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Self-denial...

So, I've actually heard first-hand from a "Christian" counselor that women "need to feel secure". At the time my skin crawled a bit, but I kept my mouth shut as I couldn't really put words to my disgust at this statement. The church, I'm increasingly convinced, has been feminized to the point where men and their sin are viewed differently from women and theirs. The sins typically committed by guys are rarely even honestly talked about. If they are discussed, it's in hushed tones laden with shame and guilt. Conversely, the sin of women (their dependence on created things for security, for example) is made to sound quite reasonable - even desirable. Well, frankly, that's bullshit.

If "Christian" psychologists are going to do something that looks exactly like non-christian psychologists (validating need, looking for self-fulfillment, tweaking behavior and personality), then screw it....what's the point? Want to do good Christian counseling? Get people into self-denial. Tell them that they're not the focus of life. Tell them to forget themselves. Turn their navel-gazing focus Heavenward. Then, maybe, you'll do some good for the kingdom.

They have this stuff in Manhattan?

Self-denial retread:

So Keller has an interesting statment in the midst of his study on Kingdom. He says we should live "significantly below" our means. In essence, this is the beginning of self-denial. Do you consider how you might use money before you consider how others might benefit? Do you allow the world to tell you how money and the stuff it buys provide security? Do you have to internally justify your level of consumption or saving (in other words, do you have to try to justify stealing from others)? It's simple and yet excruciatingly difficult - you need to deny yourself. I'm not talking about delayed gratification or simply putting off your desires to a later date. Self-denial is, at its essence, an acknowledgement of Truth - your needs have been met on the cross. Your eternal status is secure. You need no other assurance than what is revealed in the life and death and life of Jesus. Apart from that, you have nothing no matter how much crap is piled around you. With that assurance you have everything - even if you're naked and homeless and in pain (know anyone like that?).