If you could explain what "cliche" means, you might use the expression "just be yourself" as an example. It is used for dating advice, making friends, father-daughter talks, dating advice...Just relax and be yourself.
What does that mean, really? If you would ask Freud he might say that yourself is a vicious monster hellbent on sexual conquest. Awkward, yes? If you asked Darwin he would likely say that you are a lucky beast that has basic needs to meet. I don't want to be like that either. Who is "yourself?"
Unfortunately, Scripture says that we are sinful if left to our own devices, and I'm not going argue with that. So bad luck for those seeking dating advice: being yourself is terrible (horrific, awful, detestable) advice.
"Be yourself" gives lazy people a bull crap excuse to stay in sin by saying, "that's just who I am." Wrong! Don't get me wrong, God has gifted us all uniquely. What I am not saying is that we should ignore what God has "wired" us for. However, God doesn't "wire" you to be an idiot.
And now, an example: I am naturally disposed to deflecting critique and blame away from myself. Following the advice to "be myself," I just accept my plight and continue to pretend like I am the exception to all critique and rebuke. Where does that put me? That is the nonsense that Lady Gaga promotes (hiding behind a noble cause), and not just her but our philosophy of culture.
In KB's song "Open Letter" he recieves a letter from a girl struggling with lesbian lust do to loneliness and the line says, "they tell me to accept that I was born this way," and the statement is immediately rejected with the blunt line "that's a lie, this is lust."
"Be yourself" is harmless enough until you make that your life's motto; then it becomes an excuse to be a lazy transient who refuses to acknowledge the sin in your life.
So what should it mean? Perhaps "be yourself" would be better replaced with "be honest." If you are trying to get a date, be honest. Truth is, I'm a huge geek, who can quote a few too many lines from Lord of the Rings, and I'm about as cool as adult braces. Amy was cool with that, and now I'm married. Be honest.
Yet, some people would still use "be honest" as a weapon. I've heard sin be downplayed instantly by 4 words, "At least I'm honest." *clap clap* Bravo, you know you're being foolish and are willing to admit it, but, by George, you won"t do anything about it! Being honest has its limits as well.
The simple solution is this: be holy. Jesus says in Matthew 5 "be perfect." Compare that to the original "be yourself." Our idea sucks. God doesn't want you to come to some state of self-actualization, nor does he need you to be satisfied with your self-image (see Holy Bible for details). God's desire is holiness. self-image and self-worth are inseparably tied with God's view of us, not our view of us. That's the truth.
My goal is to be who God desires me to be, and many times that will involve not being "myself." That isn't being fake, that is the call to holiness and self-surrender. God has called us higher. Praise him that he has!
What does that mean, really? If you would ask Freud he might say that yourself is a vicious monster hellbent on sexual conquest. Awkward, yes? If you asked Darwin he would likely say that you are a lucky beast that has basic needs to meet. I don't want to be like that either. Who is "yourself?"
Unfortunately, Scripture says that we are sinful if left to our own devices, and I'm not going argue with that. So bad luck for those seeking dating advice: being yourself is terrible (horrific, awful, detestable) advice.
"Be yourself" gives lazy people a bull crap excuse to stay in sin by saying, "that's just who I am." Wrong! Don't get me wrong, God has gifted us all uniquely. What I am not saying is that we should ignore what God has "wired" us for. However, God doesn't "wire" you to be an idiot.
And now, an example: I am naturally disposed to deflecting critique and blame away from myself. Following the advice to "be myself," I just accept my plight and continue to pretend like I am the exception to all critique and rebuke. Where does that put me? That is the nonsense that Lady Gaga promotes (hiding behind a noble cause), and not just her but our philosophy of culture.
In KB's song "Open Letter" he recieves a letter from a girl struggling with lesbian lust do to loneliness and the line says, "they tell me to accept that I was born this way," and the statement is immediately rejected with the blunt line "that's a lie, this is lust."
"Be yourself" is harmless enough until you make that your life's motto; then it becomes an excuse to be a lazy transient who refuses to acknowledge the sin in your life.
So what should it mean? Perhaps "be yourself" would be better replaced with "be honest." If you are trying to get a date, be honest. Truth is, I'm a huge geek, who can quote a few too many lines from Lord of the Rings, and I'm about as cool as adult braces. Amy was cool with that, and now I'm married. Be honest.
Yet, some people would still use "be honest" as a weapon. I've heard sin be downplayed instantly by 4 words, "At least I'm honest." *clap clap* Bravo, you know you're being foolish and are willing to admit it, but, by George, you won"t do anything about it! Being honest has its limits as well.
The simple solution is this: be holy. Jesus says in Matthew 5 "be perfect." Compare that to the original "be yourself." Our idea sucks. God doesn't want you to come to some state of self-actualization, nor does he need you to be satisfied with your self-image (see Holy Bible for details). God's desire is holiness. self-image and self-worth are inseparably tied with God's view of us, not our view of us. That's the truth.
My goal is to be who God desires me to be, and many times that will involve not being "myself." That isn't being fake, that is the call to holiness and self-surrender. God has called us higher. Praise him that he has!
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