Identity – What is Yours?
When you meet someone new, how do you respond with your greeting?
Our identity is ingrained in our multifaceted life. We give our name. We state where we are from and where we now live. We give our relationship status and their name and that of our dependents. We give our occupation. Sometimes we give our educational background as a way to unite new acquaintances.
That is usually the first go to.
Then if you enjoy their company, you get a little deeper. Likes, dislikes. We share our joys and passions and also our distastes and hates.
We find a common thread and we pull on that string until we feel that uncomfortable snag of going to far too quickly. So we stop and change subjects to bring some trust and reassurance.
But is that really your identity?
Is the identity you have stated at dinner parties, business meetings, sales calls and your kids soccer games really your true identity?
Or is that just the easy one to share without any judgement looks?
Why do we go on and on over being the biggest fan of the Tampa Bay Rays or Los Angeles Dodgers, the best at Among Us, or Beyonce’s president of her Facebook fan club, but hide our identity as a follower of Christ?
Is there a stigma of coming out with that line in your first meeting?
How would you respond if someone started out saying, “Hi, I’m a Christian and my name is Freddie…”
To be honest, if someone started like that to me, I would quickly find an excuse to leave the conversation.
Judgmental. Yes. Not my best trait.
But why am I opposed to people who do that? Why does that cause me to cringe and think they are brainwashed like in a cult? When really, I’m nodding my head and agreeing with them in my head.
Is it because they have a boldness I don’t have?
Sadly, I don’t even want it. Is that wrong?
What is better saying you’re a Christ follower or living like one?
But shouldn’t a Christ follower at least be able to say they are a Christ follower without the fear of the other party judging them? Shouldn’t a Christ follower not care about the stigma those words hold?
So what’s my identity? Do you want the one I tell in my first two minutes of meeting you or do you want the one I really am?
Maybe a good question to ask, “What is yours?”
Can you answer it honestly?
Or would you be like me?
Peace
