asked to assess him in these areas. They rated
him far more highly. Strange as it may seem for someone of his profession, this
medical doctor had a problem of self-esteem. He had a low estimate of himself.
Part of it may have come from his background.
Some Christians would view any high rating of self as pride. Indeed, a
self-centred pride is condemned in Scripture. The solution however is not in
self-condemnation. This is because self-condemnation or self-disparagement
(sometimes linked with an inferiority complex) can be just as self-centred. Self
-condemnation or abnormal self-depreciation is false humility.
C S Lewis wisely writes, “Pleasure in being praised is not Pride ... The
saved soul to whom Christ says ‘Well done’, (is) pleased and ought to be. For
here the pleasure lies not in what you are but in the fact that you have pleased
someone you wanted (and rightly wanted) to please. The trouble begins when
you pass from thinking, ‘I have pleased him; all is well,’ to thinking, ‘ What a
fine person I must be to have done it’.” 1
1 C.S. Lewis (1958), Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, page 97.