Why do we take our individual, personality, character, gifts, or calling and make that the sum total of godliness for everyone else?

The introvert equates godliness with quietness.

The extrovert equates godliness with activity.

The generous person equates godliness with giving.

The social person equates godliness with hospitality.

The workaholic equates godliness with hard-work.

The pastor equates godliness with preaching gifts.

The counselor equates godliness with discipling gifts.

The home-educator equates godliness with home-schooling.

The missionary equates godliness with mission support.

The evangelist equates godliness with outreach.

The reader equates godliness with a large library.

The happy person equates godliness with cheerfulness.

The melancholy person equates godliness with guilt.

The courageous person equates godliness with public witness.

The political person equates godliness with social action.

The practical person equates godliness with doing.

The intellectual person equates godliness with thinking.

The emotional person equates godliness with feelings.

The friendly person equates godliness with having lots of friends.

The artsy person equated godliness with “cultural engagement.”

Godliness should be measured not so much by what comes easiest to us but by the progress we’re making in areas we’re weakest in.

  • Doc B (J B Boren)

    On a humorous note, I found one more. The grammar-nazi equates godliness with using proper grammar. (I found this one upon reading your last sentence.) It greatly enhanced the power of the post for me, even though I chuckled at myself!

  • Az1seeit

    Or the musician with musical expression. Very thought provoking post, Mr. Murray.

  • Kathleen Peck

    This list is a great examination of all the diverse ways God gives people different gifts or strengths. We should appreciate them for being just that & not expect others to have those same strengths.

  • http://logosandlove.blogspot.com/ Elizabeth Sunshine

    Very thought-provoking, and a number of other items resonated with me (especially the one about intellectual people). But I find I’m also tempted to equate godliness to personality traits I don’t possess. This introvert tends to equate godliness with not quietness but social activity/friendliness. And then I feel depressed and overwhelmed because I will never be as outgoing as some other people I know.

    • Laura

      I am just the same, Elizabeth! I so “get” what you are saying!

  • Marcia Sinke

    Why? The answer is simple. As fallen persons, we are great admirers of ourselves, our traits, and our talents. We are likewise inclined to believe that the world would be a better place if only there were more like ourselves.

  • Pingback: Godliness is not your Personality | A disciple's study

  • SheapSheerer

    We are our own context. Very few people have even a limited ability to see from another’s point-of-view. Once we understand the minds of others more holistically then we understand Godliness and the sinfulness in others well enough to know. In a sense, one has to understand the mind of God to understand what true Godliness is and what defines it too.

  • Pingback: Passion Points | Three Passions