Who Am I Really?
Is my identity summed up in my sexuality — whether gay or straight? (It may be, if that is the focus of my life.)
Or is there a better basis for my fundamental identity?
Jesus came to give us a new identity and a new focus. Paul says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) John writes, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. ” (John 1:12, 13 NIV) So the new birth makes us children of God!
So which identity shall I claim — the identity the world places on me or the identity God gives to me?
The identity the world assigns to me is divisive. It divides Christians into “gay” or “straight,” with each striving for “rights.”
The identity God gives to you and me unites us — we are all children of God, though we each have our unique struggles.
It is interesting to see how Paul dealt with the matter of identity. At one time he called himself the “chief” of sinners, in emphasizing his need of grace. (1 Timothy 1:15) Yet he consistently referred to all believers as “saints” — even those belonging to the unruly congregation at Corinth. (e.g. Romans 15:25, 1 Corinthians 6:1, 2) And he also calls himself an “Apostle of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor 1:1)
So it seems that we are both saints and sinners. We will ever be sinners in need of the saving grace of Christ, at the same time that we are saints and children of God. Our realization of being sinners should make us cling to Jesus for strength, and that very clinging identifies us as saints.
Paul chose to celebrate his relationship with Jesus Christ (See Romans 15:17, 1 Corinthians 1:31) rather than his identity as a bona fide Pharisee (and persecutor of Christians).
Which identity will I celebrate?
Which identity will you celebrate?
I agree with much of what was said. I’m a Bible believing E.G. White quoting SDA but when it comes to the topic of sexuality …I’ve often been confused. Many heterosexuals I know appear comfortable in their own skins whereas I always have to be on the look out to guard against unChristian thoughts and acts. It seems that rather I want it or not…a major part of my identity is “the man who constantly wars with himself battling sexual demons”. For 4 months I might be on top of the world in Christ having disavowed all homosexual acts and relationships but then later I’m a fallen warrior or once again a jusitifier of my unbiblical acts. I wish I had an identity outside that of titles like homosexual, husband, father, and the like. These are all use to describe people but who is the actual person? Who am I apart from these titles? I wish I knew who I am in God’s eyes? What or who am I suppose to be? I know that the one title I want more than anything is that of “Christian” but this title is often the hardest one to obtain for it means modifying all others. No longer am I a husband but a Christian husband. No longer a father but a Christian father. I feel its not possible to put Christian with some titles like “Christian homosexual”. I guess life is about choosing titles for yourself. Thanks for being there to talk too and for the article. Hopefully, God will equip me to get the title to be desired above all else. I would love to sit down and talk with God and ask him how I became what I am? Who did you create me to be? If I’m not what was intended…what is the path I should take to get there? I have many questions and I wish he were here to ask directly apart from all the “experts” and “biblical scholars” with differing opinions? It would be power for me to do it just to hear it right from his lips…the lips of the creator.