Kingdom Values (Foundations Book 1)

by Jon Tyson

Paul calls this process of clinging to God’s truth in the midst of a culture of false identities, “putting off” and “putting on”: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph 4:22-24) When the world tells us we are one thing, or that we should pursue certain desires and achievements, we are to take off this false sense of self. We are to renounce the lies that our sense of self and value is primarily defined by our achievements, other’s approval, or other “identity markers.” After putting this off, we then choose to put on our true identities as beloved, holy children of God. We find our primary sense of self and value in our new God-given identity and consider all other identity markers (such as race, gender, industry, class) as far inferior to this first identity.