source of identity crisis

There is so much being said and written about "identity" in both our culture and our churches. We have "identity politics" and we have "identity in Christ." Of course, the use of identity is used by different people for different emphases, but the fact that IDENTITY is so important in various aspects of society is not unimportant.

The two uses of identity are really not unrelated when we think about it. IDENTITY is one's basic core self concept. All of our core assumptions that frame what we believe and therefore how we think, feel and act flow from who we believe we are. Psychology and sociology have a lot to say about how people perceive their identity. Generally, there are 3 facets of IDENTITY - social formed by our sense of belonging, personal formed by our innate unique characteristics and natural formed by whether we see ourselves as mainly physical or mainly spiritual beings.

Your core assumption about reality and truth specifically flows from your identity. You either assume that the visible physical world (cosmos) is what is real and embodies what is true or the unseen realm in which a supernatural being rules is what is real. Based on which assumption about reality, you will assume truth is either determined by what we observe in the cosmos or by what is revealed to us by the supernatural. It is not too much of a stretch that if you believe what is real is what you can observe by your physical senses, then your identity is essentially found in your human nature and your circumstances. Otherwise, reality for you is that which is eternal, true all the time everywhere, and exists in the invisible realm.

One very common identity crisis occurs when Christians' theology (head knowledge) informs them that their identity is in Christ, but their "heart" or embedded assumptions operates from an identity associated with their human nature OR an identity that is based in a reality found in the physical world and an orientation that truth is determined by physical evidence we can collect and analyze.

Historically some try to resolve this by going to the other extreme and assume the physical world is either evil or an illusion. This flies in the face of the Incarnate Christ and cannot be the answer to the Christian's question - "if the physical world is not REAL (eternal truth and then not worthy of our allegiance), then what is the purpose of it?" That is a good question. Let's see what God says though His mouthpiece Paul:

"For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world (cosmos - ordered system of the physical universe) are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity."

So what has happened? From Adam mankind inherits a fallen human nature biased to assume the cosmos is "reality", not God's invisible Kingdom. It is hard wired into each of us at birth. Martin Luther, as part of the Reformation, said that investigative inquiry to know truth is put in every human. Yes, but the human nature biases this inquiry to see truth as that which can be determined by observation. When we repent (think completely differently) and believe (trust our identity in Christ), we see that truth is determined by inquiry associated with revelation, not observation of the physical world. Although God says He displays His glory in the cosmos (physical world), it's trusting the unseen evidence (faith) of the invisible reality of His kingdom that regenerates and transforms our identity.

Paul says this another way when he reminds us that "we have this treasure in an earthly vessel, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves." Thinking our identity is established by the cross, but actually assuming otherwise, is THE IDENTITY CRISIS with only one solution. We must renew our mind such that our implicit assumption of a Spiritual identity (not physical or circumstantially oriented) supports our explicit knowledge of identity evidenced in Scripture.

Ponder this ......
Human nature assumes the mind is a generator of ideas - that truth is what the mind concludes it is based on what we can reason from what we can see VERSUS the mind of Christ which assumes the mind is a receiver - that truth is disclosed to us reasoned by evidence we cannot see (faith), only to be represented in or modeled by what we can see (purpose of the cosmos).

You might ask, "I know I need to read my Bible more but is there something that can help me also with these human nature core assumptions that hijack my joy, freedom, hope, purpose, and sense of esteem and belonging without me even being aware that this is what is happening?"  

Glad you asked - I have poured the past few years of my life in helping to develop a course that can assist the transformation of core assumptions associated with the two identities. Its found at

http://www.b4worldview.com/ 

What in the "world" is the problem?

Powerful men are falling all around us while millions of women are saying,"me too."The biggest mass shooting in history is a mystery. Marriage is whatever we want it to be. Laws don't seem to matter, unless we want them to. Pastors, theologians, writers and worldview thought leaders like the Colson Center and Barna claim our culture is broken and needs fixing. If we could just go back a few generations when the culture was better, things would be all right.

I DON'T THINK SO!!

Let's ponder this a bit. I am going to make my point and then explain it (I usually do it in reverse but I'd likely lose most people that way.) My point

Social exchange explains why someone does what they do and culture is the criterion that society uses to determine if the exchange is right or wrong. However, social exchange, regardless of  culture, is an obsession of human nature that keeps us from the privileges and provisions of God's Kingdom.

Let's take Harvey W. for example. In his mind if he exchanged with a young woman what he deemed she wanted to get what he wanted, this is a fair exchange and therefore acceptable behavior. That is why he first couldn't understand the uproar and why his defense is, "this is the way it was when I was coming up and the sex was consensual." His claim - it was fair and culture deemed the exchange OK. However, society today says that when the one with power forces another to do something they don't want to, then the exchange is not fair and therefore unacceptable. Exchange explains the behavior, culture rules whether the exchange is right or wrong based on a view of justice.

Take the  Las Vegas shooter. No one can find his motive. The only answer is that he was evil. Consider this possibility. He assumed that certain people deserved to be killed for what they believed so it was necessary for him to act on behalf of those who believed like he did. In his mind this was a "fair exchange." Their death balances out with their belief and enacting justice is his responsibility. However, society says that it is not OK to use power against someone who didn't agree that the exchange was fair. In other words, the actor (shooter) saw a fair exchange but culture did not agree. The actions of the shooter were wrong only because culture finds the exchange is not fair.

So what is going on from God's perspective. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." Yet, God tells us, "love not the world, nor anything that is in the world." The word for "world" is Kosmos, which means 'an ordered system', specifically relating to the physical universe. This ordered system is controlled by equilibrium, reciprocity, cause and effect, justice. Right or wrong is determined by whether the exchange is fair or not. Culture makes that distinction. Therefore, anything that is in balance is fair and considered OK. BUT, this ordered system is futile and needed redemption.

God sent his son out of His love to provide an alternative, or a solution to this order in the physical world. Nature is subjected to the subjectivity of culture and the futility of equilibrium. Even hurricanes are explained by nature trying to restore equilibrium. So, God tells us to not make this ordered system of exchange our priority. In doing so we miss His solution, a Kingdom we can dwell in that is governed by Grace, unmerited favor, not subject to equilibrium, not based on cause/effect relationships.

Its the ordered system of this world, one based on equilibrium, reciprocity and justice, that is the problem - NOT culture. Culture is merely the referee for which a system of exchange is deemed OK by society. When Paul says, "do not conform to this world. but be transformed," he is now talking about not fashioning our life around (attaching ourselves to) the forces of this age (word for world in this verse), a time in which the natural order is equilibrium. BUT, rather become new by having a mind that sees him/herself as a part of another order, a spiritual Kingdom, the one in which a Sovereign father chooses Grace, unmerited favor, a system of disequilibrium.

So, when you are tempted to believe that the problem is around us (culture), think deeply that the problem may be within us (an attachment to this world). People do things to get or maintain equilibrium with the world around them - culture decides whether the exchange is acceptable (fair) or not.

At least its worth a little pondering ...

Lessons from Lexie

We like to believe that "out of the mouths of babes" comes great wisdom. Babies and small children have yet to condition their thinking to what others want to hear or that fits some politically correct way of thinking. Babies have an unfettered look right into the face of truth. What then can we learn from baby Lexie?



Lexie is a 3 month old baby who lives in foster care. Yes, traumatic situations can occur to people before they even take their first breath. Lexie's mom is a druggie. Who knows who the father is? When Lexie's great grand parents heard of her birth, they were moved to take her in, to give her the best chance at a life that from the "get go" has dealt her a bad hand.

There are at least two points I take from Lexie. One is, what does her young life tell us about "free will"? Second, what does her young life tell us about how our needs get met?

"Free will" - unconstrained choices available to us. What choices have Lexie made about her own life? ZERO. She didn't choose to be born, certainly born to the parents she has. She didn't choose to be born into a life of futility. She didn't choose who would take her in and care for her. She doesn't choose her food or who provides it for her. Soon she will be adopted. That is not her choice.
If "free will" is a fundamental truth about life, someone needs to convince Lexie that she should be doing more choosing. Oh wait, the world will convince her of that soon enough.

"Satisfaction" - the supply for what we need. Does Lexie do anything to get her needs met? I don't think so. She receives the provision and privilege afforded her because her great grand parents have chosen to love her. There is no reason except that she belongs to them. Lexie is satisfied soley by unmerited favor. What she needs is bestowed on her by someone who has the resources and the will to bless her completely.

What are the lessons from Lexie? The life we see in this world provides a picture of what is real in the invisible, spiritual realm. We have lessons, such as those from Lexie, not so we will believe, but to strengthen the evidence (faith) of what God has revealed to us supernaturally - His Spirit to our spirit. 

Lexie is so cute and fun to cuddle with. But more importantly, Lexie, and for that fact, each of us live a life that points us to what is real.

What better to ponder ??????