In the opening paragraph to his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin wrote, ‘Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists in two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.
‘But while joined by many bonds, which one precedes and brings forth the other is not easy to discern. In the first place, no one can look upon himself without immediately turning his thoughts to the contemplation of God, in whom he “lives and moves” …’ It isn’t surprising that this is not the way the average person thinks about themselves today; but it surely is surprising that neither is it true of most professing Christians. That should give us pause for thought and confront us with the question, ‘Who do you think you are?’
Self-understanding
In an age when many people are utterly confused over their identity, there can hardly be a more pertinent question we need, not merely to ask, but to which we need to find a credible answer. That’s true in the broadest sense for a generation that has abandoned nearly all fixed reference points for self-understanding; but it is alarmingly true for many Christians as well. ‘What difference does conversion make?’ ‘How should I relate to other Christians and to the wider community?’ These and many questions like them cry out for answers in the church today.
