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Who's Image? -Be Who God Created You To Be!

by Angela Willingham  
6/30/2009 / Christian Living

The other day I was listening to some people talking and I was amazed at how much alike they sounded. I could not hear or see their uniqueness. It made me think about how easy it is for us to walk so closely with people that we lose our individuality and begin to look like, sound like and act like each other. Our thoughts are no longer unique and if the truth is told we don't even realize what has happened.

I was in recovery group the other day, yes, I am going there. Pastor John asked why people are not willing to share their feelings. Different people gave different answers, but one of the biggest reasons is our fear of being vulnerable, our fear of putting ourselves out there and not being accepted. The truth is that we all want to be accepted. We don't want to take the chance that someone may disagree with us and we take that as a personal affront or rejection. The truth is, it's just a difference of opinion, it has nothing to do with our worth or value. We have a right to our opinions and to our feelings and other people have a right to theirs. The standard of right and wrong is not determined by them or their opinion, the standard of right and wrong is determined by God.

I took this discussion back to my office and watched how my team interacts with one another just to see what was really going on. I watched Paul, the pleaser do everything to be in line with what everyone else was doing and to make sure everyone was happy. I watched Carol the politically correct one repeat what they thought I would want to hear and make sure that every one lined up with what they thought would be my view. The truth is you can never win with that approach in dealing with me, because I am a change agent. I am always trying to change something and my success has been based on not being politically correct but challenging things to find the better or best thing. I listened as Carmen shared what was going on in her life and heard too much of what was going on in my life. Weight loss efforts, etc. and I began to wonder what was really going on with Carmen. Yes, maybe that was something we could have had in common, but just 3 weeks ago, when I was sharing with a group about my desire to lose weight Carmen shared that was not her issue or concern. By the way all of the names in these scenarios have been changed and the situations modified to protect the innocent.

I began immediately to validate the ideas, opinions and feelings of those around me. I do not want them to think like me. As a matter of fact it does not help me much if we are all alike. It does not challenge me to do anything different and may cause me to make decisions without all of the angles or details being presented. Somebody held back a key piece of information because they did not think I would agree. As I began to see this situation and address it, I watched as people became more willing to share and be vulnerable. I watched them stretch and take a chance. I asked questions and they shared that they were concerned about sharing what they thought because they did not want to be wrong. The truth is that at times because of lack of information or not seeing the entire picture we may all be off in our thinking. I assured them that being off is okay, that is why we talk things out, to get the best idea, not just at work, but in life. This failure to communicate because of fear is something that carries over into our personal lives and relationships with our loved ones as well. We have to be willing to speak up and share our views. We have to take the chance of being vulnerable because through our vulnerability we grow. We do not want to grow into carbon copies of the people we are around, mimicking their attitudes, actions and words. Our desire is to imitate Christ in every way.

If I share how I feel or what I think, what is the worst thing that can happen? You might disagree, but maybe you won't and no matter what happens if I say what is on my heart and you say what is on your heart we just might grow from it. We may live with a little of this and a little of that and have a better project. The worst that can happen is that we disagree, but does that hurt anything? No, not if we do it in a godly way. You are not less and neither am I we just disagree.

Don't conform, don't blend in, don't be what other people want you to be, be what and who God created you to be. His image is the one that we are to follow not the image of others. I can't wear their shoes because they don't fit. I don't know what it took to give them the views they have, because our views, opinions and feelings are all based on our knowledge and what we have experienced. With that said how can your feelings, opinions or views be wrong, they are yours. They may be different than mine, but they are yours and you should express them. In expressing them you are given the opportunity to share and hear what others may have to say. What they say may change you or what you say may change them, because you are coming from a different perspective, neither of which is wrong, they are just different.

Whatever you do remember that you were created in the image of Christ. Genesis 1:27: says, 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. We were not created in the image of one another. We are not carbon copies, created to think like or be like one another. You are His ambassador and our goal is to live for Him. Because we are His creation our goal should be to imitate Him and not each other. Ephesians 5:1: 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Dare to be vulnerable. Dare to be who God created you to be in spite of any opposition that might try to overtake or stop you. Your thoughts might be different. Your opinions might be different. Grow from your differences don't hide from them. Share your feelings and take the chance that someone might not agree, we have all heard no before and one more time will not kill any of us. Even better than that, take a chance that your opinion, idea, thoughts or feelings might just be the ones that person or group was waiting to hear. You might be God's spokesperson for just such a time as this. Don't withhold your part you may have the winning piece. Jesus is our example. People did not agree with Him, but that did not cause Him to remain silent. Be an imitator of Jesus and speak up, stand up, be you.


Scripture:

Genesis 1:27:

27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Angela Willingham, CEO New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.
www.mynewtemple.org
Copyright New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.

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