To look like Him doesn’t mean we will end up looking like everybody else. ~ me
I’ve started wondering when all the formulas and rules about what we should look and sound like as Christians got started.
And why does the secular world seem to have a corner on creativity—the arts…
{ I will never understand that. }
I think that our God is big and deep and wide and multi-faceted and multi-dimensional enough for us to all be who He created us to be, and still reflect Him (we are made in His image) but look quite different from each other.
And yet still make beautiful music…together.
And beautiful art…together.
And beautiful LIVES…together!
I believe (I know!) this can all be done within the parameters of scripture—God’s holy Word. Is there any other written work that is more expansive and deep and creative and relevant and life-changing?
Can it be that we simply cannot confine God within in our own finite minds, preconceived notions, and tiny boxes?
Do we think we can ever figure out the mystery of who He is?
No we cannot. Nor can we do that to His creations. { People. }
What makes people wonderful, beautiful, and fascinating is our differences.
When people in authority try to corral or harness those differences to make everyone look and act alike is when dangerous and soul-crushing ground is entered into.
Some souls will conform and allow the crushing—the life and joy and creativity ground into the dirt, never to be seen again.
Some other souls will bolt—running far away from the confines of “religion,” but hopefully not far away from the One who created them. They “run” for fear they will be stripped of their unique personhood, their humanity, their gifts and callings.
Yes, we need structure and some kind of a hierarchy of authority. But this authority needs to allow for these living, breathing, God-creations to walk their own paths, in their own pace, in their own way. Again, as long as they don’t go out of the parameters of scripture—which I reiterate has much broader borders than I think we realize.
I’m not talking about believing an entirely different gospel message or in a contrived Jesus—of making Him what we want Him to be.
I’m just talking about allowing people to think and feel and create and even make some mistakes as they work out their own salvation and find their own very unique and God-ordained purposes and destinies.
Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Philippians 2:12 The Message Bible
We need guidance and love, not control.
People run from, and despise, control. That’s because we were not made to be controlled. After all, God gave us free will. It’s a powerful thing to give to someone because it can be so badly misused.
But we still have to do as God does, which is to release the control and allow people to freely choose.
None of us, not a one, has this all figured out.
{ And if you think you do, may I suggest you do a Bible study on pride? }
As seekers and followers of Jesus, the ever unfolding revelations of Him will come to each of us as we are ready and in the ways we are able to receive them.
We simply cannot force revelation upon any one. We can encourage it, share personal experiences and wisdom we’ve learned, all providing an environment for discovery and growth and, yes, revelation, but revelation is entirely personal—between God and each individual.
What I’m trying to say here is that it’s okay, and even wonderfully good, to be different—because God made us that way. But we shouldn’t be rebellious or ‘different for the sake of being different,” because those are cases of me-ism, not God-seekers.
You see the difference?
We must remain God-centered as we walk out our path.
And I think we need to extend a lot of grace to ourselves and others as we do so. We all have different life experiences, I.Q.s, ways of approaching life, personalities, thinking processes, and growth rates.
Remember: Judge less. Pray more.
Yes?
This is something of what I “see” (picture below) when I think of each of us being uniquely who we are, for God, for His glory.
We are mini-masterpieces, within a much bigger masterpiece.
All of us, when we are properly positioned, as we fill our spot, combine to paint the face of God.
Amen and selah.