28th June, 2011

PAUL CLARK

Grace v Self-Esteem: Inspired Parables that Point to Grace, Happiness and the Kingdom of God.

Brett Glover

In2grace Ministries, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0980665208

"Glover really challenges the reader to wonder what ‘gospel’ informs our view of life – and to harken back to the Gospel of grace found in Christ Jesus, that calls us to a life of servant hood and humility."

Grace v Self-Esteem is the provocative title of the first book from Australian author Brett Glover. It is a book that is worth taking note of, having won the Review’s Choice in the CALEB Awards for faith-inspired writing.

As the title suggests, Glover takes an informed swipe at the self-esteem industry our modern society, psychology and education system relies heavily upon. He suggests that self-esteem can easily become another name for hubris. A focus on high self-esteem, rather than being the answer to individual and societal problems, can have the opposite effect, creating a selfish and self-absorbed society. As Glover points out, most perpetrators of violent crime do not suffer from low self-esteem, but rather high, narcissistic, self-esteem.

The ‘positive self-esteem’ worldview that has become dominant in the West, with the laudable aims of improving the lot of society and individuals, has inexplicably walked down the well-worn path of selfishness and pride that actually creates unhappiness and problems. Glover quotes numerous statistics to document this process.

Glover posits that the solution to our problem is not more self-love, but the paradoxical approach of God-esteem or grace. Grace, as found in the Christian Gospel, makes us feel valued without puffing us up. It elevates our worth, while keeping our feet solidly on the ground of our faults and foibles.

Glover uses parables as his teaching tool in the tradition of Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress. At times I felt he over-explained them rather than letting them sit and stir in our hearts, but overall I found much to be impressed with. His peeling back of layers of assumptions in our modern worldview – unmasking sinful pride masquerading as self-love – was especially compelling and worth the price of the book.

Glover really challenges the reader to wonder what ‘gospel’ informs our view of life – and to harken back to the Gospel of grace found in Christ Jesus, that calls us to a life of servant hood and humility. Excellent for pastors, educators – anyone familiar with the self-esteem mantra.

Paul Clark is the author of the Car Park Parables series of children’s books, which were themselves short-listed for a CALEB award.

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