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Identity. Who and what ARE we?
One of the most used words in print today is "identity". Have you ever asked yourself what is meant by identity?
Self-image, self-esteem, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, race, color, creed.
Who ARE you? Philosophy, religion, psychology, science, and culture have been trying to answer this question for millennia.
Was Aristotle correct?
Do we have an obligation to "repeatedly do"?
To be consistent?
What if we repeatedly do things we regret?
Clearly, the world's messages are confusing and contradictory.
We are faced with the dichotomy. Are you defined by
> Your actions?
OR
> Your internal beliefs?
This is a difficult question because it is a false dichotomy.
There is a third option:
You are defined by your creator.
"You are who your creator says you are."
This option is simultaneously troubling and comforting.
Your creator says you were wonderfully made (Psalm139, comforting), in God's image (Genesis 1, comforting), but fallen into sin and born in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3, troubling).
This is an IDENTITY crisis? We have a marred, foggy, smudged, broken, and shattered image of God inside of us. Paul eloquently sums up the internal struggles we ALL face.
"For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate." [Rom 7:15 CSB]
"For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do." [Romans 7:18-19 CSB]
Paul finishes up this chapter with a cry to God. Who am I? Who will rescue the TRUE me? Who will tell me who the TRUE me is?
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin." [Romans 7:18-19, 24-25 CSB]
Jesus will rescue Paul. And me. And YOU.
"But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [Romans 5:8 CSB]
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Jesus as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, ..." [Romans 3:23-25 CSB]
God's word will tell me who the TRUE me is.
"Sanctify them [make them holy] by the truth; your word is truth." [John 17:17 CSB]
Come discuss identity with us - Thursday night at 6:30 PM in CFS 123.
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Why join Ratio Christi?
Are you a Christian who has a great relationship with Jesus, but who feels reluctant to share your faith because of the tough questions you might get? --- Then, this group is for you.
Are you an Atheist, Hindu, Muslim, Agnostic who wonders about how Christians can believe the crazy things that you have heard that they believe? --- Then this group is for YOU TOO.
If this sounds like "your group", then go to OrgLINK and become an official member.
We feature civil dialog. We believe that truth exists and can be known. We make a case (an apologetic) for Christianity, but we do this as ambassadors with gentleness and respect.
Come join us!
Darren Williams
Chapter Director and Faculty Advisor
Ratio Christi at SHSU
May the Lord almighty bless us and direct our days and our deeds in His peace. Amen.
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About Ratio Christi
Ratio Christi - Latin for the Reason of Christ - is here to discuss how the Christian world view addresses life's biggest questions of self-identity, moral obligation, and ultimate purpose. Click here for the Mission, Vision, and Goals of Ratio Christi. Visit our blog for a thoughtful presentation of the Christian worldview.
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