Who and What Defines You?

My natural inclination is to be enthusiastic about the Lord. I like to speak of Him, how He instructs me and interacts with my life, and the direction He has given to it. I enjoy sharing the value of the Word of God and that in it we are to find everything necessary for life and godliness. Furthermore, it is a blessing to know Scripture is intended to cultivate the foundation of our worldview – yours and mine! I love to talk about this with others to grow their consideration and value of the Word.

I do this hoping they’ll learn to construct their own worldview centered on Scripture. Then they will know it speaks into not only their own lives, but others too causing them to reconsider their culture and tradition in light of Truth. With those trapped in cultural practices.

I have found this very hard to do.

When suggesting that to call ourselves ‘Christian’, we are to view life differently, and live it differently. And, that as Believers the Word of God is to interpret culture and tradition, and not culture and tradition interpret Scripture there seems to be a divide. When I’ve done this, those from proud cultural groups defend their traditions, irrespective of whether those very traditions are contrary to Scripture.

Although they profess to be a believer, a Christian, their Christianity does not define them, their cultural traditional origins do. They are first and foremost a – you can fill in your own ethnic origin here for your own heart examination – and that is who they are.

Is this who you are? Who and what defines you?

Their ethnic origin holds more value to their identity than the Lord does. Their clinging to a national or ethnic identity as holding more value raises serious questions, ones they need to consider deeply and urgently. It is a necessity to their personal statement of faith.

Whom and what defines them?

Culture or Christ?

Who and what defines you?

• Keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

• Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect (Romans 12:2).

• Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith. The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions (1 Timothy 1:4-6).

• If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5)

#identity #culture