Is It a Sin to “Reinvent” Yourself?

Within pop culture, there are many celebrities, writers, and influential people who reinvent themselves. Most of us are aware of Taylor Swift and her many eras. This phenomenon isn't something that only happens to Taylor Swift because many people reinvent themselves over time. Sometimes it is intentional and other times it is unintentional. With this in mind, many of us are faced with the question of whether or not it is a sin to reinvent ourselves. Is it something that should be encouraged or discouraged within the community of believers? 

Reinventing Yourself

Reinventing oneself can come as a challenge for some; however, for most people, reinventing oneself is a result of their environment or personal choices they have made. Becoming a new you or becoming someone different isn't necessarily bad. In fact, sometimes changing and becoming a new person is a good thing and can cause many good things to happen in your life. 

Reinventing yourself is not a sin. When we place faith in Jesus, we automatically become a new person and are given a chance at a new life. This is a new life where we choose to follow Jesus. In this way, we have all been reinvented because we have placed faith in Jesus. It is only natural that after we place faith in Jesus we want to live for Him, follow Him, and apply His teachings into our lives. 

If we are honest with ourselves, the reinvented version of ourselves after knowing Jesus is much better than who we were before we knew Christ as our Savior and Lord. Before we accept Jesus, we are held in bondage to our sins and we live our life for the purpose of our sinful flesh. However, after we place faith in Jesus, we no longer live for our own wants and desires. Instead, we live for God and for His ultimate purpose in our lives–to spread the message of Jesus Christ.  

Therefore, reinventing ourselves is not a sin. It is actually encouraged. Now, there are many people who reinvent themselves in negative ways, such as when teenagers try to be "cool" and get messed up with the wrong crowds. There are also those who reinvent themselves with the purpose in mind to attract a partner and abandon their real selves. It is important to mention that you should never have to change who you are in order to get others to like you. 

Whether trying to make new friends or find a life partner, you shouldn't ever feel as though you have to change in order for someone to be your friend or to be with you. The world tries to tell us that if we look a certain way or act a certain way that all people will like us, but this isn't true. True friends will like us for us and a life partner would like us for us. A person who is a true friend or truly loves you wouldn't force you to change yourself in order for them to like you better. That's not a true friend or someone who actually, genuinely loves you. 

Instead, be yourself and reinvent yourself in a way that reflects Christ to the world. Don't reinvent yourself for the purpose of attracting the wrong people or because someone has forced you into it. Focus on growing and changing to be more like Jesus. It can be difficult and trying, yet God's purposes are always being worked out in your life. He is shaping and molding you to become more and more like His Son. 

In fact, from the time you placed faith in Jesus, you have already been in the process of reinvention. Every step you take and every decision you make are becoming more like what God wants you to do. If you feel as though you are not making progress on growing as a believer, start investing more time in reading the Bible, studying the Bible, and spending personal time with God in prayer. 

Through doing these things, you will be able to continue to grow and be reinvented in order to reflect Christ. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reinventing yourself with the purpose of better reflecting Christ. Reflecting Christ to the lost world is a goal of all of ours as we are Christ's ambassadors to the lost world. We need to always strive to help others know Him, and a key way to do this is by showing His love in our actions, words, and behavior. 

Is There a Timeframe on Reinvention? 

There is never a timeframe on reinvention. Often, we expect everything to happen within a matter of seconds, but reinvention and change don’t happen that fast. It is not going to happen as fast as you can Google search "how to reinvent myself." Reinvention takes time, energy, and dedication. It is not a race, but rather a journey. If you feel you are not reinventing yourself "fast enough," know there is no such thing as fast enough. Growth and change take time; they do not happen overnight. 

Take your time and allow God to do His work in your life. You might not feel as though you are making progress, but understand that each time you choose to do what God wants you to do instead of what the flesh wants, you are making progress. Don't beat yourself up if you don't see immediate results. Instead, show yourself grace and recognize that reinvention takes time. It is incredible to be transformed into the person God created you to be, but it is a marathon - not a sprint. 

Each morning, ask yourself what you can do to serve Christ with your day. Maybe that can be seen by buying groceries for an elderly neighbor or babysitting a friend's children because she needs to go to a doctor's appointment. It can even be something as simple as letting someone go ahead of you in the line at the store or offering to pay for someone else's coffee. All these little things matter to people and can show a glimpse of the love God has for them. 

To show Christ in our actions can be hard, yet He is worth it. Jesus died in order for us to live life to the fullest, and part of living a full life is loving others. There is no point in life if there is no love. Jesus Himself is love, and He wants us to extend His love in everything we do. We cannot claim we know God or are growing in Him if we continue to hate others. Within love, there is no room for hate. 

We have to abandon our own sinful ways and choose to follow Jesus. Reinventing ourselves can happen no other way. It will be a journey, yet the end is found in Christ. One day, all of the hard work you put in will pay off, and others will be able to see Christ through your words and actions. Through showing Jesus in your words and actions, you will have more opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and help others also reinvent themselves to reflect the Savior.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/jacoblund

Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.