God does not want me

[BobCatholic]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

 

[Vico]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

God freely gives each what is sufficient to overcome sin by giving grace. God cannot be said, therefore, to not “want” a person. Evil may be defined as the **free will **choice of malice over love. The person (self) makes the free will choice. When the choice for malice is made, then the image of Christ is not manifest in a person, but the reverse is true when love is chosen. We are able to choose between one of the two masters.

 

[ynotzap]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

Self is not evil, but self can do evil things, there is a distinct difference. God does not create evil. Since sin and it’s effects have produced some negative effects on humanity, Jesus came to level the playing field. By giving us His Spirit, we become transformed, we conquer those sins and effects in us by imitating Christ, He came to restore us to that state that Adam and Eve lost, the state of Grace. God indeed wants us, even while we were in the state of sin. We must stop that which is not Christ in us, so that we can be whole,& holy ourselves like Christ He is perfecting what is wrong in ourselves, restoring us to the new Life of Grace. We are dying to what is wrong, not to what is right in ourselves. We are precious in God’s eyes, and He sent His Son to bring us back to Him When we are transformed by Grace, we reflect Jesus to the Father, and experience that greatest of all love He has for His Son, we are resurrected.

 

[AKDee]

Let me do a comparison.

Let’s say I have a 5 year old child, who has begun stealing, fibbing, and bullying.

I want my child to stop these things.

I do not, however, want a different child. I don’t want him to simply be his older brother, or his younger sister. I want him to be him, but without sin.

That is what God wants for you. Not for you to be Jesus, but for you to reach your best possible self. Obviously, since Jesus is perfect, He is our role model. But your personality is uniquely you. And God loves you and he wants you.

 

[St_Francis]

I used to worry about this, too, then God gave me the grace to see that my bad points (what I need ti get rid of) are like warts on my skin, covering up my true self, the self God wants to be clearly visible.

 

[MaryT777]

I used to worry about this, too, then God gave me the grace to see that my bad points (what I need ti get rid of) are like warts on my skin, covering up my true self, the self God wants to be clearly visible.

Well said.

Mary.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

The self God doesn’t want is the false self. That’s the system of constant worry, concern, role playing and other silly stuff we do that we’ve been trained by our culture to act like.

By the time we’re about seven years old, we have already taken on a mind that is constantly worried about what others think. And with good reason – how many times to adults tell children they are “happy” or “not very happy” because of the child’s actions. And so it’s natural for us to grow up as a big codependent mess where we all hold each other responsible for our feelings. We feel bad because someone said something bad about a group I identify with, or because by feeling bad we can feel important and real. It’s really weird but it is why so few will find the kingdom. Society constantly reinforces us and models dualistic fighting.

So basically the false self is an entire cognitive overlay of stupidity and Jesus tries like mad to break it by using paradox. The greatest is one who serves – everybody wants to feel important so this is something they can’t even hear. Or the Good Samaritan story or the tax collector and the Pharisee. Or even “righteous” v “sinners” – those who cling to their group identification or social status to justify themselves are the ones who are completely caught up in this false identification, and who inflict this upon others. Jesus slams them pretty good in Matt 23.

Here’s Cistercian monk and spiritual director Fr. Thomas Keating on losing the false self that may give a better picture:

Letting go of the false self

 

[odhiambo]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

BobCatholic! Surely you are pulling our legs!
God loves you so much that He sent His Only Beloved Son to die, that you might be saved; just think about that! sure God loves you!

 

[odhiambo]

I used to worry about this, too, then God gave me the grace to see that my bad points (what I need ti get rid of) are like warts on my skin, covering up my true self, the self God wants to be clearly visible.

That is a really consoling way of looking at it St. Francis; are the warts gone ?

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

Jesus’ purpose was to be in people. As them with Him in them.

Thus, the Father wants you as you with Jesus in you.

With your sense of humour (if clean and not mean), your talents, your hobbies, your skills, your enthusiasm.

Not to show off about those things (except lightheartedly and gratefully) but to put the real you at the service of others.

A preacher I heard the other day said be enthusiastic about everything you put your hand to whatsoever.

For me that means trying to get people interested in history and linguistics. Stuff that’s real in everybody’s life but ignored, and very relevant to spirituality too as well as fun pursuits in themselves. Mind expanding, does others a favour.

For the next person it’ll be a craft, or music secular as well as sacred. Or just time to keep people company. My friend who used to construct pipelines is now chairing a chapel restoration committee. A couple throws open their home once a week for a prayer meeting and bible study. Another couple and their children used to have me and a few other singles along for a walk monthly.

Just writing someone a letter in your style is “you”.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

Another way is if we think it suits us to let somebody manipulate us because we are afraid of them and don’t trust God to help us stand up to them so we let it carry on.

A way of Him increasing and us decreasing but paradoxically growing at the same time, is to trust Him in our circumstances, eschew false shame, regain healthy pride and expect circumstances to change however slightly or slowly, or else the ability to just bear it better.

These things can take a lot of time! As some friends of mine say, “Give time time”!

 

[BobCatholic]

God freely gives each what is sufficient to overcome sin by giving grace. God cannot be said, therefore, to not “want” a person.

But if he doesn’t give me sufficient grace, game over.

And he CAN not want someone, because the only person he wants is Jesus.

Evil may be defined as the **free will **choice of malice over love. The person (self) makes the free will choice. When the choice for malice is made, then the image of Christ is not manifest in a person, but the reverse is true when love is chosen. We are able to choose between one of the two masters.

That’s right, when one does anything wrong, the image of Christ is not manifest in the person, and God does not see Jesus so rejects the person. God only wants Jesus - someone who manifests Jesus in him/her.

We must stop that which is not Christ in us, so that we can be whole,& holy ourselves like Christ

Because God does not want me, he wants Christ.

He is perfecting what is wrong in ourselves,

And what is wrong is that I’m not Christ.

You don’t have to deny your very self! Your very self isn’t evil!

Jesus said we must deny our very self in order to follow him, did you forget?

Nobody is perfect.

Jesus said we must be perfect.

Don’t decrease or deny your you-ness!
Just be the best person you can be and all will be well.

I can’t follow this advice. I have to be like Jesus, being “the best person I can be” is not enough. God doesn’t want me, he wants Jesus.

 

[BobCatholic]

Let’s say I have a 5 year old child, who has begun stealing, fibbing, and bullying.

I want my child to stop these things.

I do not, however, want a different child. I don’t want him to simply be his older brother, or his younger sister. I want him to be him, but without sin.

You want a good child.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

That is what God wants for you. Not for you to be Jesus, but for you to reach your best possible self. Obviously, since Jesus is perfect, He is our role model. But your personality is uniquely you. And God loves you and he wants you.

If God wants me he would not be saying I must give up my very self.

I used to worry about this, too, then God gave me the grace to see that my bad points (what I need ti get rid of) are like warts on my skin, covering up my true self, the self God wants to be clearly visible.

But God does not want my true self. Even without the warts. He wants Jesus.

The self God doesn’t want is the false self.

The self is evil. True self or false self, same thing. Jesus said I must give up myself, because the self is evil. That’s why he doesn’t want the self (true or false).

 

[BobCatholic]

BobCatholic! Surely you are pulling our legs!
God loves you so much that He sent His Only Beloved Son to die, that you might be saved; just think about that! sure God loves you!

I think you didn’t read what I wrote. I’m not pulling your leg, but I am using hyperbole.

Whether God loves me or not is irrelevant. He does not want me.

Jesus’ purpose was to be in people. As them with Him in them.

Thus, the Father wants you as you with Jesus in you.

With Jesus in me, he sees Jesus. That’s who God wants. He does not want me.

Another way is if we think it suits us to let somebody manipulate us because we are afraid of them and don’t trust God to help us stand up to them so we let it carry on.

But if God doesn’t provide the ability to stand up to them, then what? Can’t wait forever, need this to be AngelEx’d to them now.

 

[porthos11]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

Is your depression kicking in again?

 

[Vico]

originally posted by vico
god freely gives each what is sufficient to overcome sin by giving grace. God cannot be said, therefore, to not “want” a person.

…
but if he doesn’t give me sufficient grace, game over.

And he can not want someone, because the only person he wants is jesus.

Answer: Jesus has a divine and human nature in one person, so that cannot be true, since we only have human nature.

originally posted by vico
evil may be defined as the free will choice of malice over love. The person (self) makes the free will choice. When the choice for malice is made, then the image of Christ is not manifest in a person, but the reverse is true when love is chosen. We are able to choose between one of the two masters.

that’s right, when one does anything wrong, the image of Christ is not manifest in the person, and god does not see Jesus so rejects the person. God only wants Jesus - someone who manifests Jesus in him/her.

Answer: that cannot be true since God created* knowing* that some creatures would fail and some would not. God can be said to desire that humans are like God in being able to express love, which is only possible through free choice. God does not oppose the free will choice of humans so the humans that reject God do so by not loving; God does not reject them but the converse.

 

[BobCatholic]

Answer: Jesus has a divine and human nature in one person, so that cannot be true, since we only have human nature.

But if I am a Catholic, I have the Holy Trinity living in me, so that’s the divine nature inside me.

So I have my human nature and divine nature inside me, I’m just like Jesus. So God only wants Jesus not me.

Answer: that cannot be true since God created* knowing* that some creatures would fail and some would not. God can be said to desire that humans are like God in being able to express love, which is only possible through free choice. God does not oppose the free will choice of humans so the humans that reject God do so by not loving; God does not reject them but the converse.

And one loves, they are like Jesus. And God only wants Jesus.
If one does not love, they are not like Jesus, God does not want them.

 

[AKDee]

Bob, I have a serious question for you. Do you think that God doesn’t love any of us? That he doesn’t want any of us? Do you think he doesn’t love me? Doesn’t want me? Because your imperfections are unlikely to be worse than mine, or worse than myriad other people. If your answer is that you don’t think God doesn’t love or want me, or other people, then stop being so hard on yourself.

You sound very much like you are giving in to despair, and that should not be so. Our Lord Jesus told St. Faustina, “As often as you ask for it, you glorify My mercy.” He WANTS us to come to him.

If God were truly indifferent, if God truly didn’t want you but wanted only Jesus, then what was the point of sending Jesus to save us in the first place? He already had Jesus. So it only makes sense that he does indeed want us, or why save us in the first place?

 

[ccmcmg]

Clearly, I’m using hyperbole, but even with hyperbole, this is a sad realization.

“I must decrease and he must increase” John the Baptist says about Jesus.

Therefore “I too must decrease and he must increase”

If I want to follow Christ, I must deny my very self.

The self is evil. That’s why we must give up ourselves.

God does not want my self. God does not want me.

I’m supposed to stop being myself and be more like Christ.

God wants Jesus. Not me.

God wants each and every one of us. We were created in His Image.

I should want to decrease so that God can increase in me! I’d rather be filled with Him, than filled with me!

We are all called to be Christ like, and to conform ourselves to Him. However, we will fall short, because we are sinners. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying. You aren’t called to hate yourself; you are to love yourself so much that you want yourself to be like Christ. Don’t stop being you. Be a better ‘you’. ‘Deny’ doesn’t mean hate or abandon.

 

[Vico]

But if I am a Catholic, I have the Holy Trinity living in me, so that’s the divine nature inside me.

So I have my human nature and divine nature inside me, I’m just like Jesus. So God only wants Jesus not me.

And one loves, they are like Jesus. And God only wants Jesus.
If one does not love, they are not like Jesus, God does not want them.

That is not Catholic teaching. We may be partakers of the divine nature but do not have a divine nature, so are not the same as Jesus Christ the Son of God: we have only human nature, but Jesus Christ has both human and divine natures and both human and divine wills.