December 11:

   ‘Individuality counterfeits personality as lust counterfeits love.’ – OC

   So why does God seem to be so against His creation being individuals? Why does He continually ask us to deny ourselves in order to follow Him? Doesn’t He appreciate the uniqueness of each person?

The problem with individuality is this. In order to sustain individuality, we must make our ‘uniqueness’ the definition of our character. We must go out of our way to make this image the central theme of ourselves. The result is that others, who interact with us, do not get to see God at work through us, but rather they see the culmination of our efforts to maintain an image.

   More importantly, an addiction to the individual image limits the room we have for God. We end up worshipping our own greatness by making our own image the central catalyst for all of our actions. The image of who we want to project that we are becomes consuming and it does not allow us to be honest with ourselves.

   The contrast here is that God does in fact appreciate uniqueness. He created each of us with the intent that we have our own personality. We all react to stimuli uniquely due to our demeanor. We all are capable of contributing a different point of view for example. We all have unique gifts and abilities.

Individuality is a diversion on our path to personality. I hesitate to call it a precursor, because even infants have naked demeanor and personality. It isn’t until we become self conscious teenagers that most of us seek to hide from reality under various guises.

   When we deny ourselves and follow Christ, a miracle occurs. Our insecurities are exposed as lies. His unconditional love becomes of greater importance than the love we held so tightly for ourselves. In denying the greatness of ourSELVES, Christ allows us to be truly great.