Canter Bridge

Knowing precisely who we are is the key to spiritual versatility.

A solid core renders possible myriad accommodations without sliding over into hypocrisy. The apostle Paul was so seized by his encounter with Christ, so anchored ‘in Christ’, that he could walk the walk and talk the talk of all kinds of human beings.

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:20–23 ESV)

Perhaps followers of Jesus worry overmuch about ‘acting out of our gifting’, of ‘being true to ourselves’.

If the Giver of those gifts is reliable and the truth about ourselves is anchored in the unshakeable truth of God, then maybe we need not be so defensive about responding to this opportunity, answering that summons, surfing the waves of life that come at us with both surprise and force.

Perhaps we need not over-define ourselves preemptively.

The distinction between core and flex becomes very practical in moments of job loss, disappointing assessment of our performance, and the sundry shatterings of life that require that we engage new things in new ways while remaining the same person.

The stronger our core, the more we can flex without breaking.