Trevin Wax, general editor of The Gospel Project and author of the book, Rethink Your Self, discusses the common assumption of looking inward to create and define oneself. He explores the challenges of conflicting desires, loneliness, and the importance of community. Jesus provides an alternative with a 'look up' approach, surrendering to a higher authority and finding freedom in self-sacrifice. The podcast explores the transformative impact of Jesus' death and resurrection on our perspective, relationships, and desires.
The common approach of defining oneself based on desires and affirming friends can lead to questioning the true self and struggling with loneliness.
The alternative approach of looking up to God before looking around and within allows individuals to find their truest selves and align their desires with God's plan.
Deep dives
The Look In Approach to Life
The podcast discusses the common approach to life which involves looking in, looking around, and then looking up. It suggests that people are encouraged to define themselves based on their desires, surround themselves with affirming friends, and seek inspiration from a higher power. However, this approach presents challenges such as questioning the true self, uncertainty in identifying genuine desires, and struggling with loneliness.
The Look Up Approach to Life
The podcast proposes an alternative approach called the look up approach, which starts with looking up to God before looking around and then within. This approach challenges the common belief that individuals should create and define themselves. Instead, it emphasizes that establishing a relationship with God allows individuals to find their truest selves by aligning their desires with God's plan and walking the path of self-sacrifice.
The Transformative Power of Jesus
The podcast highlights Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection as transformative events that changed everything. It explains that trusting in Jesus leads to a shift in orientation, where individuals no longer focus solely on themselves but seek to fulfill God's desires. This shift is accompanied by support from a new community of believers who provide acceptance, aspiration, comfort, guidance, and training. Ultimately, trusting in Jesus offers the promise of becoming the most glorious version of oneself, fully aligned with God's intentions.
Trevin Wax, general editor of The Gospel Project and author of the book, Rethink Your Self, observes that today's common wisdom says you’re free to create yourself, design yourself, and define yourself. Yet the way of Jesus, Wax argues, would have us realize we’re already created, designed, and defined. Jesus confronts a “me first” way of life with a “God first” world. The world says we should look inward; Jesus says to look upward.