CHRISTIAN SELF-RENUNCIATION VS. ATHEISTIC SELF-ASSERTION
In the third verse of the chapter under consideration, the inspired writer said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." E. Stanley Jones says of this scripture that it means renounced in spirit," or poor by choice."
This is quite different from Nietzsche's, the German atheist's, philosophy of life, which was, "Assert yourself -- be a superman -- the world is yours if you can get it." But Nietzsche's self-assertive philosophy drove him insane, and his German philosophic followers plunged their nation into the most devastating war that the world had known. They caused them to suffer a humiliation and an infliction that will require generations to heal.
Christ's method to reach life's desired goal is directly opposite to that of the German philosopher. Christ exhorts us to practice self-renunciation. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself." This strikes the deathblow to self-assertive aggression. -- "Sanctification, the Price of Heaven," hdm0310, by Fred M. Weatherford
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