Where is Your Identity?
// April 21st, 2008 // Christian Living
I’ve been reading Tim Keller’s book “The Reason for God” and taking my time. I haven’t enjoyed a book like this for a while. Here’s a quote from his section on “The Social Consequences of Sin”.
If we get our very identity, our sense of worth, from our political position, then politics is not really about politics, it is about us. Through our cause we are getting a self, our worth. That means we must despise and demonize the opposition. If we get our identity from our ethnicity or socioeconomic status, then we have to feel superior to those of other classes and races. If you are profoundly proud of being an open-minded, tolerant soul, you will be extremely indignant toward people you think are bigots. If you are a very moral person, you will feel very superior to people you think are licentious. And so on.
There is no way out of this conundrum…. Racism, classism, and sexism are not matters of ignorance or a lack of education…. The real culture war is taking place inside our own disordered hearts, wracked by inordinate desires for things that control us, that lead us to feel superior and exclude those without them, and that fail to satisfy us even when we get them. [emphasis mine]
When I read this I had this realization that on a small level I had bought into the subtle message from our culture that the key to overcoming bigotry, racism, classism, etc is education and more awareness. But if our efforts towards social justice are not ultimately driven by a desire to honor Jesus and draw people to Him we are not going to solve our societies problems. The root cause of all social injustice is sin to which Jesus is the only antidote.
Technorati Tags: social justice, Tim Keller, The Reason for God
3 Responses to “Where is Your Identity?”. Gravatars are enabled.
Leave a Reply
My videos. Featured videos.
- JZSF said: Another project from the Jim and Casper duo - they...
- suzanne moon said: nice post and very informative My recent post ...
- YourFan101 said: I love your music Phil!! You are an inspiration to...
- Kim A. said: I'm with you Ben. I married my soul mate and...
- Sue said: I agree with you wholeheartedly. And I agree with...
- Ben Cotten said: Yep. I'm totally with you. There is no good...
- If I'm a Prick, Do I Not Bleed?
- My Review of The Shack
- The Clap Offering
- A Pastors Guide to the Web: Part 5
- Why Nickelodeon Needs a Kick in the Pants
Over the past several years I’ve noticed how evangelicals have “discovered” social justice. Now it’s the hip thing in our circles but, like you, I caution against people finding their identities in political causes or social action. I get a lot of varied emails from social action groups like Amnesty Int’l (of which I’ve been a member off and on since the 80s, thanks U2!), Sojourners, Tom Sine’s Mustard Seed Network, Int’l Justice Mission, etc and these organizations are doing WONDERFUL things and I support them wholeheartedly but, at the same time, the Great Commission is about preaching a risen Lord who is extending His government (I shy away from the word “kingdom” as it has a too antiquated, anachronistic feel to it) throughout the world. This extension can certainly be augmented through social justice organizations but we need to make sure, as evangelicals, that we’re not just riding the latest trend in order to be the hip, politically & spiritually correct Christian who, at the end of it all, could really care less about REAL social justice other than having the IMAGE of someone who cares.
Identity Development Theory is an intriguing area of study. Faith identity development is a somewhat untapped area, yet extremely crucial for our time and culture. I have spent 20 years in higher education as a student, campus minister and the last 5 as an instructor. Education is extremely important, but it is not the answer. It does create a forum and context for discussion. There is no way to tally up the hours upon hours I have spent discussing identity and where we find it with students, and faculty. If we find it in what we do, what happens when we change jobs? If we find it in how much money we have, what if we lose it all? If we find it in relationships, what happens when those relationships change? We are human beings, not human doings and identity must be found by being and then start doing what flows from there.
I find it somewhat ironic, and very encouraging, that the point being made about identity is made by a christian. There is no other group as well versed in demonizing the opposition as the church – quite possibly the most exclusive institution in the history of humanity. “Jesus or Hell, its your choice”. In the culture of today, the homosexual community is the favored target for many fundamentalist/conservative preachers. Also a fair amount of the time the venom is spewed at other churches with different theological persuasions. There is more identity in being Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Non-Denominational (whatever that means), Charismatic, etc. than there is in being a Christian. The only people I see Jesus rail against in scripture are the religious ones who came to God from rules and imposed those rules on everyone else (usually without keeping them themselves). It seems that at every turn Jesus was pointing to intimate, personal relationship with God (who he called Father). He continually scandalized his culture by relating to tax collectors, prostitutes, stinking fishermen, and others of ill repute. Jesus is the most liberal and loving person I have ever met. He does not demonize others and as his friend I do my best to do likewise.
Great comments. For sure we live in a society of labels. I think we’re not only “wracked by inordinate desires for things that control us” but we also have inordinate desires to control others in the same way. We all tend to force those around us into identities that don’t work.
As a pastor, I often find myself in a room full of pastors. It’s hazard of the job that I have to live with. At least, until I become a megachurch pastor and can afford to be aloof and disconnected… ;-)
I find it’s not any different there in most cases. “Hi, I’m the small church pastor with big vision.” “Hi, I’m the young successful pastor of a church that grew really fast that everyone is jealous of.” “Hi, I’m the pastor of an old small church and I’m embarrassed around all these mega church guys.” And on and on. In those awkward moments, you ask how someone is doing and you get church attendance stats.
We all do it, to some degree. Instead of church stats, we give work perfomance stats, family stats, new car stats, new sailboat stats, etc.