Identity

Some pondering over early morning coffee.

Throughout the whole political season (I’m concerned it isn’t a season but the way of being of this country), I have seen over and over, people professing to be Christian dishing out hate and fear in apparent attempts to ‘win’ people to a particular side. And, yet, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that hate and fear are not a part of God’s Kingdom on earth. It is clear that professing to be Christian and actually following Jesus are two different things. Jesus knew many would do this and warned against it.

I’ve seen many folks make their political party their primary identity. But this is not who God created us to be. When we let our political party views shape how we present christianity to the world, we’ve gotten ourselves all discombobulated and forgotten that Jesus came to bring Good News to all people. Our identity as Jesus’ Followers should shape and transform our political views, our worldview, how we see everyone and everything, through the lens of God’s love for us.

We are first and foremost beloved children of God, created in God’s loving image. Our purpose is to be image bearers shining in the darkness of this world. Our obligation is to remember that all human beings are created by the same loving God. All human beings. ALL. It is not our job to sort through who is worthy of love and who isn’t. God makes all people worthy through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We can work diligently to show them just how worthy they are because so many people in this world don’t know that or have forgotten. There will be a lot of folks who don’t want to know it either and it isn’t our job to force them to see who and Whose they really are. Because love is never forced or demanded.

I am also a mother, sister, aunt, grandma (aka Gamby or Mimi), and friend. My purpose is to love the people in my circle in such a way that they know they too are beloved children of God. My responsibility is to help equip them to be the best image bearers they can be, with the unique gifts and skills and talents they possess. It takes all of us working together, working WITH each other and with God’s help to build up God’s Kingdom on earth as in Heaven. It is not my job to control those around me, to coerce them, or manipulate them. Because love does not control or coerce or manipulate.

I am also a priest in the Episcopal Church. My purpose is to lead others in the Way of Love, through the administration of the sacraments, spiritual formation in worship and study, and in pastoral care so that we are all better equipped to be image bearers shining in the darkness of this world. It is not my job to save souls or to fix others. It is not my job to point out other people’s sins or incite fear in anyone. Because love isn’t fearful nor does love incite fear.

I am also an American and this does not in any way change my purpose nor any of my responsibilities in life. It is simply the setting in which I live into who God created me to be. Regardless of which county I may be in, regardless of any particular political party I may align with, I am still a beloved child of God created to be an image bearer, gifted with the love of others who I journey with, and called to lead others as we follow Jesus in the Way of Love. In whatever circumstance we find ourselves, we follow Jesus. We love. We tend to each other and equip each other to love better and better each day with God’s help.

In whom do you ground your identity? If you are one of many who ave you forgotten that you are a beloved child of God, hear me say, you are loved. Let God’s love shape and transform you. Choose to follow Jesus into the Kingdom on earth as in Heaven where love is stronger than fear and hate, where the light of God’s image shines into the darkness.