[ jante law & kingship ]

   It made so much sense once I heard it.

   Let me introduce to you something called The Jante Law, which is an unspoken, unofficial "law" in Denmark. This is something that is so deeply ingrained in the culture, not something that's taught knowingly. It's not like a parent sits their child down and explains this "law" -- nor is this taught in school. Rather, it's something you grow up with, something that becomes your lifestyle, and becomes an inheritance that is kept throughout generations unless someone consciously changes it.


   Here are the ten rules by which the Jante Law is kept :

You shall not think that you are special.
You shall not think that you are of the same standing as us.
You shall not think that you are wiser than us.
Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
You shall not think that you know more than us.
You shall not think that you are more (important) than us.
You shall not think that you are good at anything.
You shall not laugh at us.
You shall not think that anyone cares about you.
You shall not think that you can teach us anything.

   Shortly after being here in Denmark at the school, someone mentioned this to me, asking if I knew about it. Curious, I finally looked it up online. [You can check out the website here if you wish to see.]

   The origin of this came from the novel "A Refugee Crosses His Tracks, written by Aksel Sandemose. These rules acted as the social structure in the town in which this novel takes place.




   However, it's not just in an imaginary town that this takes place. As I was reading the rules, I realized how realistic this is in the Danish culture. [And I think this extends past the Danish culture, into Scandanvian culture in general.]

   I was talking this over with my mom as well [who is a Dane and grew up under this influence], and she said that if, for whatever reason, any Dane were to raise himself above anyone else and think better of himself, the other Danes would look down upon him and think "who does he think he is".

   To take this to a deeper level, I find it tragic that so many people walk around most, if not all, their life, thinking they're less than they really are. And by thinking you're less than you really are, that's what you become.

   How much do you think this hinders excellence?

   I wonder how many people haven't reached their full potential because of this.

   And even beyond that, how can you fully step into the inheritance we receive from God when we enter into His grace and giftings? How can you live your life with the full authority we are given and expected to work through if you don't even see yourself being able to handle it -- or don't even think you're worthy to have it?

   Several months ago, I read a book called "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty", by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson. Incredible book. I'd reccommend it to anyone. To sum it up briefly, it's about how we are called to live our lives as kings, and how so many of us are/were brought up as and treated like paupers -- which is how, then, we live the rest of our lives unless we change it, with His guidance.

   Point is, it was such a great perspective shift for me. We as believers so often feel like we have to walk around with this awful sense of false humility and pretend we're lower than everyone else, because [supposedly] that's holy.

    ... I beg to differ.

   I don't know about you, but I'm a freaking awesome, beautiful creation that He made. I'm a powerful warrior. There is only one me. My giftings, my talents are unique, and I refuse to be ashamed of them or feel like I have to suppress them so I don't appear proud.

   I'm so done with that.

   Here's a great example.

   A while ago, one of my friends said I looked very nice. In return, I said "I know", with a smile.

   Now, I was half joking in that moment -- but at the same time, I meant it. Not because I'm proud, not because I think I'm the most gorgeous person in this planet. No, it was because I truly did know that I looked nice.

   But in this culture -- and this isn't restricted to just Denmark, but reaches across the world -- what I said and how I reacted would be taken as arrogance, especially if they didn't know me.

   What's wrong with knowing who you truly are and being proud of it? I don't mean proud in a negative way. I mean you're seeing yourself as He sees you, the way He made you to be, and you're accepting and loving it.

   How many girls, do you think, would stop trying to achieve an image that's impossible, unrealistic, and ultimately, a fairytale?

   How powerful would we be if we actually stepped into our full calling, regardless of what people thought, and lost this ridiculous sense of false humility?

   I'd like to propose that the enemy does everything he can to distract us from who we truly are. Whether it be about your image, your giftings, etc.

   Why?

   Because we are invincible when we are completely at peace with who we are, know where we stand, with Whom we stand beside, and have aligned our thoughts and lives with His.

   The enemy will attack and target areas in your life that you are insecure in -- so if you listen and let it get to you, you're benefitting him because you're agreeing with what he says instead of God is saying about you.

   Hm. Deep.

   "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson

   Wow.

   I was reading through this quote. Normally, I think we tend to just read/hear the first two sentences. But as I was reading through the rest of it, it spoke to me so clearly -- and ended up really defining the purpose of this post.

   "There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

   Meaning, you're not accomplishing anything by walking around and living your life, pretending you're not a king and denying your kingship through Jesus. You are living half a life. We need to step into what God has for our lives, to step into our calling. Find the purposes for our lives. And to live completely and fully within that.

   I don't know about you, but this "law" is something I refuse to live under.

   I'm pretty dang tired of living a life less than I should be.

   How about you?