How do we define ourselves?

Frank Holbrook 1 GC 2020 , Life in General

Yesterday’s post considered labels. Labels are a way we define not only others, but ourself. This post is a short variation on that topic. It doesn’t specifically relate to GC 2020, but to the extent it applies to the Category “Life in General” it could be read that way. Thinking back to long ago schoolwork, in a Venn diagram “GC 2020” is a small circle inside the larger circle called “Life in General”. GC 2020 is an intersecting subset of Life in General. Enough rambling; life is short.

We can define ourself and others in at least two basic ways. First, we can say who we are. Second, we can say who we aren’t. I think defining myself (and therefore becoming self-aware) by who I am is the positive approach. When the second approach is used it creates a natural separation between “me” (or us) and “them”; it is certainly less positive.

One characteristic of defining or labeling yourself or your group by “what you’re not” is an inherent tendency to denigrate those outside the group. Usually, this denigration involves a label. The denigration may be mild or vehement. For example, the statement “I’m not a Cardinals’ fan” can be a mild declaration that you’ve wisely chosen not to support the Cardinals or it could be a vehement statement indicating you have rejected the dark and evil force of being a part of “Cardinal Nation”. Usually the latter statement would be written “I’m NOT a Cardinals Fan!” Thinking back to our earlier Venn diagram discussion, in my experience, there is very little overlap between the Cub fan and Cardinal Fan circles. Of course, being a Braves fan, I don’t have to deal with the small mindedness or petty and insignificant jealousies of Cub and Cardinal fans. (Attempted humor alert – see what I did there? I’d hate to have my comments section fill up with an MLB debate or personal attacks on my character for being a Braves fan).

As a fallen person, I often define myself by who I’m not. But the better path is to understand myself by who I am. It’s not self-indulgence to be constantly asking yourself where you are on your walk with Christ. It’s a process of defining who you are at the moment. The rest of your life is a walk from where you currently are to where you want to be. If we’re blessed, we have the sense to use the Holy Spirit as our GPS on that walk.

Too often when we think about who we aren’t, we’re grading our lives on a curve. We’re implicitly saying I’m better than “that person” (fill in the blank). I think Luke 18:11 speaks to this very issue. Thanking God for who we’re not certainly seems far from the life to which Christ calls us. It seems far from the Methodist ideals of Holiness and Sanctification. It seems far from our call to servanthood.

A lot more could be written on this topic; but owing to the brevity of life and the preciousness of time, I’ll stop my rambling for now.

May God Bless you today. May the Spirit speak to you about who you are, who you are called to be and the path to get there. Come Holy Spirit.