Discovering Who I Am

There are four basic systems of thought, or worldviews according to which we each operate (many times according to more than one, or all four): Our ways of processing life are either rooted epistemologically in thinking, existentially in feeling, or pragmatically in doing.

Many will respond to life’s challenges by thinking them through and formulating ideas and logically working through challenges in life to a point where one has a planed response to life problems. On the down side, they may think themselves into inaction by accepting thoughts of fear and failure.

Others react emotionally and seek to reconcile life’s difficulties in their heart. They grapple emotionally until they feel OK about whatever challenge life may have dealt. Unfortunately, feeling good can turn to feeling bad almost instantaneously.

Still others react by doing. To step out decisively and implement a program answers to the pragmatists felt need. Sometimes this can lead to doing everything but what is best in a given situation.

All the above systems of reacting to life can be valid, sensible approaches to solving life problems.

However, there is a fourth system which, when understood, becomes the foundation of the Christians worldview: Christianity is ultimately rooted ontologically, in being. Although thinking, feeling and doing are key to the Christian walk, we will never find real victory and transformation until we replace the “old man” or identity with the “new man” and BE what we were created.

Just as all points of the compass are critical to navigation but are all dependent on North as a point of reference; thinking feeling and doing are important to navigating through life, but will not result in true direction without their relative position to being. Once we have an inner revelation of who God created us to be, we have a “true North” from which we know what to think (West), what is a valid emotion (South) and what is sensible and productive to do (East).