Identity

One of the most prominent issues in our society is identity. Whether it’s racial, political, sexual, or anything else, we seem to be identity-obsessed. Even many Christians have embraced varying conceptions of identity that would have been foreign just a few years ago. But I guess my question is, why are we so desperate to find identities apart from Christ? Why, as Christians especially, do we search out and take on worldly categories of identity or of self? Why do I see more people identifying themselves as “______ Christians” rather than just as Christians? Why does Christian need a descriptive word before it?

Ultimately, the question is, why have we forgotten our all-sufficient identity in Christ? 

Luke 9:23-24 says “23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” (NASB)

What are those of us who want to follow Jesus to do? We are to deny ourselves. We are to be prepared to lose our lives. As unique and special as we might be, our identity is not in ourselves, it is in Christ. We take up our crosses and we follow Him. We are prepared to literally die for Him. We are CHRISTians first and foremost and there is no identity deeper or more powerful than that. It is not about us, or who we are, but about Him, and who we are in Him.

Luke 9:23-24 calls on us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and lose our lives. For many Christians that last part has been literal. For those of us lucky enough to not be in that position, the least we can do is avoid the idolatry of secular identity. We can avoid conforming to cultural trends that focus on me and who I am and instead focus on Christ and who He is.

What areas of your life, of your identity, have you not given to Him? Where do you need to deny yourself? What do you put before your identity in Christ?