A great dilemma facing Christian psychotherapists is how to promote self-esteem without surrendering the Christian doctrine of the sinfulness of man. A healthy self-image and deep distrust of human nature seem antithetical. This article attempts to show that the frequently neglected Christian concept of man proves a valuable ally in building self-esteem and that the Christian doctrine of sin is not so undercutting to self-worth as supposed. In fact, the Christian concept proves far more consistent, helpful, and realistic than the views of contemporary psychologists.
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