Here's a great quote from Scot McKnight's book Jesus Creed (not to be confused with his blog by the same name which I have referenced recently):
"Sometimes the implications of listening to the voice of God is that we ruin our reputation in the public square. Loving God, as the Jesus Creed teaches, involves surrendering ourselves to God in heart, soul, mind, strength--and reputation. The minute we turn exclusively to the Lord to find our true identity is the day reputation dies."
- Jesus Creed, p. 79.
What's the distinction he's making between identity and reputation you ask (or may have already figured out)?
"Our reputation (what others think of us) is not as important as our identity (who we really are). Spiritual formation begins when we untangle reputation and identity, and when what God thinks of us is more important than what we think of ourselves, or what others think of us."
- Jesus Creed, p. 76.
Now that's a quotable quote; it's also something the Lord has been (and still is) dealing with me on a number of levels in recent days.
"Sometimes the implications of listening to the voice of God is that we ruin our reputation in the public square. Loving God, as the Jesus Creed teaches, involves surrendering ourselves to God in heart, soul, mind, strength--and reputation. The minute we turn exclusively to the Lord to find our true identity is the day reputation dies."
- Jesus Creed, p. 79.
What's the distinction he's making between identity and reputation you ask (or may have already figured out)?
"Our reputation (what others think of us) is not as important as our identity (who we really are). Spiritual formation begins when we untangle reputation and identity, and when what God thinks of us is more important than what we think of ourselves, or what others think of us."
- Jesus Creed, p. 76.
Now that's a quotable quote; it's also something the Lord has been (and still is) dealing with me on a number of levels in recent days.
5 comments:
Thanks Mihelis, that's a challenge/blessing.
What a good reminder...it's so easy to confuse the two.
Excellent . . . I was reading in John this morning about how the Jews preoccupation with seeking the glory of men prevented them from seeing the glory of God (5:44).
I was thinking about the same thing when Col 2:23 and legalistic "spirituality" was mentioned in class today. Good reputation is a show of wisdom but it has no actual value... an identity with Christ is priceless.
Again in 12:43 -- "they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God"
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