Purpose Movement

We Are In a Search:

With the new release of Justin Bieber’s album Purpose there has been a public awakening toward a movement to search for the individual’s call.  I’d have to admit that the song is captivating and leaves you wanting to strive toward greater dreams, a higher calling, and a deeper meaning.  Excellence is a word that comes to my mind when I ponder upon my initial thought on the song.  It seems to have the ability to strike an emotional chord with the listeners (which is typical of any great musician and actually impacted me enough to drive me to my laptop in order to write this blog).  My Facebook feed has been bombarded with Bieber-fever and countless friends (Facebook friends to say the least) have been putting this song on repeat!  It was inevitable for me to sit down and listen to the song, and it doesn’t hurt that my wife is a loyal fan (she’s a Belieber)!

I think Bieber’s new found maturity and journey has been one that is common to our generation of adolescents whose own journey has been prolonged in comparison to the historical transition toward adulthood.  It may strike you as a bit of a surprise to say that the struggles that adolescents face — those in their late twenties who are categorized as “kids” — are connected to the lack of a clear and definitive interpretation on the essence of life.  This journey is an incredibly important odyssey for the postmodern individual.

What Are We Searching For?

Though I tip my hat off to Justin Bieber for displaying a great deal of courage, determination, and fortitude to embark on such an authentic journey (especially in front of the entire world); I can not but wonder if such an attempt is lacking in its fullness.  I see the seriousness to advocate for such a journey, but my worry is that the starting point to the purpose movement is lacking one key element — God. 

How are young Christians who enjoy artists like Justin Bieber engage in the message of the music without conforming to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2)?  How are believers to maintain a Gospel lens in our interactions with societal norms? How are young believers to live in the world but not be of the world?

There Are Layers to Our Search:

When we engage in journeys such as the one to “find our self,” it is essential to understand that the odyssey will consist of peeling back layers in order to get to the core issue at hand.  Self actualization is hardly ever obtained by centering on the self, but rather encapsulates a gaze upon the broader aspects of life.  There is a great calming when we understand our finiteness and begin to acknowledge God’s infiniteness. 

The starting point to Scripture, which should give us a clue to where our approach should begin, is centered upon God Himself (Genesis 1:1).  Within the creation narrative we find God creating humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27).  This reality, then, conveys the notions that in order to understand the self one must understand the Person he (or she) has been made to reflect.  As image bearers of God we can only know the self when we know, or are known, by the Creator.

God is the Big Picture:

The divine purpose for man is to display the glory of God, which is reflected in the image of humanity.  The objective aim, then, is for humanity “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 ESV) through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  Our innate thirst to desire for more is ingrained in the fact that we have been formed to reflect His infinite and eternal glory.  The quest to find divine purpose is intrinsically woven into us, and yet the fall has taken away our capacity to embrace all that God has created us for.  Through the redemptive work of Christ, we can enter into that divine purpose again and find the creative fulfillment by walking in line with Jesus Christ to reflect His perfect and holy image.  This is the essence and purpose of the created order formed within humanity. 

In this sense the pursuit to find the self is intrinsically woven into the fabric of God who is the objective standard for human life.  This objective reality grants life, wisdom, and power to pursue the definitive goal and aim — the glory of God.  In a postmodern world the bible gives clear indication of an overarching theme that God is the grounds to understand our internal longings for a divine purpose.  We are made for more because we have been made for God (Colossians 1:16). 

All the more for us to emphasize that Bieber’s claim to strive for purpose is lacking or, dare I say, empty in of itself.  Without centering our pursuit of purpose toward and in God, we will ultimately pursue in vain.  The starting point to our searching must begin outside of ourselves — namely in God. 

The Big Picture Through My Eyes:

In light of all the “objective” talk, it must be conveyed that though theoretically (and realistically) there is an overarching standard that is pressing upon our existence, we must not underestimate the reality that life is experienced through the subjective lens.  There is a beauty to the fact that God has created us as individual beings who experience, engage, and receive life through our personal encounters.  This must not be overlooked!

As image bearers of God we are created with an understanding of otherness.  In the intra-Trinitarian nature there is a distinction of persons in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Though distinct there is unity and unison in the personhood of the Godhead.  Simply put, there is an otherness that is in perfect harmony and relationship within itself.  Our interaction with one another, which is called the church, is ultimately a reflection of the Trinitarian mystery to the world. 

It is on this basis that the pursuit to find the self is connected with looking outside of oneself — namely to God and secondly to the community of saints.  The subjective perspective lends to the fact that knowing God is intrinsically link to knowing the self in relation to the Creator (John 17:3).  Yes, we are other, and in our otherness we understand our dependence upon the Source — Jesus Christ.  Our otherness helps us to take ownership of our experiences, whether good or bad, but also informs us that in God’s sovereignty “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 ESV).  The Apostle Paul on numerous occasions connected through is own personal experience, and yet those experiences were understood in light his theological understanding of who God is.

Therefore, Bieber's claim (if that is his claim — I have heard he is a believer) to pursue purpose solely for the sake of the individual has no ground to build off of.  To this point, the Christian can not engage in this movement without first incorporating a God-ward gaze.    A lack of such a gaze would render the pursuit fruitless.

Finding the Self by Finding God (or Being Found):

Justin Bieber is a world renown musician whose mark within the the industry is still being written and whose influence will be heard for years to come.  His journey and endeavors for personal growth is admirable and has given believers (at least within this blog) a steady glimpse into our search for God’s creative design for our lives.  And yet that search can not be fully embraced without a clear starting point which does not terminate upon our own personal agenda, but is cemented in who God is and what He has created us for. 

How can we look at Bieber’s movement for purpose through the Gospel lens?  How can we understand all these worldly messages through a God filtered scope?  It is by understanding that Bieber, along with many other adolescents, is searching not merely for a subjective perspective to life’s ultimate questions, but is asking the intrinsic questions that God has innately infused into the created order of life — the glory of God.  And these questions can not be answered by mere spiritualism or self-help motivational speeches, but through the work and person of Jesus Christ found in the Word of God. 

Upon finding Him, or rather being found by Him, let us not forget to blast that message on repeat.  It would be a welcomed flow into my Facebook feed.  Blessings upon your journey Justin Bieber. Blessings to you (reader) in your endeavors as well! 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

McYoung Yang is the husband to Debbie Yang and the father to McCayden (7), McCoy (6), McColsen (4), and DeYoung (6 months).  He graduated from Crown College with a Youth Ministry degree and has served as a Youth Pastor in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for over 8 years.  He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY for his Masters of Divinity.  He hopes to use his training to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.