Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/77

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Affirmation of Faith: Denial Of Self

Topic - Faith

We find ourselves well into the Lenten season, and many voices, and pens, will be taking up the subject of self denial. It seems to fit so securely within the framework of Christ's sacrifice and our response. That it fits there goes without saying; that it is a seasonal observance is something entirely different. Self denial, if it is to mean anything at all, is emphatically not seasonal, but rather life long. To affirm one's faith will involve one in self denial; and the opposite of this is equally true: to refuse the concept of self denial contradicts and undermines faith.

Self denial, then, is not just for the few, nor just for a few weeks. It is not an unreasonable request although there are many who will interpret it as another way of saying, "You Christians can't have any fun!" Self denial is not first of all a denial of pleasure, on the contrary, it leads to a satisfaction and a joy and an inner happiness no other approach can realize.

There have been many interpreters of self denial over the centuries. Some felt that to deny one's self meant to retreat from the world, to withdraw from human society. Many of the founders of monastic orders were of such a mind. Some of the advocates of other than Christian forms of religion practice something very similar. Those who did leave human society performed some very useful services: copying scriptural manuscripts, tending travelers who came their way, and the like. However, the greatest impact of their lives was lost, simply because they were not in touch with the mainstream Of life. The monastary, the desert, the pillar had idealism, and to spare, but lacked the opportunity of shaping lives day by day, simply because the world passed them by, without knowing of their existence.

Others were sure that self denial meant punishing the body. To discipline the body is good: it both controls the appetites and increases bodily powers. To punish the body is foolish, for it serves no useful purpose, rather, it wastes strength better used in other ways. And perhaps worst of all, it makes the gospel appear to be an enemy of health, vigour, and normal living.

Others were sure that self denial involved a withdrawal from many of the normal human relationships, such as marriage. A celibate clergy in the church of Rome is still a rule. Such a practice, however, has created far more problems than it has removed. One wonders how an unmarried clergy can effectively minister to people in families, with family related problem and opportunities.

Still others were sure (and there are many such still) that self denial means the avoiding of any kind of personal luxury. "Taste not, enjoy not" would seem to be their motto. Yet, while something of this approach may well be helpful to a life style of simplicity, self denial itself is far more.

Nor is self denial to be equated with fasting. To fast for a short period may be very beneficial, and may certainly be a part of it, but to deny one's self means far more than to deny one's self three meals a day.

Self denial means to put ANOTHER first. It is one of the basic ways in which the Christian is to be different from his world. Our world puts self first. Our world places a high emphasis, and value, on personal pleasure. Our world thinks that one of the great aims in life is to be comfortable.

The Christian, on the other hand, puts Christ first. The Christian finds his greatest pleasure in helping another, in serving his Lord. The Christian will seek to extend comfort, more than he will seek comfort. Moreover, he will have a different understanding of what comfort is all about. He will realize that comfort means to live with strength . . . not to take one's ease before a T.V. set or in a soft chair, waiting for another to entertain or amuse him.

This approach to self denial will experience, and demonstrate positive virtue, or goodness. It will not limit itself to a few small negatives, the way some people feel Christianity must be lived: "Don't go there, don't use this, don't do that." Christianity involves don'ts, to be sure, but it involves some positive approaches, too.

The effect of this will be to make Christianity both genuine and practical. There is nothing new about it - in fact the entire Bible presents this approach: "You shall have no other gods before Me. " Exodus 20 : 3. "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness . . . 11 Matthew 6 :33. "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14 :27.

The apostle Paul sums it up, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice . Romans 12 : 1.

To affirm our faith in the Saviour involves us in a denial of self, for to trust in another acknowledges that we are unable and insufficient of ourselves. Let us discover, or perhaps re-discover the further truth that when we give ourselves away, when we lose ourselves for Christ and his kingdom, we find ourselves, our joy, and our satisfaction, and our peace.

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