Our identity is usually developed from the time we are small children by a variety of influences, from what our parents say to us to our social-economic background, from our ethnic origin and culture to society in general. We have every type of media displaying how we should look, dress and behave in order to be accepted. How we fit into the expectations of others usually determines how we view ourselves and it is because we are social creatures that the opinion of others is so important to us, everybody wants to fit in!

The biggest problem with this approach to identity is that it is based on our perception of what others think about us. Did we fit the mold of what is expected of us or are we accepted by the people who are supposed to be “cool”? That can change from one day to the next, one moment your in, the next your out. It is determined by how we are accepted by others.

Here’s the thing, perception has no basis in the truth! It does not take into account your value as a human being, as someone who has been created by and in the image of a loving God. It does not take into account the individual gifting and purpose that He has placed within each person. Worst of all, perception gives power to others to define you. Everybody wants to be liked, everybody wants to be accepted and that should happen but you cannot allow what other people think to define who you are because you will operate out of that perception. You will make life changing decisions based on lies.

I recently stumbled onto a movie called “That’s What I Am” with Ed Harris, I had never even heard of the movie but it was a poignant story about those very tough middle school years and dealing with acceptance and perception. It revolved around three people, the main character Andy, a “normal” eighth grader, Stanley or “big G” an outcast who is a very tall boy with red hair, a large head and even larger ears and Mr. Simon, their single, mid 50’s literature teacher, who is “perceived” to be a homosexual. The story is set in the late sixties when being labeled as a “homo” meant the end of your career.

I won’t go into details but I think the movie dealt very well with identity and the acceptance and perception that goes along with forming it. In my estimation Stanley turns out to be the hero of the movie because he refuses to be defined by others. Mr. Simon handles the accusation of being gay with honor and dignity and Andy turns out to be a kid who does the right thing but it is because Mr. Simon has the ability to see potential in people and affirm them in that potential.

I am convinced that regardless of what social-liberals say, we can be tolerant and remain true to our moral convictions. We can live and work in a world that is sometimes very contrary to what we believe. God has not called us to be a voice of condemnation but a voice of hope, not to be conformed to the society around us but to be salt and light. We seldom quote John 3:17 but it says that God did not send his son into the the world to condemn it but to save it.

If you know Jesus, your identity should come from an understanding that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) and that he is the one that defines you and not what others think. I have a lot to say about that and intended to do so in this article but it just went another direction. I will cover that next week.

In the mean time, please be very aware that a lot of people don’t have that understanding yet and they view themselves according to what we say to them or about them, especially young people. Look for potential in people, speak to those gifts that lay hidden beneath the surface and affirm their worth. If you want to make a difference in people’s lives find something good in them and affirm them in it. I’m speaking to myself most of all because it doesn’t come natural for me, it takes a continual conscience effort on my part and too often I don’t do it. I’ll try harder if you will.

Blessings,
Jeff

In church circles, when you hear the term “walking in the flesh” it usually means that someone has been involved in activity that is considered to be sin. This is a religious term, taken from the New Testament, that people outside of certain circles may not be familiar with but most understand it to mean immoral acts. That’s not inaccurate but I want you to consider the possibility that there are very religious people that consider themselves to be above reproach that are “walking in the flesh” just as much as those who are involved in sin. In fact, maybe more so because they think that they have it all together because they obey all the rules!
Most christians say they believe that we are saved by grace through faith, (Eph 2:8) but then turn around and begin working for their salvation. They walk the isle, say a prayer, join a church and they are immediately expected to be model citizens in every way. They are expected to follow a set of rules, depending on your denomination they are different, but the rules are very important. Those who have been keeping the rules for a long time are deacons and elders or pastors, they have it all together because according to the rules they are good people.
What I want you to consider is that keeping rules (the law in the bible) doesn’t necessarily make you a good person and it doesn’t purchase you a ticket to heaven. As christians we say we believe that but then we get out our list of rules and start comparing ourselves and others to the list. Some of the meanest people on earth can look pretty good when compared to the list, some of the kindest people fail miserably. So what good are the rules? They do have their place and I am not advocating anarchy in the church but it comes down to: What do you put your trust in to get into heaven?
(if you read my last article on “Too Much Grace?” it explains how we get to where we need to be morally without the list)
I am not going to go into a lengthy exposition but we know from the words of Jesus and the apostles that without righteousness we cannot set one foot into heaven. We equate righteousness with keeping the rules, so that’s what we try to do. This is nothing new, it’s been going on for thousands of years. What we fail to realize is that there are two kinds of righteousness; our own righteousness that comes from keeping the law and God’s righteousness, which we receive by faith.

This brings me to the “walking in the flesh” that I started with. I suggest that walking in the flesh has just as much to do with our own attempt at righteousness as it does with immoral behavior. You can keep every law in the book except one and according to God you are disqualified. Therefore, any attempt at righteousness by keeping rules is an attempt to gain it by the works of our flesh and it is an exercise in futility. Look what Paul said in Romans 8:3-5

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh , God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh , on account of sin : He condemned sin in the flesh , 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit . 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh , but those who live according to the Spirit , the things of the Spirit .

Notice that verse 4 says that the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in those who do not walk according to the flesh. He just said that our flesh can’t keep the law so when we try to acquire righteousness on our own it is a work of the flesh! The Holy Spirit is the one who can lead us into right behavior, the law brings only condemnation and death, as Paul goes on to say later in the chapter.
Not only is keeping the law an exercise in futility, but we refuse the righteousness that God has provided for us. Paul explains this perfectly in Romans 9:30-10:4

30 What shall we say then ? That Gentiles , who did not pursue righteousness , have attained to righteousness , even the righteousness of faith ; 31 but Israel , pursuing the law of righteousness , has not attained to the law of righteousness . 32 Why ? Because they did not seek it by faith , but as it were, by the works of the law . For they stumbled at that stumbling stone . 33 As it is written : “ Behold , I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense , And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame .” Ch. 10: 1 Brethren , my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved . 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God , but not according to knowledge . 3 For they being ignorant of God ‘s righteousness , and seeking to establish their own righteousness , have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Pursuing righteousness through keeping rules is the same thing as refusing the righteousness of God, the righteousness of faith as Paul calls it. It’s like telling God “I don’t need what you provided through your son’s death burial and resurrection, I can do it on my own.” We discount Jesus’ sacrifice for us in favor of our own efforts and hope and pray that we do every thing right! Some people become very self righteous and condemn those who aren’t doing as good as they are. These are the Pharisees that Jesus openly rebuked over and over because they put all their trust in the Law of Moses, he said ” You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”( John 5:39-4o) These especially are the people who are walking in the flesh even though it appears that they are doing everything right.
Paul preached the gospel on the foundation that we receive everything through faith, even our righteousness. He used the Old Testament patriarch Abraham to prove his point, he said “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness”, which he took from Gen. 15:6. Accounted is an accounting term that means to credit to your account and what it means to us is that God counts faith as righteousness. It doesn’t mean faith is close to righteousness or similar to righteousness, it means FAITH=RIGHTEOUSNESS, it is the same thing. So, to receive the righteousness of God, we have to believe Him, we have to have faith in the work of the cross alone to save us and bring us into right standing with God.
Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”, not your own because that would be walking in the flesh.

Blessings,
Jeff Martin