Who are you? Identity is a strange thing if you reflect on it deeply. Am I the sum of all my behaviors, experiences, characteristics, and qualities? Am I constant, or do I change based on my surroundings? Do I seek to please other people, and therefore have no genuine identity? Do I have a God-given identity that I'm striving to be? (i.e. like Christ) What does it mean to be created in the image of God, and yet be unique from everyone else who also is created in the image of God?
Dr. Tony Campolo recently spoke at my seminary and mentioned (as he does in at least one of his books, Speaking My Mind) that people are given the season of youth not for pleasure (I think this would be called hedonism) but rather youthfulness is given in order to be heroes.
This to me is convicting because when I look at my daily life, most of it involves my pleasure, and not seeking to be a hero for someone else. So again I ask myself, who am I? At the depth of my heart I long to be a "hero" (in the true selfless sense), but yet my lifestyle shows otherwise. How can I break out of our American hedonistic culture?
Life is a journey, at least that's what I've been told and come to understand. So this will be a place to share thoughts and reflections on that journey and what's going on.
About Me
- Ben Mulford
- I want to be a follower of Jesus, living my best for His glory.
1 comment:
Who AM I that is a great question, and one to be thought about more than just one afternoon.
I think I am a people pleaser only at every effort to avoid conflict (sound like someone else we know?) but i'm not ashamed of that, its who I am, am i willing to change? change maybe not, be open to other ideas and to grow into the person God desires for me to be, yes. But the fact is, that I have an Identity in God; which includes my people pleasing ways.
I think that we are a hedonistic people by nature, but i also think that God created everything even evil, I also believe that God is all powerful and can do anything if we "humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways, then God will heal our lands" including our fleshly ways.
I also believe that the Christian life is a daily sacrifice and surrender of those "hedonistic"/fleshly ways. A sacrifice that will bring us under the sumbision of God, who does and will fulfill his promises in his word, one in particular that he will gives us "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
When it comes to being a 'hero' or lets say a savior for someone else, Jesus is the only savior, we can bring others to Jesus, but I think it is deeper and a lot more than just living the correct lifestyle.
I also don't think You can or anybody can break out of the "american hedonistic culture" but God can, cause he is all powerful and mighty.
And what I have to leave with is,
Thank you God for fighting our battles and winning the victory for us!
~B
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