20 self acceptance questions 自我接納的問題

1. 20 self acceptance questions 自我接納的問題 1.      Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born 在我還沒有生下來神已經鑒定了我外表的細節嗎？ 2.      Does God allow birth defects and deformities 神許可生產的缺陷與殘疾嗎? 3.      Did Christ come to heal me from all physical sickness 基督來是醫治我一切的疾病嗎? 4.      Would a loving God allow an obedient Christian to be severely scarred in an accident 神的愛會許可一個順服神的基督徒在意外時而有疤痕嗎?

2. 20 self acceptance questions 自我接納的問題 5.      Is it true that because of my sin nature my body is evil 因我的罪性我的身體是邪惡嗎? 6.      Did God ever exclude anyone from service because of a physical defect 神會因人有生理缺陷而排除他們服侍嗎? 7.      Do severe defects diminish my ability to have a happy life 嚴重的缺陷會減低人的能力去有快樂生命嗎? 8.      Can defects which are caused by my sin or carelessness have the same spiritual benefit as birth defects 因犯罪或不小心而引起的缺陷與出生缺陷會有同樣屬靈的益處嗎?

3. 20 self acceptance questions 9.      Is the major cause of inferiority the awareness of a personal defect 意識到個人的缺陷是自卑的主要原因嗎? 10.   Does God expect me to accept my facial appearance just as it is 神期望我接納我的原本面部容貌嗎? 11.   Can I ever expect God to supernaturally remove defects 我可以期望神超自然的除去缺陷嗎? 12.   Is rejecting myself the same as rejecting God 拒絕我自己就是拒絕神嗎?

4. 20 self acceptance questions 13.   Is ridicule most effectively handled by ignoring it 不理別人的嘲笑是最有效的處理方法嗎? 14.   Is it possible to cover up self-rejection 自我排斥是可以遮掩的嗎?

5. 20 self acceptance questions 15.   Although Christ was perfect, was He afflicted with difficult “unchangeable” features? 16.   Do my clothes indicate a measure of my self-acceptance? 17.   Should I strive for self-acceptance to improve my self-confidence? 18.   Must I know my spiritual gift in order to fully accept myself? 19.   If I like myself, does it mean that I have accepted myself? 20.   Once I accept myself, do I solve the problem of self-rejection?

6. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.1 God prescribed me before I was born • Psalms 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 1.2 God knew me before conception • Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

7. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.3 God treated me as a person before my birth • Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. 1.4 God formed me to fulfill His purpose • Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength--

8. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.5 God fashioned me in the womb • Job 10:8-9 "Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? • Isaiah 44:2 This is what the LORD says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. • Isaiah 44:24 "This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,

9. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.6 Possible Symptoms of Self-Rejection • Inappropriate attempts to hid defects • Need for things or titles as status symbol • Over-attention to clothes • Change of hair color • Inability to trust God • Conformity to fads • Self-criticism • Inability to love others • Excessive shyness and self-consciousness

10. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.6 Possible Symptoms of Self-Rejection (cont’d) • Wishful comparison with others (2 Cor 10:12) • Attitudes of superiority and sophistication • Mocking physical features in others (2 King 2:23-24) • Disabling fear of failure • Continuous underachievement • Name dropping • Social climbing • Inability to accept a life partner

11. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.6 Possible Symptoms of Self-Rejection (cont’d) • Extravagance in purchasing items • Flattery of admired people • Living beyond my income • Hypersensitivity to criticism • “Fishing” for compliments • Neglect of appearance or bodily care • Boisterous or argumentative behavior • Criticism of other people

12. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.6 Possible Symptoms of Self-Rejection (cont’d) • Inability to give compliments • Inability to receive compliments • Downgrading my personal abilities • Flirting with the opposite sex • Overdone makeup • Use of elevator shoes • Excessive talking • Preoccupation with diets

13. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.6 Possible Symptoms of Self-Rejection (cont’d) • Forcing my children to excel • Poor eye contact • Need for constant approval • Comparison of unchangeable features • Rejection of family or background • Bizarre actions or statements • Exaggeration of achievements • Neglect of family to please others • Violation of standards to be popular

14. 1Did God determine the details of my physical appearance before I was born? 1.7 What are God’s unchangeables? a. My Parents b. My Time in History (Esther 4:14) c. My racial background (Gal 3:28-29) d. My national heritage e. My gender (Deut 22:5) f. My birth order g. My brothers and sisters h. My physical features i. My mental abilities (1 Cor 1:27) j. My aging and death (Psalm 90:10,12)

15. 2Does God allow birth defects and deformities? Was not God’s creation of men and women perfect? What caused the physical defects? - negligence, aggression, or failure of other people. - willful disobedience brought about spiritual and physical deformity, disability, and death • Exodus 4:11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? • Isaiah 45:9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?

16. 2Does God allow birth defects and deformities? • Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, • John 9:3 either this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. God’s purpose? - to conform to image of Christ • Romans 8:28-29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

17. 2Does God allow birth defects and deformities? Defects (temporal physical features) can be a reminder of my need to obey the Lord, to conform to His image (eternal). • 2 Cor 12:8  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

18. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 3 kinds of sickness: 1. Sickness unto death • Romans 5:12  Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned • Heb 9:27  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

19. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 2. Sickness unto chastisement • 1 Cor 11:28-32 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

20. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 2. Sickness unto chastisement (cont’d) 5 areas to examine: • a. Examine my thoughts • 2 Cor 10:5  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. • b. Examine my words and promises • Matt 12:36-37  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

21. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 2. Sickness unto chastisement (cont’d) 5 areas to examine: • c. Examine my actions • 2 Cor 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. • d. Examine my motives • Jer 17:10  "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

22. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 2. Sickness unto chastisement (cont’d) 5 areas to examine: • e. Examine my food and drink • 1 Cor 3:16  Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

23. 3Did Christ come to heal all my physical sickness? 3. Sickness for the glory of God • John 11:4  When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." • John 9:2  His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. Christ came to heal me from all the diseases of my souls

24. 4Would a loving God allow an obedient Christian to be severely scarred in an accident? • 2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. God may sacrifice outward beauty in order to develop inward character • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

25. 5Is that true that because of my sin nature my body is evil? We are created in God’s image • Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. • Psalms 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. We are desperately wicked • Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? • Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

26. 5Is that true that because of my sin nature my body is evil? Sinful Nature • Romans 8:5,8 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires… Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

27. 5Is that true that because of my sin nature my body is evil? Satan hates my body and wants us to do the same • I Corinthians 3:16-17 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. • I Corinthians 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! • Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

28. 5Is that true that because of my sin nature my body is evil? How can I overcome satan’s attack • Present my body to God - Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. • Yield my members as servants - Romans 6:19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. • Discipline my body daily - I Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. • Keep my body a holy temple - I Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

29. 6Did God exclude anyone from service because of physical defect? Leviticus 21:17-23 "Say to Aaron: 'For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.'"

30. 6Did God exclude anyone from service because of physical defect? II Corinthians 12:9 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.

31. 7Do severe defects diminish my ability to have a happy life? Attractive people tend to be more unhappy • Saul 1 Sam 9:2 He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites--a head taller than any of the others. 1 Sam 9:21 Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" 1 Sam 10:22  So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage."

32. 7Do severe defects diminish my ability to have a happy life? 1 Sam 16:16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better." • Absalom 2 Sam 14:25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 2 Sam 15:6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

33. 7Do severe defects diminish my ability to have a happy life? Attractive people tend to be more unhappy because: - They are exposed to more temptation - They often doubt their attractiveness - They resent the motives of their admirer - They fear comparison and aging Beautitudes – Blessed (how happy and spiritually prosperous) are the …

34. 8Can defects which are caused by my sin be spiritual benefit? Consequences to sin: Genesis 3:16-18 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. These consequences should turn into daily reminders which will greatly benefit my spiritual life.

35. 9Is the major cause of inferiority the awareness of a personal defect? Comparison - II Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. Must not compare in: • Physical appearance • Mental abilities • Family characteristics • Social heritage Inferiority is caused not by a defect, but by the lack of a positive, Scriptural meaning for the defect.

36. 10Does God expect me to accept my facial appearance just as it is? Proverbs 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Daniel 1:15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. My countenance is one of my most important means of expressing Christ’s love and truth to others. Because of this, I should evaluate whether facial blemishes or defects are distracting from my words and whether they can be corrected. The purpose of any facial correction should not be to make me more attractive but to decrease distractions from the message that God wants to communicate through me.

37. 11Can I ever expect God to supernaturally remove defects? If I have thanked God for an unchangeable defect, turned it into a mark of ownership, and used it as a motivation to build inward character, God may choose to supernaturally remove it if it will proves to be a distraction to others or a hindrance to His work through me.

38. 12Is rejecting myself the same as rejecting God? • Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. • Ephesians 5:29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church. Rejecting myself  rejecting God’s design  cannot trust God for the future.

39. 13Is ridicule most effectively handled by ignoring it? Those who mock my unchangeable features are not mocking me – they are mocking my Maker. Mocked  humility  grace from God • 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. • Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. • Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

40. 13Is ridicule most effectively handled by ignoring it? • II King 2:23-24 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

41. 14Is it possible to cover up self-rejection? Judges 11:1 – 12:7 (Story of Jephthah) 11:1-7 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family," they said, "because you are the son of another woman." So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him. Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. "Come," they said, "be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites." Jephthah said to them, "Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now, when you're in trouble?"

42. 14Is it possible to cover up self-rejection? Judges 11:1 – 12:7 (Story of Jephthah) 11:8-11 The elders of Gilead said to him, "Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead." Jephthah answered, "Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me--will I really be your head?" The elders of Gilead replied, "The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say." So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.

43. 14Is it possible to cover up self-rejection? Judges 11:1 – 12:7 (Story of Jephthah) 11:30-31,34-35 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." … When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."

44. 14Is it possible to cover up self-rejection? Judges 11:1 – 12:7 (Story of Jephthah) 12:1-4a The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head." Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?" Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim.

45. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? How can I be thankful for parents who are constantly fighting? __ __ __ How can I see benefit in losing my father? __ __ __ How can I thank God for a physical defect that is a constant source of embarrassment? __ __ __ How can I be thankful for a mental disability? __ __ __ How can I look at signs of aging with gratefulness? __ __ __

46. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? A. This is my motivation to learn God’s principles of marriage harmony for myself and others. B. This is a daily reminder to me that my body was made and redeemed by God and belongs to Him. C. This is to remind me that my years are few and every day must count for God. D. This is to encourage me to become mighty in God’s spirit. E. This is my opportunity to learn and give genuine love to those who are in special need. F. This is God’s way of getting me to focus on my Heavenly Father as Christ did while on earth. G. This is God’s special classroom to learn patience, self-control, and discretion.

47. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? H. This is my signal to become more mature and accept new responsibilities in the home. I. This is God’s way of giving me more grace through humility, so that I can experience Christ’s beauty. J. This is my motivation to meditate on God’s Word, which makes wise the simple. K. This brings me into a unique relationship with God because He is a Father to the fatherless. L. This is designed to encourage me to develop inward character such as joy, peace, and gentleness. M. This is God’s way of reminding me to prepare for eternity, when I will get a new body.

48. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? N. This is my opportunity to let God show how He uses what the world calls foolishness to confound the wise. O. This is God’s reminder of the continuing consequences of disobeying His Word.

49. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? Marks of Ownership: • If I could change one thing about myself, it would be the circumstances of my birth. My mother was a harlot; consequently, I was rejected by my whole family. • I had an unchangeable physical feature which resulted in public mocking. I also contracted an incurable sickness from which I died. • My “mark of ownership” was a halting limp. It was caused by the shrinking of the sinew upon the hollow of my thigh. • If I could have selected the members of my family, I would have chosen different brothers. The ones I had were very wicked and treated me cruelly.

50. 15Although perfect, was Christ afflicted with difficulty “unchangeable” features? Marks of Ownership: • I pleaded with the Lord three times to remove my infirmity. Finally, God explained that it was my “mark of ownership”. • My “unchangeable” physical feature was my size. I was very short of stature. I experienced situations which were difficult because of it. • Even though I had special training, I felt very inferior and inadequate because of a speech problem which I had throughout my life. • I lost my father as I was growing up. This caused me to need extra reassurance when I was given a task that I thought was too big for me. Jacob, Paul, Moses, Zacchaeus, Timothy, Elisha, Jephthah, Joseph