Identity?

In today’s dynamic political environment, many people struggle with their personal Identity. We are confused as to who we are, how we should act, and what we are called to do with our lives. This confusion over our identity begs the question of where does our identity come from and how do we become who we become? Is it from our friends and family, maybe our neighbors or strangers, or even our culture and society? Some may define their identity by education, wealth, sports, outdoor activities, titles, or accomplishments. Maybe our identities are tied to certain hobbies, certain clubs or membership, or relationships with a significant other. You may even define your identity according to your race, color of skin, ethnic background, belief system, family, or religious preference. Further, your identity can be defined by your citizenship, sexual preference, political affiliation, who you voted for, or even your occupation. So, how is identity defined? Cambridge dictionary defines it as “who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group that make them different from other.” With all this being said, how have you defined your identity?

One of the issues we as Americans are struggling with today is our identity and who we are as a people. The identity crisis in America today is tearing the nation apart. Political parties hate each other. We have shootings because one person does not like the identity of another person. To make matters worse, the media plays identity politics pitting one group against another. This in turn, creates a culture of hate, rage, and anger among diverse individuals. The media chooses a certain identity to promote, and then they belittle, show disgust and hatred toward all other identities. This approach of hating some identities and loving other identities is creating a nation of chaos, a nation where diversity is not welcome. It is creating a Nation where differences are not celebrated and valued, a nation where differences are wrong, if they disagree with you.

As the saying goes, a nation that is divided falls and a nation that is united will stand the test of time. America is becoming a divided nation through the constant indoctrination of the propaganda of the media and our current political system. This system is tearing apart this nation, and it will bring more violence, more sadness, and more division. A question that we should be asking ourselves is what was the identity that made America great in the past? Well, to be honest, it is the one that builds on trust, truth, love, integrity, and the celebration of differences in the identity of all people. It was also created with the idea that all people (regardless of their identity) are created equal, and are entitled to free speech in the market place of ideas. Do we think we can build a nation on hypocrisy, lies, lack of trust, and anger? Do we think a nation will stand that is promoting certain identities and vilifying other identities?

Well, look out your door, watch the news, and see how this is working. Look at the current political elites, are they bringing trust and integrity to the table? Or are they bringing an agenda of division, anger, hatred, and promoting the identities that fit their political agenda? When you look at our country, do you see freedom in identity, or do you see mass confusion and people being forced to believe in a certain identity? Are we being forced to follow another person’s identity, and not our own? Are we being called to follow another person’s belief system, and not our own? This goes against everything this county was founded on, to include its Christian values. It goes against everything I was raised to believe, which includes freedom of speech, the freedom of ideas, the freedom of religion, and the freedom to enjoy your identity whatever it may be (within the bounds of the law).

Before I was a Christian, I struggled with my identity and wrestled with everything I have discussed thus far. But as a believer, I found my identity in Christ. This identity in Christ does not dismiss all my experiences, loves, joys, and hopes, but it brings Christ to the forefront. It changes the way I think about my identity, it helps me understand that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. But, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, I can stand before God, forgiven of my sins, and I am justified by faith alone. Let’s see what Galatians 2:15-21 (ESV) says:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

So, how do we respond to the identity crisis that America is facing today? We need to show ourselves as ambassadors of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (ESV) sums it up nicely:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Fellow Believers, we need to stand in the gap for our nation! We need to show honesty, integrity, and love for those around us. We need to engage with our family, neighbors, and others, to help them understand that our true identity is found in Christ! That this identity, believes in walking by faith, in love, integrity, understanding, and hope for a future with Christ. The book of Galatians defines what our identity should not look like, but it goes further to define what IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV): But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Christians, let everyone see what your true identity is as a believer. Share what the true Christian identity is, and watch God work in their life! Let them see a person of integrity, a person that can be trusted, a person who will stand their ground, and one who understands what their true identity is!