An Identity Crisis

We're a label society.

We love putting labels on people.  Sometimes we even enjoy putting labels on ourselves.

Homosexual, Emo, Stay-At-Home mom, homeschooler, executive, autistic, handicapped, ADHD, Geek.

These are all labels we take upon ourselves or we let others place upon us. Eventually they become our identities.  We think of ourselves first and foremost by what people see us as.  Our sexuality or job status or our disease defines who we are.  We segregate, promote and celebrate or lament those labels.  It becomes who we are.

But that's not what Jesus intended.

In Galatians 2:15-21, Paul writes to address an issue that came up at the Council of Jerusalem. There a group of Jewish believers taught that new Gentile Christians had to conform to the Jewish way of worship, including circumcision and Kosher laws.

Paul argues that our identity is not in our heritage or religious background.  Our identity is in Christ.  We sacrifice who are with Christ.  He becomes our identity. His dreams, his plans, his purposes and his will become ours.  We are no longer free to label ourselves or to live by someone else's label.  We are identified solely with Jesus Christ.

When Christ becomes your identity, all the other stuff doesn't really matter.  It fades away.  I don't have to conform to what others think I should.  I can be free to be who Christ wants me to be.  It's not about finding acceptance in others, but in living a life pleasing to Jesus.

What is your identity?  Mine is in Christ Jesus.

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