 Spiritual: June 12, 2024 Issue [#12595] |
This week: Identity Edited by: Jeff  
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"Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief."
— C.S. Lewis
About The Editor: Greetings! My name is Jeff and I'm one of your regular editors for the official Spiritual Newsletter! I've been a member of Writing.com since 2003, and have edited more than 400 newsletters across the site during that time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or the handy feedback field at the bottom of this newsletter! 
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Identity
This past weekend was the second official meeting of the church plant that I'm helping launch, and the first official sermon from Josh, our pastor. He focused his message on the concept of identity and we had a discussion afterward that's stuck with me in the days since.
One of the points being made was that Satan is more appropriated called the Satan because "Satan" isn't a name; it's a title. It means "The Accuser," and describes his objective of accusing people of not living up to their true identity (i.e., as a beloved child of God). Ultimately, a hypothesis was proposed that all sin could be seen as stemming from doubt in one's own true identity and relationship with the almighty.
The concept of identity can be really complicated. A lot of values and ideals go into our identity, and that big-picture identity is often an amalgamation of lots of smaller, more specific identities. My identity, for example, includes the identities of being someone's son, someone's father, a husband, an employee, a writer, a Christian, and a friend. Those individual identities are often intertwined, but they can also be at odds with one another. But at the heart of the Christian faith is the idea that one's identity as a child of God - someone who has gained salvation and favor through a relationship with Jesus Christ - is the primary identity and everything else grows out of that. It can be really encouraging to know that you're loved and accepted by God ... but that's precisely what makes the Satan's accusations and lies so powerful. His job is to sow doubt and distrust, just like he did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Although I took several years of humanities and comparative religion classes in college, I'm by no means an expert on the identities that religions outside Christianity are supposed to entail. To be perfectly honest, I'm still struggling to understand Christian identity itself! But no matter what your particular expression of faith may be, I'd be willing to bet there is an identity to it, and a big part of your faith journey as part of whatever religious or spiritual practice you identify with, is likely learning how to better live into that identity and live up to the ideals of your faith every day.
Identity is a complex construct that can often leave us feeling confused, misunderstood, or out of balance. Depending on who or what is feeding into the various aspects of your identity, you might feel pressure to act a certain way. One of the things that I've found most reassuring in my Christian faith has been the fact that the primary identity we're all living into is beloved son or daughter of the King. I think it's really easy to lose sight of that, and I think there are a lot of Christians who substitute that identity for lesser ones that the Accuser manages to convince us of. That either we're not worthy or someone else isn't worthy of God's love. Which is why it's so important to be clear on the fact that our primary identity - all of us - is someone who is worthy and deserving of love. Not for anything you do, but just because of who you are.
Until next time,
Jeff
If you're interested in checking out my work:
"New & Noteworthy Things" | "Blogocentric Formulations"
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I also encourage you to check out the following items:
EXCERPT: I will not change the precepts of my faith to fit into an ever-changing downward spiraling world.
I will not mold God into a custom-made God to set my own agenda.
EXCERPT: What does it mean "to live is Christ" ?
Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Most people focus on the second part of the verse, “to die is gain,” and contemplate the joys of heaven. But we should not overlook what comes before. The importance of the phrase “to live is Christ” cannot be overstated. In all honesty, this phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.
EXCERPT: The call from Simon Tjibaou on his private cell phone arrived at a particularly annoying moment. Dave Lanquester did not like interruptions when he was preparing for presentations. Seeing the caller's name, he glared at the phone and sighed. Before he died, Nathan, his father, had told him that one day, Simon would call and ask for a favor. Nathan told him to trust Simon, do that favor, and ask no questions.
EXCERPT: The concept I’ve been asked to consider is the worth of a human being, and if one individual has more intrinsic value than another. The easy answer for me is, of course, ‘yes’, and I am sure that many may disagree, and that is a natural and reasonable reaction. To truly answer the question, we have to contemplate any number of issues, and we need to resist the temptation to react in an emotional or superficial way. We need to fundamentally understand the meaning of the term ‘worth’ and the impact that our interpretations may have on ourselves, on those we judge, and the communities and the overall society that we are a part of.
EXCERPT: King Nerim frowned and tapped his fingers impatiently. Finally, after thirty excruciating minutes Gaylen the alchemist finished his concoction.
“Here we are sire! This will eliminate your nightmares!”
“At last. I’m so tired of dreaming about that…dragon creature. You bare the credentials of a physician, Gaylen!”
“Remember Lord, I am more. I excel at the wonders of the supernatural. I can’t tell you how many books about spirits, phoenixes, sprites, fairies, and yes, dragons too that I have read about.”
“This world is full of wonders!” King Nerim chuckled. “Well, I’m off to go hunting in the woods with my two sons. Thank you Gaylen.”
Before Nerim walked ten steps, Gaylen cursed. “Blast it! I’m out of wing root! I need some to make a potion for a guard’s coughing.”
“Where can it be found?”
“It’s in the forest.”
“My sons and I could get some for you. What does it look like?”
“It’s no use. It takes a keen eye to spot it.”
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