The Role of Pastors in Fostering a Healthy Self-Image

The role of pastors in fostering a healthy self-image is vital. People may think the concern for mental health and a proper self-image is a fairly recent phenomenon, but it is not. In the pages of the Bible, we see the apostle Paul display a consistent concern for the mental health of his associates and people in the churches. We see this most poignantly by the recurrence of the Greek word group, sōphro-, typically translated into English as “self-control,” though a more accurate translation would be “sound or healthy mind.” In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul urges that a sound mind be pursued by church leaders (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 1:7; Titus 1:8), older and younger men (Titus 2:2, 6), older and younger women (Titus 2:5; cf. 1 Tim 2:9, 15), and by every believer (Titus 2:12).

Mental Health, Biblically Speaking

The English translation “self-control,” as mentioned, captures only part of the meaning of the word in the original, which more broadly refers to a sound or healthy mind. This has important implications for pastors seeking to help their people develop a proper sense of their identity and an accurate self-image. Cultivating a healthy mind includes being sensible and having good common sense, as well as setting proper priorities. For example, Paul tells Titus that the mature women in his congregation should teach the young women to love their husband and children and to be workers at home, that is, to prioritize their God-given roles as wife, mother, and managers of their household (Titus 2:4–5).

In our day, people think of mental health primarily along psychological lines, that is, in terms of combating depression, anxiety, and a variety of other emotional challenges and disorders. In Scripture, however, thinking in a healthy manner about one’s life carries a more positive and across-the-board connotation, in the sense that a person with a healthy mind aligns themselves with God’s creational purposes for them. This kind of mental health, in turn, is part of one’s spiritual life and relationship with God, as we learn to see ourselves as God sees us and shape our self-image in keeping with the Bible’s teaching on God’s image being recreated in Christ’s image.

What follows from all of this is that helping people with their mental health and self-image, biblically speaking, is not exclusively, or even primarily, the domain of therapists and counselors. Rather, it is an integral part of the responsibilities of the pastor and shepherd of God’s people. Speaking about the Lord as our shepherd, the Bible says that “he heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3). Elsewhere, God promises, “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak” (Ezek 34:16). Here we see clearly that the role of the shepherd is much broader than the sometime very narrow conception of pastors in our day.

Reframing the Pastor’s Role as a Shepherd Caring for People Holistically

The question presents itself, therefore: What can, and should, pastors do to help the people in their congregations stay, or increasingly become, spiritually and mentally healthy? What is the role of pastors in fostering a healthy self-image? And as a subset of mental health, how can they help people in their congregation align themselves with God’s purposes for them and develop a healthy self-image and self-esteem that are commensurate with their true and unchanging identity—who they are in Christ? This involves both setting a godly example and providing explicit biblical instruction and mentoring.

Rather than delegate counseling to specialists and focusing narrowly on preaching, therefore, pastors will do well to reframe their role in such a way that promoting and nurturing their church members’ spiritual, mental, and emotional health becomes part of their role as shepherds of people’s spiritual and overall wellbeing. Such an enlarged vision will lead to a commitment to help their church members grow in Christ and encourage them to cooperate with the Spirit’s work of remaking them in Christ’s image.

Self-Image vs. God’s and Christ’s Image

Pastor, make it your priority to assist your people in understanding their identity in Christ and to develop an accurate self-image. Self-image is essentially how we view ourselves, while self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves. Unfortunately, many people allow their view of themselves to depend on how they feel based on external factors, such as whether they look good, wear name-brand clothing, or have achieved something worthwhile. However, our self-image should not rest on any of these things. Rather, Scripture tells us that God created us in his image, in his likeness, to reflect his character and holiness (Gen 1:26–28).

This brings us closer to what a godly self-image should rest on—to see ourselves the way God sees us. The Fall, however, marred God’s image in persons, so that we are no longer able to fulfill the purpose for which God created us. Yet God has seen fit to restore his image in us, by his Spirit, if we believe in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. How does this happen? By abiding in Christ. This sanctification is a result of the Spirit’s work in us as we yield to him in obedient trust.

No longer do we depend on changing circumstances or other people for our self-worth. Instead, our self-image rests on God’s image being restored in us through our relationship with Christ, an unshakeable spiritual reality. We are worthy because of Christ and his unchanging love for us. Thus, a proper self-image involves recognizing the work of the triune God in us. The holy God created us in his image, and now, in Christ, who is the perfect image of God, the Spirit is restoring us to God’s holy image (2 Cor 3:18). Rather than being unduly preoccupied with self, believers’ focus will be on God and his gracious work for, in, and through them.

Pastors’ Role in Nurturing a Healthy and Biblical Self-Image

God created us in his image and now recreates us in Christ’s image! Pastors need to teach believers precious, affirming, objective biblical truths, such as that they are children of God—even heirs—through spiritual adoption into God’s family (Rom 8:14–17). Since they are God’s children, they can have unshakeable self-worth and security. They can place their confidence in being a child of God, not in their performance or any status the culture may hold up as desirable. Not only did God create believers in his image, he predestined us to be conformed to Christ’s image (Rom 8:29).

What is more, believers can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus died for them; he considered them so precious that he spilled his life blood for them (1 Pet 1:18–19). As a result, God redeemed and forgave them (Col 1:13–14).

Practically, pastors should teach believers to “put off” vices and “put on” virtues, like one exchanges old clothes for new ones (Col 3:12). This pertains particularly to living lives of integrity and controlling one’s speech, temper, and physical appetites (Eph 4:17–32). In a very real sense, believers are part of the new creation (2 Cor 5:17). They are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10) and can be confident that the one who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day Christ returns (Phil 1:6). Believers have been crucified with Christ; they no longer live but Christ lives in them (Gal 2:20). During their time on earth, they are called to proclaim God’s excellencies (1 Pet 2:9).

Conclusion

The role of pastors in fostering a healthy self-image is absolutely vital. Developing a sound mind and proper self-image is key for a person’s mental and spiritual health. Pastors need to understand that the biblical concept of “self-control” is considerably broader than merely controlling one’s speech, temper, and appetites. Rather, it extends also to the way in which a person thinks about themselves and their God-given calling and priorities. As God-appointed shepherds, pastors should care for people’s overall spiritual and mental health. This, in turn, will be vital in assisting believers in discovering their life’s meaning in accordance with their objective, unchanging, and eternally secure identity in Christ.

Note: This post originally appeared on the Focused Pastor website.