Personal growth is a path to alienation from the world.
When I was younger, I assumed that things such as spiritual growth and personal development would allow me to fit in with those around me better. I thought that as I learned to love others and learned to experience God more fully, it would be easier to live in human society.
I’ve realized lately that the truth is just the opposite. It’s easy to fit into the culture around us without emotional or spiritual growth. All it requires is molding ourselves into whatever those around us want.
But finding transcendental meaning and discovering your true self require you to give up what your culture and your friends and your family want you to be — because human culture is ultimately in conflict with what God created us to be.
I’ve realized lately that Jesus told us this 2,000 years ago, but we’ve simply missed the point. Finding the truth — and finding our true self — requires us to be something entirely different from what our culture demands.
We’ve welcomed visitors from 57 countries and 48 U.S. states so far
In a cold and disconnected world, it’s very simple to fake happiness
How could we take responsibility but avoid self-destructive shame?
Briefly: Trump finds someone to blame for Reflecting Pool mess
Briefly: It’s insane to pretend Dr. Seuss and his books are racist
Briefly: Christian writer Rachel Held Evans dies at 37
Briefly: Musician dad makes music with his kids during quarantine
Briefly: Political action won’t change the world; culture always comes first
Briefly: How you treat a person in a split second can change his or her day