Author: Øystein Udnes

Much of what I used to do
Required more than I could give
Since what I gave I took from me
Not what I have in Him

The term individualism has in many ways become an obscurity; a description of the postmodern claim to focus on me first – then the collective. Without further introduction I would like to suggest that it’s possible to understand individualism based on a legitimate (theological) need to reunite with and understand Imago Dei in a person’s life. To do so we must be able to distinguish between individualism such as egoism and individualism as realism.

Realism, in this context, pertains to revelation, or discovery, of redeemed human nature; the new person. Realism then becomes an acknowledgment that I (that is, every single human being) is created in God’s image; unique, different from everyone else, with its own characteristics, personality traits and character.

Egoism, on the other hand, becomes the individualistic need for self in the center, without God, which is an expression of the old, unredeemed nature, where the individual desires to free him/herself from the significance of the collective – and also from the nature of God. Realism, to the contrary, does not elaborate liberation from context (humanity, community), rather it endorses an establishing of the individual’s true self.

When self finds its place in the presence of God, mirroring his face, then individualism does not become a threat to the values ​​and purposes of the community. The security and trust that follow will rather provide strength and diversity to the community – and God‘s greatness becomes more visible to the society.

The formation (and transformation) of narratives starts with theology, no matter what we believe about God and faith.

Theology forms beliefs. Beliefs shape values. Values define culture. Doctrines and beliefs lead to convictions. Convictions and values develop norms. Norms and culture build a narrative.

The norms and values of a culture become the narrative, formed by how we understand God, people and the world. So to understand a narrative, we must understand its underlying theology. This also means that we can transform a damaging narrative by challenging bad theology.

The figure is not exhaustive, of course.

The authority of our soul’s emotions is about to be recognized to the extent that it wipes out the self-understanding quested for.

Attributes of identity outside our feelings are being rejected, because we no longer dare to trust them. It can be compared to me throwing away my Norwegian passport, and claiming I’m Chinese — if that’s what I feel like. The need for freedom to be oneself (a legitimate need) has turned into an ever-growing expectation of placing oneself on a scale from one to infinity; a well-meaning requirement to find oneself in the realm of emotion.

The consequence is a confusing state of mind, where everything — or nothing — is true about who we are. This is what I call the tyranny of emotional rationality.

God never intended it to be this way. You and I were made to understand ourselves from a point of reference that never fails. My feelings fall short of telling me who I am, and my self-understanding is inevitably changing. But he who is; Jesus Christ, is always the same. He accommodates and inhabits everything that I am, and he breathes into my being a trustworthy foundation of identity. This foundation can never be constructed by private emotions. It’s rather a heaven-given foundation on which you and I can build identity that reflects truth about us. It’s a place of belonging and rest, where our feelings about who we are also will find peace.

You’re the rock of my salvation
Creator of all creation
I give all my life to You
Worship You in spirit and in truth

You have saved and healed the broken
The words you speak will not be unspoken
Your power is alive and well
You changed my life, that’s
What I want to tell

I see the love in your eyes
Comforting my soul and
Paradise is not so far away
Where I will be with You forever

So even when I’m weak and falling
Your tender voice, I can hear You calling
Telling me again and again
Your strength in me is all I need

Better to be recognised
When you’ve been
Through the storm
Than when you’ve been
On a platform

Funny people are either very insecure
Or very confident

Or both

I don’t know

Better to think
On who you are
And what you’ve got
Than what you haven’t
And who you’re not

Let’s deal with one another’s flaws
As God has dealt with mine and yours
In grace and truth and peace and love
What’s lost and broken is made whole

Remember, it’s not either desert or promised land. We live in the tension between ‘now’ and ‘not yet’. The miracle (manna) is for the not yet, the blessing (milk & honey) is for the now. The miracle is for what’s broken and in need of healing, the blessing is for the kingdom that has come.

Some churches live like we’re only in a desert and in need of constant provision of manna (miracles), others like we live only in the promised land with constant access to blessings (milk & honey). I believe power comes when we realise it’s both at the same time.

We’re waiting in anticipation, and we’re receiving the promise.

Forget not thankfulness
Lest you will soon be less
Than who you truly are
Your dream a fading star
Forget not thankfulness

Forget not majesty
A vast reality
Your strength is not your own
Runs down from mercy throne
Forget not majesty

Forget not saving grace
Your all to run the race
When knees bow to the ground
Our spirit heaven bound
Forget not saving grace

A word
That resonates grace
Reaches not just the mind
But the heart
And stays

There’s something more
I need to do
Than finding out
It’s finding You
More than knowing
What and who
I long for more
It’s knowing You
More than searching
For the answers
I search for You
I’ll take my chances

No strings attached
No slack
No loose ends
No end of the rope
Just meadows
A table set
A full cup
A future
And a hope

Need a sign or a rhyme to be true?
Time to wake from a dream
That is broken in two
Realize, wear your size and be you
If you want to get past
You have got to come through

He says,
No more sentimental!
Stand out loud, feel the breeze
Let’s go gentle

If for real, with a zeal you draw near
Like the first time you dared
To be loved without fear
Not a flop or a mop or a flea
You were born to be strong
In the world of the free

We say,
No more sentimental!
Stand out loud, feel the breeze
Let’s go gentle