Biblical Answer

Can I Still Be Me?

The question of whether we can still be ourselves after accepting a new identity or perspective is a complex one. In the provided information, the author reflects on the idea of losing one's old self and finding a new identity. The author notes that "when we slough off that name, lose that identity, we can hardly find ourselves again" (95). This suggests that our sense of self is closely tied to our identity and that changing that identity can be a challenging and potentially disorienting experience.

However, this perspective is not necessarily incompatible with the idea of personal growth and transformation. In fact, the author suggests that we are constantly being formed and becoming new people. As the author notes, "You're being formed even now as you read. You will be formed in days to come. Put another way, you're becoming a person" (70). This idea is echoed in the words of Saint Benedict, who asks the question "Who am I becoming?" (70). This question suggests that our identity is not fixed, but rather is something that is in a state of flux and development.

In the context of Christian theology, this idea of personal growth and transformation is seen as a key aspect of the Christian life. As Christians, we are called to become more like Jesus Christ, who is our model for living. As the apostle Paul writes, "Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 5:1-2). This call to become like Jesus is not a call to lose our individuality, but rather to become more fully ourselves as children of God. As the author notes, "It is possible. It can certainly happen that we refer to a being when we are very much mistaken about the properties it has" (95). In this sense, becoming like Jesus is not about losing our identity, but rather about becoming more fully who we were created to be.