Identity Crisis

   Have you ever been out in public when you noticed a long-time friend from across the room? Without hesitating, you shout out to them drawing everyone's attention. And as they slowly turn around, you suddenly realize, it's not your friend. In fact, the complete stranger is looking right at you with the expression of annoyance and the body language that's saying, "Who are you?"
   Most of us at some point have mistaken the identity of someone out in public. And maybe it has even cost you a similar embarrassment. But a greater tragedy that's happening across our world is the billions of people who mistakenly identify Jesus Christ every day.

   As Christ's ministry was in full swing and his notoriety was growing, Jesus took his disciples aside and asked them this question, "Who do people say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13). The responses included: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and other prophets. But then Jesus asked more specifically, "Who do you say I am?". Peter was the one who answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
   It doesn't take much to discover that the majority of the world disagrees with the identity of Jesus in the Bible. It's evident by how they live. You see, what we think about something or someone shapes our behavior. If I believe I was made by a loving and just Creator who has revealed himself through His Son, I'll live my life knowing that I'll be held responsible at the end of it. In contrast, if I believe our existence is mere happenstance, I'll be motivated and center my life around my personal desires. In other words, if it feels good do it. There are no lasting consequences or meaning to my behavior. herein lies the problem. If what I do essentially doesn't matter, then my life has no meaning or genuine purpose. As a result, my life will lack fulfillment. 
   Ultimately, the only way our lives can have purpose is when we know the true identity of Christ. Even many who profess to follow Jesus have confusion about their identity because he's someone they seek advice from rather than center their life around. His identity can't be a one-time proclamation. Because if I lose sight of who Jesus is at any point, I'm at risk of falling back to my self-centered nature. This is seen by the countless people who encountered the earthly ministry of Jesus. At one point, they believed he was the Messiah. But when they lost sight of this fact, they chose to go back to their personal comfort or former behavior. For example, Jesus had to fit Judas' understanding of the Messiah. And as a result, Judas tried to force Jesus to fight the Jewish leaders. This resulted in Christ's crucifixion and Judas' subsequent suicide. Peter lost sight of Jesus' identity and denied knowing him 3 times. The difference between these two was Peter's identity rested not in his goodness but in what he knew about the grace of his Savior. And thus, Peter repented and was restored to a right relationship with Christ.
   Jesus' identity needs to permeate our entire life, or he will become a genie-like god that we only seek out when we want something. A purposeful life comes from having our identity in Christ, or we'll have an identity crisis.
   What's your life revealing about who Jesus is to you?

"Sampling vs. All In"

   I'm not a big fan of grocery shopping. I don't mind doing it, but I could think of several other endeavors that I prefer spending my time on. So when I have to go to the store, I like to make a list and have a game-plan. And usually, part of that plan involves NOT going on days that the rest of the free-world is there. Having this in mind, you can imagine then that I'm not thrilled to shop on Saturdays.

   But if I cannot avoid it, do you know the one positive reason why shopping on Saturdays is great? I have two words for you...free samples! And not just one table, either. No, on these days the stores are usually peppered with these morsel-packing aid workers just begging for someone to take their delectable gifts.

  While these samples are tasty, they're not fulfilling. After all, they're not meant to be. Samples of the whole are given to get you to like and crave the item so that you will buy it. No one would ever think that the sample gives you the same benefit as a complete serving. 

   Unfortunately, so many people make that mistake when it comes to a relationship with Jesus.     

   The other day I had a conversation with a young man who was struggling to cope with events and relationships within his life. He was frustrated and confused about what his next step should be. And when I asked him if he had a relationship with Jesus, I was met with a very common but unfortunate answer.

   "I've tried that," he said. Meaning, I went to church; I brought my family; I sampled what I thought was the whole of Christianity...and it just didn't work. 

  This young man had informed me that he had been "going to church his whole life". And his understanding was that Jesus and the church had no solution to his dilemma. You see, he sampled Jesus and found it wasn't enough to fix his problems. But when you sample Jesus, you don't get the whole benefit, and it leaves you lacking and unfulfilled.

   To be a follower of Christ is to be completely surrendered to His will. As well, God is NOT looking for religious services or deeds. He doesn't want some person to come along and sample what they believe to be Christianity. God WANTS ALL OF YOU. He wants you to completely "buy in" to Him (c.f. Matthew 13:44-46). He wants your trust, your allegiance, your service, and your life.

   Finally, Jesus is a person Who wants to be related to on an intimate level. So don't just sample Jesus. Don't just take someone's word on their experience of Jesus, either. Go all in (Luke 14:33)! No one has ever given their all to Jesus and come up unfulfilled in their lives.

Jesus is The Subject

   
    The other day I was speaking to a young lady when our conversation turned to church. She knew I was a pastor, and she quickly informed me she hadn't been to church for a long time. In fact, she was very adamant that she would never walk into another church again. When I asked her why, she told me of an incident that took place with another person in a service whose words offended her. Immediately, my conversation went to why she should reconsider coming back to church. And this is where the conversation stayed until it was over. 

    On the way home, I remarked to my wife how frustrated I was for having made that mistake. You see, my error was making the subject about her coming into a building; joining with strangers as they meet, sing, and pray to God. Of course, this isn't a bad thing. I do it every week (not the strangers part, of course). I enjoy it and highly recommend it. But it's not the primary issue we should be discussing with the world.

   Nowhere in the Bible does it tell Christians to invite people to a building. On the contrary, we're commanded by God to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-19). This means we introduce them to Jesus; encourage them to start a personal relationship with Him; and help them learn and follow His teachings found in His Word. In fact, we're the ones being told by God to "go". We're not to stay in a building and ask the world to come to us! But too often, we tell people to come follow our rules, traditions, and man-made rituals, and this is what makes you part of God's Church. And this is where we Christians error.

   What are we to do then? We are to make Jesus the subject of our conversations. No building or service or list of rules will ever save someone from their sins (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can do that!  

   I'm not excusing this person's choice not to come to church...that's not my point. I'm saying I shouldn't have kept our conversation on her offense or why she needs to come back to church. Rather, I should have told her that people in churches have hurt and let me down and that I have hurt and let down others as well.

   And then I should've said, "Jesus is the reason I sit in a building each week with the church and share my life with them. He's the reason I have hope and joy. He's the One that forgave me and gives me the power to forgive myself and others. It's all about Him and what He has done for me and others, and what He can do for you if you'll let Him!" In other words, I should have made Jesus the subject of our conversation.  

   Today, I sat across the table from a homeless man who is in town for a couple of days before he heads out East. I didn't ask him if he attended a church or whether or not he would make it to our service this Sunday. I didn't ask him if he was a member of another church or denomination. As he ate, I started our conversation out by asking him this, "Who do you think Jesus is?"

   

A Rose by Any Other Name...

    Another popular couple is calling it quits after several years of marriage and two children later. I know this isn't shocking given that Hollywood couples rarely stay together. However, the reason I bring this particular on up is the fact that this couple (with the help of their “coach” mind you) decided to define this action in a very unique way. They’ve called their decision to end their marriage a “conscious uncoupling”. Now, if you’re like me, you’re probably scratching your head right now and saying to yourself, huh?

   In essence, this “uncoupling” describes their desire to separate on amicable terms with one another. Okay, I get that, but you are still separating, right?

   It surprises me how often we rename things and think it will bring a different result. Call divorce whatever you want, but children of “conscious uncoupling” are still going to go through the same guilt, fears, questions, and struggles that every child goes through when their parents divorce. Changing the name of something doesn’t change what it is. Today your boss could fire you and you could choose to call it an “involuntary career change” but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s not paying you anymore! 

  My sadness is thinking how many couples will use this faulty logic when it comes to their own relationships and “uncouple” from each other because it sounds better rather than work out their differences because that’s what’s best for the whole family. 

    In William Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo & Juliet, there's a famous line that Juliet recites. While speaking of her love of Romeo who happens to be a Montague, a family that is hated by her family, she questions--what’s in a name? In other words, it matters more what something is rather than what it’s called, therefore, “a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.”
   And a divorce by any other name still ends in two people, severing a relationship that was supposed to last until death parted them. And let me add, a divorce by any other name still smells the same!