Christian self-love (Christianity)

Although self-love in the purely selfish sense is to be avoided, there is a self-love which is considered the duty of all Christians. This is both in that each self is a reflection of Christ as the archetype of mankind and in that man is enjoined to love his neighbour as himself. It is part of, and coincides with, love of God.

If man is to love himself as he is loved by God, this implies awareness of what he is, what God would have him be and what he is in the process of becoming. The personality should be cared for, even reverenced, at all levels - body, mind and spirit - through self-discipline and self-culture; until, through a gradual process of self-surrender, the self is fully realized.