Selflessness Versus Selfishness

Live from the Mecca of Mormonism, SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. – And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.. Let’s keep learning together about walking as Christians in the age of fulfillment.

Show 29A Rand or Dostoyevski
Taped June 30th 2020
Aired July 6th 2020

The Principle of Selflessness

So, we have talked about going from glory to glory while in this life as believers lead of the Spirit. And then last week we talked about what “hangs in the balance,” for every person, believer and not, but especially toward what believers can expect all their faith and suffering to amount to once this life is over. Tonight, I want to speak to a fundamental principle of Christianity and how Son’s and Daughters can use the principle to assess themselves in their walk as we amble forth toward “a better resurrection” which we talked about last week.

If fact let me pause here for a moment and say this about last weeks show . . . Anyway, this principle I want to talk about is one that people aren’t really keen on hearing about because whenever it is discussed all of us – if we are being honest – we all come up short. And that’s no fun, is it? Hearing how we come up short, right? But I have found that it is only in genuine self-assessement, and our willingness to see the flaws and cracks in our souls, that we can begin to fill them in with His power and might and to patch them up, and to heal and grow.

Objectivism: A Study in Selfishness

I would therefore be remiss as a teacher of the Word if I did not speak to the issue head on. So here we go:

Prior to becoming a genuine Christian from the heart rather than just a religious Christian from the mouth, I was a big fan of the writings of Ayn Rand and her views on what she called “Objectivism.” Central to this philosophy is “selfishness," something Rand openly extols throughout her best-selling novels. It doesn’t take long reading Rand to note not only an undercurrent of anti-Christian sentimentalities running through her philosophy but general godlessness, antipathy for children, and the disregard, even the distain, for disabled people.

Why would this be? Why would she be dismissive of disabled people and all together ignore families and children in the long detailed novels promoting selfishness? Perhaps we find our answer in asking what are the common themes surrounding Christ, God, children and disabled people? Selflessness, right? Children require selfless adults in their lives, as do disabled people – selfless devotion to serving them through time, love, attention, activities and financing and such things are anathema to Rands Objectivist views which promote the value of “the self” and therefore the wonders of selfishness as a result.

The Christian Response to Selfishness

It’s fascinating to me that Rand's Atlas Shrugged is often listed as one of the most influential books ever written. Why? I think it is because central to the soul of fleshly human beings is the self. We are born centered on ourselves, and only grow in the capacity and focus. Albert Camus, the French Existentialist, said, “To be happy, one must not be too concerned for others.” I tend to agree. But I do not think happiness is the key or goal or purpose of life – especially for a sold-out Christian. Happiness is ephemeral and must be ironically served to be kept alive and functioning. Joy is ethereal and abides in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

It might seem sort of ironic that I would be opposed to selfishness as a proponent of Christian Subjectivism, but the two ought not find themselves as ingredients of the same stew. All Christian Subjectivism says is that the relationship between God and human beings is direct and personal, and not subject to the demands of others – including religion, but the hope of such a direct relationship is founded on the idea that this approach to the faith will culminate in greater selflessness in the believer and never less. Religion preys upon the innate selfishness of people and as a means to overcome it collectively makes demands upon its victims for giving mandated time, money and service. It tells the participant how often to pray, how much to give, when and where to serve, and why it is their turn to show benevolence. But in the end this approach is an approach through the flesh, and the root of selfishness remains vibrant in the heart and soul of those who through the Spirit of Christ have not.

The Nature of Selflessness

Subjectively decided to be selfless on their own accord. As God judges the heart of human beings, I suggest religion goes a long way to dress the human heart in fig leaves.

See, this is key – “doing selfless things” or being “selfless.” Both are good, for sure, but one is far better. Sons and Daughters always want what is better, not just what is good. Heart selflessness can only come by and through each individual allowing Christ to operate in them, which always means a dying to????? That’s right, themselves.

The subtle absence of God, Christ, children and disdain for disabled souls in Rands books is a direct result of her disdain for selflessness – because in each case, as described, selfLESSness is demanded. Ask any parent what it takes to raise a child. Selflessness.

Think about this. A mother chooses to go to the mall, to play tennis, to go clubbing, or to get high instead of feeding, bathing, clothing, or caring for her infant – the results would be disastrous to the child’s physical and emotional well-being. Bring in a disabled person to the mix, who often require a LIFETIME of care, and the point is made again. BTW, I am personally amazed at the souls who choose to take responsibility and care not only for children but who care for disabled souls. THAT is Christ in action and my hat is off to them for their love – because that is what it is – love. And since the scripture says, God is love, then such selflessness is God.

Selflessness Modeled by God

In fact, the model for selflessness begins with God himself – who creates and cares and provides and comforts all – the good and the evil. He gave us life, this earth, the sun and the rain, oxygen, water and in most cases parents to care for us in the early years. He gave us a sea with plenty of fish, plains with plenty of herds, but most importantly, he gave us His only begotten Son – because he so loved us – this world. He bestows upon us patience, long-suffering, mercy, kindness when we do not deserve it. God is Love. God is Selfless.

Look at His Son, God with us in flesh, what do we find or see? The selfless life he lived – for us. From start to finish, for others – ending with his own life on a cross being offered up for the world. To those who follow Him, it’s important to see that He chose to live selflessly. That he had a will, and it certainly had the desires to do what He wanted, but he chose the will of His Father.

Note that he did NOT choose to do the will of the religious men around him. In fact, we read early in the Gospel of John the following:

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

No, Jesus looked to the will of His father. And he did it without exception, selflessly fulfilling the Law and the Prophets, selflessly giving to the world all He had.

The Teachings of Jesus

In return, Sons and Daughters follow Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, not only in what he taught but in the way he lived his life in principle – by the Spirit. And what exactly did He teach? To believe and to love. The antidote to selfishness.

“Faith” and “love.” Faith in what God commands of us to be and do with love moving our ability to do them. The whole picture from God to Christ to the Spirit is one of giving, of “the other before ourselves,” of putting their needs ahead of our wants, and looking to the welfare of others ahead of our own.

It is a true paradox that the world promotes the “self” and “selfishness” in most of its representations – From selfies to luxuries and indulgences, to aberrant moralities to my life, and my wants, and my way, but this same world is contradictorily repulsed by the outcome of these promotions when they are manifested in crime, sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., and betrayals of trust. Its pure irony – stupidity really, and is akin to a parent living a life of total self-indulgence and being upset that their

Selflessness as Taught by Jesus

When a child is disrespectful to their parents, or when a society demands equal, fair, kind treatment for everyone while smashing the windows of innocent businesses and toppling public works of art, it is a reflection of selfishness being at the root of the world.

Jesus, the only solution, taught otherwise. Selflessness begins in the inner mind, from the heart, and extends to the life and hands of the person. We will never be selfless in word and deed if we are not first selfless in heart and mind. Such a state comes with the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ, the embodiment of selflessness, prompting us, pulling us, and helping us see that the way to a purposeful existence, a Godly existence aimed for life eternal, is a life concerned for the welfare of others.

The Model of Jesus

Understand, I am not suggesting being a doormat to the world. Jesus was no doormat and we certainly see him taking time with himself to recharge his batteries and to set his flesh aright in time with his Father. But in the end, the offering of His life for the world, through the deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. of himself, is the model Son’s and Daughters seek. To take up our cross. To die daily. To rise to new life. And walk in the power of His resurrection.

It is not easy, my friends. It can be insufferable to hold your tongue when you could destroy someone with it, to give attention to the takers, to forgive the sinner and offender. But in every case, what you are saying is I will die to my will and do His, which is love by selflessness.

Acquiring True Selflessness

Let me conclude by sharing with you the fact that while selfishness is innate and central to the human flesh, true selflessness is acquired and learned over time with the Spirit of Christ in you. Give him an inch in your heart. Ask Him to take over and to work. And when presented with the opportunity to feed the self or to be selfless, give him room to work. Give him a try. He will, as your Good Shepherd, lead you to the still waters where you will someday rejoice in what you see in its reflection.

In that grand book, the Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote:

“The world says: "You have needs — satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result (for the rich) is isolation and suicide, for the poor, (envy and murder).”

We are not of that world that Dostoyevsky wrote about. We are not subject to those end-results of self-killing or murder. We are of another world, with another kingdom and another King who commands unfettered, selfless love. With him and only him, is this possible. So, go to Him.

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