Identity Crisis

Kyle Stutzman

In today’s world, identity is in a major crisis. Everyone is trying to figure out who they are and where they stand, and the battle lines keep getting drawn and they’re getting bigger. And this is a struggle for the next generation more than ever. They are struggling with what they believe about faith, about politics, about gender, and about what truth really is. The sad reality is that the large scale American church has helped to draw lines and create enemies of the ones on the other side.

We draw these lines as believers all the time. Who’s your favorite pastor? What’s your denomination? What do you believe about a literal 7-day Creation? What’s the right political party for Christians? We have all kinds of identifiers we try to place on people. And when they don’t meet them, we shun them. We have to strip these things away and be reminded of the most important thing about us, and the most important thing about what we do as followers of Jesus.

“You who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:26-29 NIV

 Our identity is Christ, and we are formed by His Word. The most important thing about who we are, and how we engage the world, has to be based in Jesus Christ. We are made one in Jesus. We are made complete in Jesus.

 Our favorite pastor, book, or sermon. Your denomination, your church, your politics, or philosophy for life. All of these things cannot and do not outshine the importance, value, and power of Scripture, the Gospel, and Jesus Christ. These truths are paramount. They are more important than anything else. The most famous “Christian” will die and eventually be forgotten. But Christ stands true. Jesus is everything. The most valuable thing you can do is be soaked in the Scriptures. To be so in love with Jesus that he eclipses all other things. And to be so confident of his will and his care for your life, that it is the most defining trait about you. Jesus Christ is the only hope for the entire world!

 So, remember this as we go forward in complicated conversations, and challenging situations. Put Jesus above everything else!