Identity

Generation Z loves to identify. 

Categorisation makes the chaotic world we live in a lot easier. It gives predictability to the unknown. People preach on the internet that if you have x, y and z, you probably have this condition and it makes us feel secure. In a world where the complex and confusing problems you see around you can cause deep sorrow within you, being able to identify brings security. 

Revealing Jesus to a generation searching for identity looks like revealing who they were originally designed to be and who they become when they accept Christ. In our first interactions with unbelievers, some of us have a tendency to start with “you’re a sinner, accept Christ or you’re going to hell”, but this is not where God starts the story so why should we?

The Bible starts in Eden. God made us to be in intimacy with Him and He calls us good. To be human is not sinful, otherwise Jesus would not have taken on flesh. We are the ones who redefined humanity when we chose to sin. We need to start with the truth of the gospel. They were created good and in perfect intimacy with God. 

However, when Adam and Eve broke God’s law there was punishment. Sin and death entered the world and everything that God made good became corrupt. In God’s justice, sin had to be punished. In His love, He provided the punishment for sin through the death of His Son Jesus Christ.

The gospel story is a redemption story. The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus has brought us back to Eden. Once again divinity can now reside with humanity. We can once more be in intimacy with the Father as we were always created to be. 

Under the sentence of sin, the world stands condemned already. Jesus provided a way out. He did not condemn the world and neither should we. He loved those in the world and so should we. 

How can we best use the concept of identity when sharing of the Gospel?

Make love the central element of your faith sharing: They need to know they are a generation wholeheartedly, deeply loved by God. 

This is their true identity. If love is not at the root of our communication of the gospel, they will never receive it. God is love and if we’re revealing this God, we must do so in love. Love does not rejoice in evil, it delights in truth. We must speak the truth, but be intentional to do so in love. 

Being able to identify not only with believers, through our redemption stories, but also with Jesus through His humanity is important. Jesus experienced everything they are going through and can help and comfort them as they walk through it. He’s the only God that stepped down from His throne to partner in the sufferings of mankind and that’s why He is worthy. We need to emphasise that the most secure identity is one in Christ. 

I used to think that when you come to Christ you completely lose your personality, identity, everything about you. I thought I had to become this really serious, extremely extrareligious person. I was incredibly wrong! Being in Christ, I've realised that though there are certain parts of me that I took on from the world that I have to lay down, I know that through this, God is restoring me to who He's always created me to be. The more I allow the Holy Spirit to make me look more like Christ, the more beautiful I become, because He is beautiful! There are parts of me that have been uniquely gifted to me by God that He absolutely does not want to change. It's who He made me to be. The treasure in humanity's diversity is that it reflects the infinite nature of God. I am who I am because God made me this way. You are who you are because God made you that way. When we come to Christ, we do change. It's true. All of who I am has to be submitted under the cross. But with this change, we become more beautiful.