• Subscribe
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Google Podcasts
May 17, 2018

Ep.1022: As a Christian, Should You Just Be Yourself?

Determining how much of "me" is appropriate as a Christian

If you do not have a password, please subscribe to our FREE Premium Content for the Full Edition version of CQ Rewind. The welcome message will contain your password, and a reminder will be sent each week when the CQ Rewind is available online for you to read, print, or download.

CHAPTERS

[00:18:07]
How do we dig down to our deeper selves?


[00:36:28]
What's the learning process of a Christian to find our best self?


[00:54:46]
Should we institute the changes or wait for God to do it for us?


[01:12:34]
What drives our change in the right direction?


Theme Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

“Just be yourself, no can ask any more of you than that.”  This is such free and easy advice – someone has probably said it to you, and you have probably said it to someone else.  But what does it mean?  Is being yourself just reacting to whatever comes your way with a knee-jerk impulse?  Does being yourself mean that your personal preferences and feelings should be stated and followed?  Do each of us have different selves that we can be? And what about Christians?  Are we even supposed to be ourselves?  Is our call to Christ a “leave it all behind” call with sacrifice or a “take it with you and we’ll build on it” call?  How do we better understand and apply our best selves to our Christian walk?

Continue Reading

Perhaps answering this question should begin with a personal and probably uncomfortable question: Do you like the self you see when you visualize just “being yourself”?  If we are really honest, I think most of us would look at that vision of “ourselves” and be unhappy – even a bit embarrassed.  We are probably picturing the part of ourselves that is perhaps a bit lazy or moody.  Maybe we are staring at a self that is short-tempered or careless.  Maybe we are seeing a self that has done regrettable things.  If this is the case then answering the question of just “being yourself” would seem easy.  "No!  I shouldn’t just be myself because that “self” is not a happy representation of what I would like to be or what I am striving to be."

Now let’s ask that same question with a twist. Do you like the self you see when you visualize what you think God sees when He is looking at what He knows you can be?  Ah, when you look at this self you now probably see an entirely different person than in your previous vision.  This self is strong in a faith that provokes action – it is helpful, kind and wise – full of scriptural principles and godly thinking.  This self lives in forgiveness and gratitude and is blessed to know God through Christ.  I’ll choose this self over that other self every time!  So, what do we do now?  We work on it.

The fact is, defining “being yourself” can easily become an exercise in futility.  We sometimes end up defined by our circumstances, and other times we are defined by our perceptions.  In these cases we settle for outside forces labeling the inside person.  Still other times we are defined by our vision and discipline in the face of challenge and defeat.  In these cases we reach down deep to our true core values to find our definition.  Check out our May 21, 2018 podcast, “As a Christian, Should You Just “Be Yourself?” for some clarity.  Find out not only how our brains go about defining us but also find out how the Scriptures go about defining us.  Once you understand the ingredients, self definition takes on a whole new and exciting meaning!

 

 

 

Watch Our Episode Preview


0 replies

Leave your comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Episodes

honor

Have We Lost Our Ability to Honor One Another? (Part I)

/
Biblical examples of how honor can and should permeate our lives
new Christian

I’m a New Christian! Now What?

/
Uncovering the many “need to know” aspects of living for Jesus
forgiving others

How Do I Know If I Have Really Forgiven Someone?

/
The depth, power and appropriate applications of true forgiveness
Christian marriage

How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part I)

/
Identifying the foundations, problems and practices of marriage
works of the flesh

Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part II)

/
Spiritual pitfalls to watch for in our human relationships and behavior. Discussion points: interpersonal relationships, group relationships and reckless behaviors
human nature

Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part I)

/
How our human desires dictate where we receive spiritual control from. Discussion points: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery
is it a sin

Is It a Sin if I . . . ? (Part I)

/
Examining whether how we dress and if gambling are sins
Tamar and Rahab

Why Would God Bless Two Immoral Women?

/
How Tamar and Rahab faced their immorality and found God’s blessing
bitterness

Am I Too Bitter to Be Better?

/
Understanding the depth of disaster that bitterness can cause
influences, voices

Whose Voices Are You Listening To?

/
Identifying what we hear, its affects and how to rise above the fray
am I failing as a Christian

Am I Failing as a Christian?

/
Defining what success and failure look like for disciples of Jesus
defend against Satan, defeat Satan

What Is My Battle Plan to Defend Against Satan’s Attacks?

/
Preparing for Satan’s onslaughts as we live everyday life