{"id":41321,"date":"2025-03-20T20:24:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T03:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41321"},"modified":"2025-03-20T20:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T03:24:21","slug":"helpmeouthere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/helpmeouthere\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Me Out Here (No, Really!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

For nearly a year, I\u2019ve been inviting those in my faith community to (re)examine where we root our identity and what it looks like if we miss-place it in something that isn\u2019t meant to uphold that weight. Why We\u2019re Wrong About Nearly Everything<\/em> demonstrates that one of the ways to chase truth and avoid resistance to it is to converse around the things that make us feel vulnerable (or are seen as no-go areas). [1]<\/a> \u00a0So, I\u2019m asking for your shaping perspective on these thoughts in hopes I can frame my own thinking well and invite others into a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n

We are all seeking affirmation of our identity; we also latch quickly on to those things that affirm what we already think we know, especially regarding how we define and locate ourselves.[2]<\/a> [3]<\/a> Moreover, what we project shapes who we become\u2014how we want others to perceive us changes how we perceive ourselves and behave.[4]<\/a> In an increasingly divided world where emotions overrule facts, rooting our identity in something true and permanent is even more essential if we are to flourish (and see others do the same).[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

So, in a world where many of those in my community seem to be discipled more by the algorithms of social media and echo chambers of small communities and shared media perspectives than other sources, I have tried to invite us into a critical examination of where we place our identities and why. Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve shared, using the inset images along the way:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We seem these days naturally to root identity in ideology\u2014our particular worldview\u2014with the smaller ideologies we embrace framing that. From there, we determine who is \u201cin\u201d or \u201cout\u201d of community with us\u2014those who share our ideology(ies) are \u201cin,\u201d and others are \u201cout.\u201d This community with whom we are \u201cin\u201d (part of Duffy\u2019s echo chambers[6]<\/a>) helps us have a sense of purpose, which often involves advocating for our shared ideology. That chain of ideology, community, and purpose then shapes our understanding of God and how we function in relationship with him.<\/p>\n

There are a couple of problems here. One is that by rooting our sense of self in our ideology when someone questions us in the space of our \u201cisms\u201d (conservatism<\/em>, liberalism<\/em>, egalitarianism<\/em>, nationalism<\/em>, populism<\/em>, and so on), it feels like an attack on the core of who we think we are. I think Duffy would say this is where an emotional response reinforces our system of delusion,[7]<\/a> framing our sense of reality and reaction to information.[8]<\/a> The more significant issue is that this is backward <\/em>from our design as people in community.<\/p>\n

As a follower of Christ, we must root our identity in Jesus, having \"\"<\/a>every part of our lives shaped into something Christo- and cruci- form. Jesus declares our purpose, which includes the fulfillment as image-bearers of God, pursuing the thriving of the world as we know God and are fully known by him. [9]<\/a> [10]<\/a> It\u2019s actually here that we are positioned to live a life of purpose and adventure\u2014one could argue it is Jesus and his Spirit who invite us into a true hero\u2019s journey.[11]<\/a> Jesus also gives definition to community for us\u2014one where we are all invited to belong to him and each other and where we are known more by being for<\/em> each other than against<\/em> some thing<\/em>.[12]<\/a> Finally, we toggle into ideologies that are not central to our identity but are elements of how we articulate what we think it looks like to faithfully live as those rooted in Jesus, given purpose by him, and living in community with others. Here, an ideological difference is something to hold in tension and relationship more than a personal attack.<\/p>\n

I would like to think this will help us avoid the stuff of delusion and enter into a posture where we aren\u2019t restricted by differences, but freed to invite a different kind of connection and relationship. I am hopeful about it, but you all likely see the flaws and challenges in this line of thinking far better than I can because it\u2019s so tied to my incomplete view of the world we live in. Where does this fall short or perpetuate the kinds of conversations that contribute to an ecosystem of delusions? How can your perspective help me lead myself and my community out of delusion into truth?<\/p>\n

\n

—<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Duffy, Bobby. Why We’re Nearly Wrong About Everything: A Theory of Human Misunderstanding.<\/em> (New York: Basic Books, 2018),\u00a071.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Walker, Simon P. Leading out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership (The Undefeated Leader Trilogy, bk 1)<\/em>. Carlisle: Piquant Editions Limited, 2007.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/em>. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Poole, Eve. Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership<\/em> (New York: Bloomsbury Business Press, 2017), 106. Kindle.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Middleton, J. Richard. The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1<\/em>. Ada, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Duffy, 14.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Duffy, 148.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Duffy, 169.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Middleton.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Benner, David G. The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery<\/em>, expanded ed.<\/em> Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2015.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/em>. Third edition. Novato, CA: New World<\/p>\n

Library, 2008.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Cf. John 13, especially vv. 34-35.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For nearly a year, I\u2019ve been inviting those in my faith community to (re)examine where we root our identity and what it looks like if we miss-place it in something that isn\u2019t meant to uphold that weight. Why We\u2019re Wrong About Nearly Everything demonstrates that one of the ways to chase truth and avoid resistance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":227,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2640,3397],"class_list":["post-41321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-duffy","tag-dlgp04","cohort-dlgp04"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/227"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41321"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41328,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41321\/revisions\/41328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}