Be Happy! With Who You Are?

Have you ever heard someone say, “learn to be happy with who you are?” More than likely, it didn’t even make you think twice, and you then went on about with your life. Of all the dangerous phrases and thoughts to us Christians, among which are “blend in with the world” and “don’t stand out” or “don’t be different from the world,” this is perhaps the most dangerous to our spiritual life. How can I say that? On the surface, this appears to be a wise principle to follow, doesn’t it? Healthy at any weight, right? At this point, you can probably hear the medical profession innocently whistling in the background and casually fanning themselves with the stacks of research on obesity and mortality rates, but pay them no mind. 

If this statement can be this dangerous to our physical health, well, then just imagine what it does to our spiritual and mental health. This isn’t a statement to promote self-health; it’s a statement to promote self-satisfaction and stagnation. If you are happy with who you are right now, go reread your bible. Now that you are inspired with a healthy hatred of where you are currently, it would be good to channel that into changing to become more like Christ. If we are content with who we are, we aren’t going to change, and change we must. Change is essential to becoming a follower of Christ. We must put to death the Old Man, our second greatest enemy (although a solid case can be made for it being our greatest), and take up the mantle of Christ, which requires tremendous change and self-denial. However, this is quite a difficult proposition and requires more or less our entire life to accomplish. We see Paul finally had just about completed this task when he says in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

How do we know that this constant growth and change is what is called for to be a follower of Christ? 

2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know [this] beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen.      

Eph 5:1-3, 5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ... 

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Eph 4:20-24 But you have not so learned Christ, 

if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 

and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

2Co 5:17, 20 Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ... 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

In order for us to change into something better, we must have a standard and goal of who we are changing to become like. Someone we base our lives off of. Christ provided that for us and ensured that his example was recorded in four books. When we are content or happy with who we are, we don’t change to match His example. It takes work and practice to accomplish this; even more than that, it takes His Holy Spirit working within us. This isn’t for the lazy or faint of heart. The Old Man certainly puts up quite the fight. Well, that about wraps that up, doesn’t it? Hmm.

I can’t help feeling like I’m forgetting something. Whatever could it be? We are clearly supposed to be changing to become imitators of Christ, but wait! Don’t stand out from the world! Don’t be different; just be happy! Blend in! That’s what I forgot to say. This makes complete logical sense. Imitate Christ and blend in with the world. Run around nude at clothing-optional swimming holes so that you blend in. Yup. Very logical. Kind of like saying drive to Milwaukee but don’t get in the car. Christ called us to blend in with the world and not stand out at all. We should be loved by the world! Oh boy. These next few verses back this up completely.  

1Pe 2:4-12 Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 

Therefore, to you who believe, [He is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 

and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 

But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

Beloved, I beg [you] as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by [your] good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.    

Mat 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mat 10:22 “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

John 17:14-16 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it hated] you. 

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

*Innocent whistling commences* Yup. Completely supported by-, oh, what the hairy turtle. Obviously, the idea that we should blend in with the world is not supported in scripture. At all. You cannot both be the light of the world and blend in. Doesn’t work that way. The only way to be a light is to be different. 

We are to find joy in whatever situation we find ourselves in. We are to find joy, but this does not mean being happy with who we are as a person. There is a difference, and it is a very important one, an essential distinction for us to make. It’s good to be happy. Just don’t let it keep you from growing and changing. Don’t stagnate.