So I made the mistake of engaging in the Bruce Jenner gender identity debate on Facebook. I have many friends on both sides of the political and cultural landscape so the response to my small comment was immense! In fact, I think it’s the most people have responded to anything I’ve put on Facebook ever!

As I read through some comments tonight I decided to blog about the bigger issue that the Bruce Jenner issue presents. You see, it’s not about gender identity or gay rights or the definition of marriage, or any of the other hot button issues facing our culture. It’s about what it’s always been about – God.

More specifically it’s about in what or whom is your identity.

For Jenner, he claims his identity is this new Caitlyn person who makes him feel joyful for the first time. But don’t think Bruce is alone in his identity confusion – most people are confused about their true identity, including many, many Christians.

Others choose an identity that conforms to their feelings, including gender, sexual orientation, or whatever rights they “feel” they should have.

For others, however, they choose an identity that may be more politically benign but just as confused, such as job title, net worth, social status, personal skill set, family connections, education, and more. In fact it seems that everyone has a need to find a personal identity within the social structure in order to find peace in their lives. Those that struggle with finding an identity are the ones who are emotional wrecks and cannot really function in society.And that is the plan – of Satan.

Folks it’s really not that difficult to understand: Satan’s job is to keep you from being the person God created you to be and he does it by confusing you into thinking your identity is tied to your feelings, your pocketbook, your ego, and your pride. The sad part is the vast majority of people fall for it, thinking they’ll find happiness, joy, contentment and fulfillment in the counterfeit identity Satan offers instead of the true identity Christ offers.

So who are you, really? Here’s what scripture says:

WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST

I am Accepted

John 1:12                             I am God’s child

John 15:15                           I am Christ’s friend

Romans 5:1                         I have been justified (judged not guilty)

1 Cor. 6:17                           I am united with the Lord, and am one spirit with Him

1 Cor. 6:20                          I have been bought with a price; I belong to God

1 Cor. 12:27                         I am a member of Christ’s body

Ephesians 1:1                     I am a saint

Ephesians 1:5                     I have been adopted as God’s child

Ephesians 2:18                  I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit

Colossians 1:14                  I have been redeemed and forgiven of ALL my sins

Colossians 2:10                  I am complete in Christ

I am Secure

Romans 8:1-2                     I am free from condemnation

Romans 8:28                      I am assured that all things work together for good

Romans 8:31-34                I am free from any condemning charges against me

Romans 8:35-39                I cannot be separated from the love of God

2 Cor. 1:21-22                     I have been established, anointed and sealed by God

Philippians 1:6                   I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected

Philippians 3:20                I am a citizen of Heaven

Colossians 3:3                    I am hidden with Christ in God

2 Timothy 1:7                     I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind

Hebrews 4:16                     I can find grace and mercy in time of need

1 John 5:18                          I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me

I am Significant

Matthew 5:13-14               I am the salt and light of the earth

John 15:1 and 5                 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life

John 15:16                          I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit

Acts 1:8                               I am a personal witness of Christ

1 Cor. 3:16                          I am God’s temple

2 Cor. 5:17-21                    I am a minister of reconciliation for God

Ephesians 2:6                    I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm

Ephesians 2:10                  I am God’s workmanship

Ephesians 3:12                  I may approach God with freedom and confidence

Philippians 4:13                I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

 

After reading this why in the world would you want to be anyone other than who you are in Christ?

Now don’t get me wrong, I know that we are fallen and we all suffer in our imperfect bodies with our imperfect thoughts and feelings. For some, what they feel is their identity is real to them whether it be people with eating disorders who see themselves as overweight no matter how skinny they are or people like Bruce Jenner who truly believes he is a women inside a man’s body.

So what is the Christian response to this? Same as always – the truth in love. As I told one of my friends on the left today via Facebook it is not disrespectful to disagree with someone unless you do it disrespectfully. Unfortunately many have come to believe that if you disagree with them that is disrespectful. My response to such logic is people who believe that are going to have a very bitter life with not many friends.

We should all be praying for Bruce Jenner that he finds Jesus instead of Caitlyn. We need to pray for those in our society who support people’s identities outside of their identity in Christ. We need to pray for our culture which is at the point of believing everything their itching ears want to hear. And we need to stick to our guns and call good good, evil evil, right right, wrong wrong, light light and dark dark no matter the earthly consequences.

Remember, at the end of the day you’ll be answering to Jesus. He is the only one to whom you are accountable. So pray hard for those in our society who have been confused to believe their identity rests in this world, and I’ll pray for you that you have the boldness to tell the truth in love so that people can be introduced to Jesus in whom their true identity rests.