The Dangers of Stoicism

Yesterday, we talked about the problem with the rise of the modern-day “self-help philosophy for Christians. Today, I want to dive into one of the most popular self-help philosophies today - stoicism.

Stoic philosophy is primary marked by detaching yourself from whatever problem is happening around you. It’s all about being able to control your emotional responses to the highs and lows of life. In the most basic terms it is utilizing self-control through personal resilience.

Now don’t get me wrong, it is a worthwhile endeavor to be resilient in the face of adversity. Where I think stoicism misses the mark is it misplaces where our hope and faith should be. The stoic is all about improving your own capabilities and resilience to navigate the journey of life.

As Christians, we know that we are not alone in our struggles. Our hope is not in our own resilience but in God’s love and grace. We know this truth to be true in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” For the Christian, stoicism’s emphasis on self-reliance results in us distancing ourself from community and from our Heavenly Father. It leads to us focusing on ourselves.

The difference between where our hope is placed must be highlighted. Our hope is in God’s promise and the resurrection of Christ. This gives us great comfort in life’s storms! We are flawed. Our own abilities and resilience fail us.

We can only grind so much.

We constantly miss the mark in pursuit of perfection.

But thanks be to God that we can put our hope in His perfect work day after day.

To God be the Glory!

💭 QUOTE OF THE DAY

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Loved this devotional from Lutheran Hour Ministries today. “Choose Your Master?”

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I pray that your day is full of reminders of God’s love and faithfulness. May you faithfully build your life on Christ.

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

To God be the glory,

Coach T