Worldview Fragment: just be yourself

Worldview fragment: one or more related ideas/viewpoints that can (and often do) serve as a component or flavor in a complete worldview held by some specific individual. The "fragment" term is not intended to be a subtle insult, but to accurately reflect the reality that the fragment is 1) not necessarily an actual, comprehensive worldview, and 2) could likely coexist with a variety of other fragments within some individual's worldview. A puzzle piece isn't worthless because it's a puzzle piece.

The "just be yourself" worldview fragment is defined as the belief that "each unique individual can have no greater ambition than to be and do what comes most naturally to him or her". Like other fragments, it's correct about some things but is not an example of unqualified truth.

Each individual is precious and rare, is worthy of a chance, and has a distinct set of talents. Christianity contradicts none of those assertions. Jesus mixed with all layers of society, particularly the "worthless scum". The complete non-exclusivity of the Gospel (subject to academic arguments about "predestined elect", but leave that aside for the moment) is implicit in the idea of the Great Commission, confirmed by events/councils in Acts, and preceded by Jesus' merciful interactions with Gentiles. The wide range of spiritual fruits and virtues, along with the Bible passages about the importance of unity among the diversity of the Body of Christ (the Church), illustrate the value of what only each individual can bring to the whole.

On the other hand, Christianity without earnest repentance and sincere shame for sin is not Christianity. Loving oneself, and everything about oneself, is a questionable ideal which is actually loathed in practice. Who hasn't wished for vain, arrogant snobs to receive their comeuppance? How often is someone blinded to his or her own weaknesses by blind self-love? The greatest tragedy is when someone closely identifies with his or her sin, thereby loving it like a body part or "pet".

Of course, he or she is somewhat right in that belief, since Christianity teaches that sin is natural for people. Someone who sins "naturally" still sins. A "natural" sin may be committed with relatively purer intentions than a "premeditated and consciously-chosen" sin, but the act remains the sick product of a sick being. Moreover, the more "natural" sins someone commits, the greater the evidence someone is naturally twisted. In short, to "just be yourself" when faced with a decision may not be an innocent proposition (although it may be).

Not "just being yourself" when faced with a decision could seem ridiculous to those who believe in a companion worldview fragment, "people can't change". And once again, even such a minor fragment is partially helpful and partially misleading. It's more accurate to claim "people can change, but change is hard". Many fail to change simply because they don't try enough. Then they succeed for a while, but don't sustain the change because they fail to be vigilant against the forces (within and without) that originally kept the old self/behavior so consistent. Drastic, lasting change is an easy dream but a hard endeavor. The Good News, for the Christian who really is trying, is the forgiveness offered to the confessor--forgiveness not granted in order for the sinner to sin again but granted in order for the contrite to begin anew (again).

Yet another objection arises. If Christians are trying so hard to change themselves into a group that acts uniformly, thinks uniformly, feels uniformly, then won't the result be a boring, homogenized mass of lukewarm mush? It's an honest question with several answers. For one thing, the parts of themselves that people leave behind aren't any good. Any good qualities of those parts stick around, in greater purity, due to not being weighed-down or held-back by dross. As all the members learn how to live harmoniously, they're enabled to form a stronger, better-functioning society, a society in which everyone can "be themselves" without worry because it is safe and caring. Perhaps the best response to the charge of boring uniformity is the irresistible uniqueness etched into a soul. One person can't be hammered and shaped into another, or at least not by breaking one of them. All are imperfect; when made perfect, perfection will shine in a specialized, finite way through any one of them.