Identity Crisis

I remember being in other countries both as a soldier and as a vacationer, and in all of those situations, I was easily identified as an American. My speech, mannerisms, and actions betrayed any effort on my part to blend in and go unnoticed. Who I was so deeply entrenched that it was clear to all around that I was not one of them.

The same holds true to those that come to this country. We quickly identify them as being unlike us and they draw our curiosity as to who they may be and their purposes in being here. All of this is wrapped up in an title. Are you an American? French? Mexican? Peruvian? Colombian? The list can go on for a very long time. This begs the question: if foreigners in a strange land are so easily identified, why are Christians so hard to be identified?

If I—or so many others whom call themselves Christians—do not live a life that is markedly different than the world around us, are we deserving of the title?

Hebrews 11:13-16 states that our heroes of faith were all strangers in this world, not having a country that they could return to. They lived in a state of pilgrimage, not claiming stakes here, but living for the promises which they had yet to see. Verse 16 declares that we as well are to live for the promise to come and not for the glories of this world. We are supposed to be—if we are truly Christian—living a life that causes the world around us to wonder who we are and where we come from. Yes, this is well-summed up in the above scripture citation, but it is also an overwhelming thought throughout all of the Bible.

Now the question for us is, "Why are Christians all over the world not living a life of distinction?" One answer may be that so many of us are largely unfamiliar with the complete Word of God. If we were in the Bible daily and committing what we read to memory, the impact on our conduct would be significant. I do know that this is not the only solution, as I know many who have read and learned scripture and fail to live life in its light.

The other thing that must happen is for us to truly submit to the power of Jesus, not just once, but continuously throughout our lives. This cannot be done with our own will or power but only by His.