All over the Americas today, it is Columbus Day. Some countries call it Discovery Day, the latter making me think Columbus’ death-defying passage was also a journey of
self-discovery. Every healthy human travels this road called finding oneself, also known as individuation, or coincidentally, passages.
If you are over 18, you are already consciously aware of the journey. But if you
are over 40, you are also watching younger adults—the millennial generation—make these perilous,
but necessary passages. And what makes this journey particularly hazardous for the Millennials
is the fast-changing, constant redefining of cultural norms and values.
On this day, let us pray for our Millennials to discover sooner than
later the paradox their older generation has already learned (hopefully), “Whoever finds his life
will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt.
10:39). No one can find oneself apart from God: Happy Discovery Day!
A few years ago when Joel Osteen wrote his book “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential” I was more than a little dismayed at his transparently “temporal” and “self-centered” approach to Christian living. I believe the title of Joel’s book gives evidence to a heretical teaching in 21st century “American” Christianity: defining the abundant life as personal happiness on earth. (And just how would that resonate with the Somali woman recently martyred for her faith in Christ?) http://dyingtoliveabundantlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/but-what-price-will-we-pay-to-follow.html
Given that America’s value of individuality and pursuit of happiness is enshrined in the constitution, I am not surprised that the phrase “personal savior” has assumed a place in our Christian terminology. But you will not find this phrase anywhere in Scripture. While I do believe our relationship with Jesus is very personal, it behooves us to examine what we mean by the word “personal.” One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions for “personal” is “something intended for private use or use by one person—something that belongs only to one person.” Like having a private chef!
If we are going to use the word "personal" in relation to our Lord, then let us be careful that we are not, as Paul described, “people [who]are not serving Christ our Lord; [but] serving their own personal interests” for at the end of life on earth, “each of us will have to give a personal account to God” (Ro. 16:18; 14:12 NLT).
