How Christianity Challenges Expressive Individualism

Trevin Wax and Alan Noble discuss how expressive individualism is a “common sense” idea in our culture, but one the church needs to challenge. They emphasize the importance of preaching that has an edge and that offers alternatives to the world’s wisdom. Instead of looking within first to define the self, Wax suggests the Christian view of identity starts with looking up to God.

Noble highlights the chronic dissatisfaction that comes with constantly expressing yourself to the world (especially on social media) and how the focus on “I define myself” independence conflicts with the simultaneous need for constant affirmation from others.