Versions of ourselves

[Tandemtruths]

I thought this an interesting topic, because I have observed it in others at times, and I have observed it in myself to an extent at times. What I'm talking about, is how we present ourselves to different people. For example, do we mind our words and actions around Christians, yet let loose and join in with those who do not wish to honor God? Do we observe this fact, and then invent excuses for ourselves? Or even more so, become defensive? Do we walk this way> talk this way<?

I know that feeling of reluctance to behave as we know we should, when it will single us out from those around us. For some of us it's the embarrassment and alienation from those around us, for others, including myself, it's because we don't want the attention. For all of us, there is a very real longing for this world. Whether it be for the things, or the ideas. We are told to be separate from this world, yet still be in it. Now before all the AMENs happen, scripture didn't say it would be easy to do so. I have great difficulty in a few aspects myself.

The solution can only be put plainly: To surround ourselves with the things, the word, the people, of God. It's not an easy task, but it's the only way. Whatever we are surrounded by, even if we aren't the type to be easily influenced, is what we will associate with by osmosis.

I know I sort of ended it with a statement, but if anyone has their two cents to drop on the topic, feel free.

 

[Relena7]

I be myself no matter who I'm around. But different people bring out different sides of me. Some things remain consistent though.
I tend to gravitate toward people who are accepting of many different sides of everyone and don't expect you to be in a box based on what their first impression of you was. It makes growing a lot easier.

 

[RedTent]

I have become fascinated with how God taught in the time before Christ lived as a man. God was training people who were His children to be different and enjoy it. I wondered if that really made people happier,following all those rules and being different from all the fun people around them.

Some of the being different would make a modern man cringe. No pizza with pork sausage, no married sex for a week a month. A Friday night dinner without that ball game but strictly family and friends. The need to study, because knowing scripture was part of being different.

There was a problem when they got caught up in the doing and forgot the spiritual of their doing. Or when they used it to judge others. That still is a problem with people who live like this.

I checked with a reporter who studied some people in NewYork who decided to live this way. I checked with a man who pulled out all he could find about these people during the dark ages. I read a lot of what these people had to say, the orthodox Jews.

And yes, there seems to be a quiet joy that is reported.

Paul tells us that now that we have the Holy Spirit we can bypass all the doing and go straight for what the doing was to accomplish. But I wonder if we couldn’t use a little of the doing to help us.

 

[leelee]

I recently had a good debate on this topic. My personal feeling is that everyone has different aspects of their personality that are appropriate in different situations. I can tell you that staff nurse me is not the same as leelee on here or leona who runs the kids club and loves worship. I am alway myself but different aspects of myself are presented in respect of the situation I am in. I don't think that it is wrong or fake just a necessary part of life.