Heavy, Deep & Real ministries

I’m fascinated by human nature. I love to know what makes people tick. Instead of looking at the “what” about people, I seek to find the “why” about them. Why do people do what they do? You see, what people do is just a symptom that has some causation which is the why.

One of the most interesting “what” about people is how they identify themselves. You know, the labels they give themselves, and why they identify the way they do. It is really interesting to me.

The tragedy of it all, however, is people choose to identify (yes choose) as anything but a creation of God, a disciple of Jesus, and a spirit with a body that is immortal with eternity ahead of it. Instead, we all identify ourselves based on our job, our gender, our sexual orientation, our feelings, and even our denomination (I’m a Baptist; I’m a Catholic, I’m a Methodist, etc.). By doing so not only do we misidentify ourselves but we live a lie about who we really are which in turn creates serious over expectations, disappointment, anxiety, and hardships.

In short, we have an identity crisis.

I am no exception! Before really selling out for Jesus, my identity was my work. Men in particular fall into this trap. When we meet, we always ask the same question: “So, what do you do?” It’s not so much a question as a pecking order – the real question we are asking is, “Do I do something more prestigious than you thus putting me above you in the pecking order?”

Job titles used to be so important to me because they gave me a sense of purpose, a sense of pride, and a sense of power. These titles set me apart from others, making me feel special. You see, that is what our identity does – it makes us feel unique and, in some way, important.

Here’s a list of some of the titles I have held that used to make me so proud of myself!

• Newspaper Editor
• Soldier
• Political Consultant
• Security Consultant
• Legislative Assistant
• Lobbyist
• Committee Administrator
• Intelligence Officer
• Adjunct Professor
• Vice Provost
• Senior Executive

I always joke when someone reads my bio that it looks as if can’t hold a job! Oh, did those titles make me feel important! What a joke! I look back on my ignorance of my true identity and am a bit horrified I thought any of those titles mattered. I feel like Paul when he said that he considered everything in his past lost and the only thing in front of him is Christ.

You know where we get these false identities?

Satan.

Yup – Satan loves to lie to us about ourselves, making us believe that we are something we are not; we are not a creation of God but are a product of our environment. He wants us to put on the cloak of worldly identities and deny our rightful royal robes God has for us through Jesus.

The sad part is most of us buy it – I know I did until my eyes were truly opened.

In my ministry I work with a lot of former addicts. Most have attended some type of program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, The Most Excellent Way, Celebrate Recovery and others. All these programs (12-step and otherwise) are incredibly good and I recommend them highly. But there is one thing I stomp out when I hear it:

“Hi, I’m Bob and I’m an alcoholic.”

NO, YOU ARE NOT!

If you are a believer, you are a child of God, an heir to the throne, and a saint in the eyes of God through Jesus. You are not what you do; you are who God says you are! (More on that a bit further on!)

The problem we have in our society is once you are labeled it is one you wear forever so it is vitally important we get our identity right!

What are some of the labels I see out there right now?

• LGBTQ+
• Progressive
• MAGA
• Pro-Life
• Pro-Choice
• Pronouns
• Republican
• Democrat
• Zionist
• Pro-Palestinian
• Anti-Semite
• Racist
• Homophobe
• Addict
• Felon
• Veteran
• Any given church denomination (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.)
• Calvinist (don’t get me started)
• Any given job title

You get the idea.

Now, there is nothing wrong with identifying with a group. In fact, it is in our nature to find like-minded people with whom we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves. And it is just as natural in our sinful human nature to label others who are different than us with derogatory labels.

But all of this is a construct of Satan who doesn’t want us to identify ourselves with our true identity as God’s creation and instead Satan puts out counterfeit identities for us to glom onto that make us think we have some value in that identity.

Honestly, it’s quite seductive. Who doesn’t want to feel special and empowered by a worldly title that gives you tangible meaning?

In my ministry I work with people who have some pretty loaded labels:

• Addict
• Sex Offender
• Pedophile
• Felon
• Homeless
• Rapist
• Murderer
• Drug Dealer
• Thief

These folks and more I affectionally call today’s societal lepers – they are the ones that society puts outside the gates to ensure their infection does not spread.

But like Jesus, we are to touch the lepers and heal them. And one of the biggest factors in their healing is teaching them that their identity is in Christ not in some worldly label.

The miracles I have seen through the power of the Holy Spirit. Some of the most hardened people softened and transformed by the Power of Jesus which turns their entire life around.

There is such a stark contrast between Satan’s fraudulent identities which encourages us to “cancel” people with whom we disagree and God’s true identity which tells us that every single person can be redeemed through Jesus! There are no throw-away people in God’s economy!

So, what is our identity in Christ? Who are we according to God? Well, I’m glad you asked!

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

This is a list that Satan doesn’t want you to know about. Instead, Satan blinds you to how God sees you and convinces you to accept an identity that has no meaning, no fulfillment, and certainly no value in this life or the next.

I get how easy it is to think this way. Most of us identify ourselves with the most important thing that has ever happened to us. Things like becoming a mom or dad; serving our country; being accepted by society in some way; a leadership role. But all of that is smoke and mirrors. Certainly, we can find belonging in what some call “their tribe” but when Jesus finds you, He transforms your life in such a profound way that the most important thing to ever happen to you is Him! Nothing else comes close.

That is why my identify is follower of Jesus (not some religious denomination or even the word “Christian” which has a bunch of different meanings depending on with whom you speak).

 I follow Jesus and am so convinced in my identity in Him that I do all I can to convince others to follow Him as well. I also do everything I can not to fall into the trap of accepting other labels that society has for me even though some are unavoidable, such as a job title or dog dad!

My prayer for you today is that you reconsider your identity. If you are identifying yourself in anything but Jesus, you’re selling yourself short and I know that God has something better for you than that!