Authenticity/Individuality in Christianity

[Jana]

I recently discovered Thomas Merton (LOVE), and in New Seeds of Contemplation he talks quite a bit about how being one's true self is the best way to worship and become close to God.

“A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying [God]. It 'consents,' so to speak, to [God's] creative love. It is expressing an idea which is in God and which is not distinct from the essence of God, and therefore a tree imitates God by being a tree.”

I, personally, love this idea, but I know some balk at a focus on the "self," fearing it takes away from a focus on God. How do you think "authenticity" and "individuality" fit into Christianity?

[Jerome]

I think this is a great question. My first thoughts run to two larger than life figures: Soren Kierkegaard and Martin Luther. Kierkegaard was unsettled at his country's representation of Christ as a distant cultural icon. He called for a focus on the individual's relationship with God. Martin Luther was totally undone by the holiness of God when he considered the weight of his own sins. He was completely self-aware of his depravity. Both of these men saw a necessary authenticity in their relationship with God.

As Christians, I believe that taking our "selves" seriously must be done with sound theology and plenty of grace. We must have sound theology so we are focused on the right aspects of the self and so we properly understand the nature of the self. We must accept grace because we are understanding our self in relation to a perfect, holy God. Without these two things, self-focus will surely be our undoing.

[Jana]

It does seem like a focus on the self and our authenticity should ultimately be a focus on God. Done right, it will lead to Him. He created us, we are all unique reflections of Him, so to know ourselves is to know God.

I think it's even more important to keep in mind when we are trying to know and become our most authentic selves that all that is good in us is of God. We have very little - if anything - to do with the good in us. Pride seems to me to be the biggest danger in a focus on authenticity because it stops at ourselves rather than stopping in God Himself.

[Michelle]

I think this all sounds good. We have to be careful though because what "sounds" good and makes sense to us can often lead us into deception. Into thinking we understand or can ever understand ourselves here on this earth.

I believe that we know now in part, including knowing ourselves. We can try to become our authentic selves but I believe that is striving after the wind. I mean, what is our authentic selves really. If there is not one who is good, why seek more of what is not good. We need more of Him. I'd rather know more of Him and be transformed into His likeness, not becoming more of who I think I am to be.

I also feel that when I worship and commune with Him, I am the closest to who I have individually been made to be.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ NASB)

[Jana]

Michelle wrote: "I think this all sounds good. We have to be careful though because what "sounds" good and makes sense to us can often lead us into deception. Into thinking we understand or can ever understand ours..."

I agree with what you said about "we can only know now in part." Our knowledge of ourselves, of the world, and certainly of God will always be limited. But I think there is more good than you think in letting God show us our authentic selves. You say you'd rather have more of God than become "more of who [you] think [you are] to be," but who you think you are and your Real self are probably two very different things! Merton certainly isn't talking about your false conception of who you are, but the self God created, in all its purity and holiness. Your authentic self has nothing to do with who you think you are; it has everything to do with who God created you to be. That's something only He can really show us.

Knowing our authentic selves can be seen as shedding our inauthentic selves, or being purified of sins, limitations, misunderstandings, etc. Learning who we are authentically (coming to know who God has created) will only show us more of God, because we will see His reflection in ourselves rather than the inauthentic stuff we put on out of selfish desires or fear. I think it will enable us to be more open and free to recognize and go in the direction God has called us. We need to keep our focus on God above all, of course, but I do not see anything wrong in trying to learn who we are and who God has created us to be.

Also, claiming "limitations of knowledge" as a reason not to search ourselves through God kind of invalidates all searches, including a search for a deeper intimacy with and knowledge of God. By that reasoning, we shouldn't try to learn more of anything, simply because we'll never know it all. There is value in knowing "more" even if it will never be "all."