The Self is "Not Corrupted by Sin"

With all due respect, St Augustine (and almost all evangelicals), I don't think you're right on this one. I don't think the Self is inherently evil, sinful, or fallen.

Yesterday I wrote about my frustrations/disagreements with evangelical (not quite ex-gay but also not gay?) author, Becket Cook.

As mentioned, he is held up by many Christians as the example (the standard?) for what they think gay people should be like. Which is to say, not-gay. You may call yourself same-sex attracted, but you’re not permitted to be in a same-sex relationship.

In his book (that recounts his story of being an out gay man in Hollywood for many years, but then he abandons all that in pursuit of his new relationship with God through Jesus), Cook writes:

[the self] is corrupted by sin, so why be true to that? The whole idea of [choosing your sexuality] is bound to the exaltation of self. It carries the implication of making yourself your own god. Putting yourself and your desires on a pedestal and worshiping them.

Being true to yourself is nothing short of idolatry.

As promised, I’m now going to push back on this idea that “the self is corrupted by sin.”

Buckle up, cause we first gotta get through some high level discussion around three words/concepts/ideas:

• Self

• Corrupt

• Sin

I think Becket is wrong about all this, and here is why.