The chief teaching of our culture that personal happiness is the supreme value, often summarized as “self-esteem.” Self-esteem is not completely wrong, but it is twisted. What we need is not so much to esteem ourselves, but a “good conscience”; that is, to know ourselves as God sees us in Christ. This—delivering a good conscience—is the purpose of all Christian teaching. Only in Christ can our “righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees.” (Mt 5.20). Only Christ can—and did—fulfill God’s Law on our behalf. (Mt 5.17) Only Christ can truly and eternally “let the oppressed go free.” (Isa 58.6) That is why true Christian preaching “knows nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor 2.2)