The Pampered Self

I received a copy of Horatius Bonar's little book titled "Follow the Lamb" (which I highly recommend to every Christian as a must read) and as I came to the following quote I couldn't help but see how the modern Seeker Friendly church's of today really destroy both growth and fruitfulness with the gospel of self.

Self in all its forms is a hindrance to our growth (Rom 14:7). Self-will, self-sufficiency, self- indulgence, self-importance, self-glory, self-seeking, self-brooding, all these mar fruitfulness. Denying self is the beginning, the middle, and the end of our course here, as followers of Christ. How can a man grow when he is pampering self instead of crucifying the flesh; when he is indulging and fondling the old man instead of nailing him to the cross; when he is enjoying all softness and ease and worldly comfort, instead of enduring hardness, and taking up his cross and mortifying his members which are upon the earth? (Rom 8:13, Gal 5:24, Col 3:5).

Excerpt taken from "Follow the Lamb" by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)