Identity Crisis

Reading the news these days can make the mind reel and the heart sick. Mass shootings, abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy, states legalizing infanticide, Antifa violence, terrorism, opioid addiction, sexism, racism, gender confusion, political hysteria,Trump Derangement Syndrome, hatred, divisions, pedophilia & other sexual abuses by the rich, powerful, and famous are common themes in modern headlines. Google, Trump, Obama, the Clintons, Twitter, guns, leftists, conservatives, Facebook, government, and a host of other scapegoats have been blamed for these issues, but the root problem is not found in any one person, event, or platform. All these symptoms seem to suggest that our root problem is a culture having an identity crisis.

Every living human on earth is sacred with infinite value and purpose because we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Whether saved or lost, young or old, black, white, red, yellow, or some other beautiful color combination, sick or healthy, planned or unplanned, left or right, gay or straight, male or female, we are all image bearers of the one true, perfectly holy and good creator God. We are so precious to Him that he paid the ultimate price through Christ to restore a relationship with us.

But our society denies our true identity. Some say we are random accidents with no purpose at all except to pass along our more desirable genes. Others say our identity is found in whatever gender suits our preference on any given day or in our sexual preference. Others think our identity is defined by how much money we make or in how much we help the environment and animals. Some think their identity is based on the opinions of others and that their purpose is to make others happy. Some believe they are defined by how many people like them or click the like button under their pics on Instagram. Others are defined by a political platform or seek out purpose by joining a radical group like ISIS. None of these false notions of identity bring contentment or respect for others. They only sow division, sorrow, and hatred, not love.

The fact that Lauren Daigle’s Christian worship song “You Say”, which expresses our search for identity which can only be found in God, took the No. 1 spot not just on Christian charts but also on the secular Billboard’s Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart illustrates how hungry our culture is to find true identity, belonging, and purpose.

What would happen if we each acknowledged that we are image bearers of God and that the best way to fully know who we are and who we were created to be is to get to know the One who created us as revealed through Christ and His word? How would we treat others if we saw them as God's handiwork, fearfully and wonderfully made in His image?

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14) 

Those who have seen the face of God in a baby born with special needs cannot fathom nations claiming to eradicate Down's Syndrome through abortion. Those who see God's image in a precious newborn or on a sonogram image find it much more difficult to justify abortion on demand at any stage of development.

Those who find their identity, value, and worth in Christ do not resort to mass shootings because they value human life as sacred and are not made less valuable by the insults or exclusion of others.  Those who trust in Christ and know Him as Lord do not lose hope or become hysterical after a major election because instead of placing their hope in political systems or in imperfect earthly leaders who will fail them, they wisely wait on God's justice and rest in His truth instead of the lies of the world.

Those who truly see women and children as image bearers of God instead of mere objects at their disposal will not abuse them to temporarily gratify their own sinful lusts.  When each man understands and appreciates Christ's love for His bride the church, he is more likely to love and respect his wife and to protect the dignity and honor of women in general.  When fathers see what kind of sacrificial love and perfect faithfulness and goodness God has bestowed upon his children, they are less likely to abandon the families entrusted to them and more likely to be present in their lives offering goodness, wisdom, and love.

Those who know God, who is the definition of love (1 John 4:8), are better able to love others unconditionally, driving out hatred. When we realize that we were created to reflect His image to the world and to give Him glory, the world becomes a very different place.

Shaped by Desire

When Rosaria Butterfield has described her conversion from a radical progressive atheistic worldview and a lesbian lifestyle to becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ with God's word as her authority and who later entered into a Biblical covenant marriage, she says that God's word became bigger in her than her own desire for autonomy. The Holy Spirit transformed her heart and her desires so that she desired more of Christ and his kingdom than what her old life offered her. It wasn't easy at the time, but it was definitely what she wanted. Sanctification is all about falling in love with Jesus and truly understanding the significance of his sacrifice on our behalf. So, it's instructive to remember that our job as disciples and fishers of men/women is to point people to Jesus and His word instead of focusing merely on the outward symptoms of a divided heart.

While we know it's God's power that makes us new creations in Christ and helps us make positive changes in our lives, this principle of connecting our actions to what our heart desires is applicable to so many other areas of our lives. For example, those who love the benefits of being healthy and strong more than the temporal pleasures of lounging around and eating junk will generally be more successful with their diet and exercise goals (although certain medications, injuries, and other health restrictions may still impede progress for some). I have been telling myself for many years that I need to cut out refined sugars and reduce carbs in general, but it wasn't until a health crisis showed me how much I took health for granted that I began valuing health more than sweets. I haven't eaten sugar, sugar substitutes, grains, starches, or lactose in 10 months because now eating those foods could put me in the hospital and cause excruciating pain and permanent intestinal damage. I choose health. I did not start lifting weights seriously for significant strength gains until debilitating back pain demanded it. Now I desire to be strong more than I desire to skip my workouts.

If devoted moms could have seen the great sacrifices they would make for their kids before they ever had children, they may have chosen to not even have children. But when our love for our children exceeds our love for ourselves, we joyfully choose to make those sacrifices because we know they are worth it. Similarly, our desire for a healthy marriage compels us to do whatever it takes to nurture and defend our marriage because a Christ centered marriage has immeasurable value. Christ willingly sacrificed everything for us because He loves us and because we are worth it. His love for us and His desire for a relationship with us propelled Him to the cross.

When our desires are aligned with Christ's good and perfect will, He will refine us and help us succeed. The more we love Him, the more our desires will align with His. So in those areas in which we struggle with self-discipline or with aligning our lives to God's holy standard, let us ask ourselves what we desire most. Are our desires holy or selfish? What are we taking for granted?

I now see the autoimmune disease which has entered my life as grace because it realigned my desires with God's and forced me to take better care of my body, His temple, which will help prevent other more serious diseases, although I wish I had followed the inner promptings to change my diet sooner so as to avoid it. What do you desire most? Will trials be necessary to realign your desires with His? Do you love Jesus more than your earthly idols?

May we each fall deeper in love with our Savior with each passing day so that our unhealthy desires will fade away.