Identity Crisis

Here's something for us all to chew on.

In Robert S. McGee's book, The Search for Significance, he states the following:

"The fear of rejection is rampant, and loneliness is one of the most dangerous and widespread problems in America today. Some estimate that loneliness has already reached epidemic proportions and say that if it continues to spread, it could seriously erode the emotional strength of our country. Loneliness is not relegated only to unbelievers. Ninety-two percent of the Christians attending a recent Bible conference admitted in a survey that feelings of loneliness are a major problem in their lives. All shared a basic symptom: a sense of despair at feeling unloved and a fear of being unwanted or unaccepted. This is a tragic commentary on the people about whom Christ said: "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35)."

Ninety-two percent of Christians? That is a staggering number and evidence to me of an identity crisis among our people. I believe that if we truly understand who we are in Christ, and truly understand the nature of God, the feeling of being unloved, the fear of being unwanted, unaccepted would dissipate like the morning dew. If we are to take God at His word then several things must be true.

1) I am wonderful (this means you). "...I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14) The problem is, our soul seems to have forgotten...or else we're not listening.

2) I am forgiven. Have you ever known God to do anything half-way? I am reminded of the illustration that God has taken our sins, thrown them into the deepest ocean and has put up a "no fishing" sign. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness....And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins..." (1 John 1:9, 2:1-2). "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

3) I am royalty. "...you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:15-17)

4) I am chosen. "...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him...(it was His unchanging plan to adopt us) as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..." (Ephesians 1:4-6, NAS, NLT)

I could go on, and probably will as I journey to discover my own identity, for I am not without the same struggles listed in McGee's book. I will close this one entry for now, however, and I leave you with one more quote from The Search for Significance (chp. 4, God's Answer: Justification).

"When God considers you, does He deceive Himself in some way or does He know who you truly are?

If He knows who we truly are, then why do we preface His understanding of us with phrases such as "in God's eyes we are righteous" or "forgiven" or "loved" or "pleasing" and so on? Are we trying to say that God is not living in reality? That He is somehow involved in self-deception? Is He just some old grandparent type who wants to overlook the faults of His grandchildren? Either He really knows who you are or He doesn't. Playing with words this way keeps us from experiencing the reality of who we are. It also dishonors who God is.

The second question is, If you think of yourself differently than God thinks of you, who is mistaken, you or God? How often do we allow our minds to overrule what God says is true? Keep in mind, you were made by and for God. He has placed within you needs that only He can meet. If we try to have these needs met by another person or persons, we will end up frustrated, angry, and unfulfilled."

Until next time....