From a very early age nearly every child starts to think in the abstract and develop a sense of “me” and wonder how that fits into the world in which he/she lives. That seems to be soon followed by wondering how could there be a world without “me?” Rather than trying to delve into the human psyche as did the famous neurologist Sigmund Freud, we will approach the topic from the Christian and spiritual viewpoint. Besides, the id, ego, and superego are far above my pay grade to understand, let alone explain. For our purposes, “me” will be a self-concept that comprises the body, mind and spirit (psyche) and continues to grow and change during one’s lifetime. Most people learn to balance these areas and it is necessary to feed them properly. The mental and emotional seems to need validation in steady doses, whereas the lump of dust and DNA part of “me” is usually well-fed. Even in old age a human “me” is still looking for acceptance and praise. When any one of these “me” areas gets neglected, we see huge dysfunctions which can damage the individual as well as society. When a person becomes a Christian by putting on Christ in immersion (Rom 6:3-6) (Gal 3:26-29) things should start to change. Christ living in the new self will start to replace the near constant preoccupation with the “me” (Gal 2:20). The person is a new creation in Christ and the old “me” should begin to disappear. There is not a need to be immersed every day, however, we are told to, “….take up (our) cross daily and follow (Jesus)” (Lk 9:23-25). We do this to constantly remind ourselves of the “me” that is being discarded and the mental, physical and emotional commitment we have made. Of course, in this secular life there are still some parts of the old “me” that are needed to sustain a physical existence. However, there is no longer the selfish obsession of it being all about “me”. We can and should become a servant like our Savior. It is not totally clear if the recognizable old “me” will follow us into heaven, but we will be given a new body (1 Cor 15:51) a new name (Rev 2:17) and new responsibilities (Rev 2:26-27). The old “me” will have disappeared! —Jim Bailey |
