“…And I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”    Rev.2:17, ESV

 

My formative years were through the 1960s. The decade was a focus of civil protest, racial tensions, sexual revolution, economic expansion, counterculture expression and arguably, the best music. It was a decade in which many tried to “find themselves.” Identity was a crucial issue. It remains so today. Look around and you will see that even after 65 years, “finding yourself” is a current pursuit. People root their identity in national allegiance, political leanings, economic status, education or popularity. That’s not new. But what is new is that personal identity has become fluid.  A person may choose their own pronouns, express a gender of preference, identify with labels summarized with an assortment of letters or present themselves with a race or heritage that didn’t come with birth. The question of, “Who am I?” remains relevant. These three axioms may help us sort through the question.

 

• Identity is granted – No one is born with a name. It is given at birth. Our understanding of who we are begins to form through the echo of those around us. We discover that we have parents, perhaps siblings. We are part of a world that existed before we arrived.

 

• Identity is shaped – Who we are begins to emerge through the relationships and experiences we have in life. Nurture and nature interact to shape us.

 

• Identity is discovered – Over time we begin to understand and express our own identity. We learn about limitations and contributions. We may shun or re-shape aspects of who we are, but our central concern is about purpose – not just “Who are we?” but “Why are we here?”

 

There is certainly more than can and should be said about identity, but this is a place to start. It is also where Scripture begins to teach us about identity. The suggested axioms hold true biblically:

 

• Identity is granted – We are created by the hand of God, according to His image. We are shaped by Him and named by Him. What we are is by His design. In other words, we do not create our own identity. Who we are is connected to the God who made us. While sin has distorted identity, it has not been erased. We may rebel against our identity or try to re-design it, but we remain who God has made us to be. In fact, by grace, He can remake us in Jesus Christ. Our identity is rooted in His redemptive work. We are hidden in Jesus and will be revealed as we were always meant to be (Col.3:3).

 

• Identity is shaped – Ever since the fall, we have lived with pretense. Out of shame and guilt, pride and arrogance, we present ourselves as something we are not. Our projected identity does not align with who we truly are. We take the role of creator and begin to think that we can re-shape our lives any way we choose. But the grace of God invites us as we are, and through repentance and faith, we are shaped by the Spirit to be as we ought to be. His power in and through us makes more of our life than we could ever imagine.

 

• Identity is discovered – When we release our demand to make something of ourselves and allow God to shape us, we discover the joy of being fulfilled. Who we are aligns with what we were meant to do. We discover purpose that fits like a glove.

 

I do not suggest that these biblical foundations are immediate fixes to the question and problem of identity. It may take a lifetime to discover and embrace well the reality of who we are in God’s grace. (Yes, we are that broken.) These basics are not easy answers, but they cannot be abandoned. Our identity is rooted in God our Creator, who can make a new creation of us, one which reflects His glorious handiwork. I cannot discover who I am on my own. I need His grace.

 

We need His grace to address our society. People all around us are presenting themselves out of brokenness. Some believe they can create their own identity. Some feel shame to be seen as they are and hide behind façades. Some settle for lesser purpose or fulfilment, because that’s all they know.  Some embrace a cultural identity, trying to fit in. The Church stands in a place where questions of identity can be answered by truth and grace. But only if we know the truth and practice the grace.