IDENTITY
Thank you for visiting my blog where I look at the spiritual side of modern living using the lessons & teachings found in the bible to encourage my readers to discover foundational & powerful principles. If you wish to catch up on my previous topic on ‘what is your belief’, it is on Apple podcast @theeommatalks. If you are joining me for the first time, please know that each time I refer to God, I mean Yahweh, as this is the name God asked that He be called.
As I mentioned in my previous blogs & podcasts, I have learnt most of the topics I will be discussing through personal life experience and as you know, life experience is often not polite or embellished so I will talk from my heart, particularly as I know it will be more beneficial. I have chosen to start with foundational truths and when you understand this truth, you can apply the principles in the challenging areas of your life. I do believe that the best treatments are those that target the source and not just the symptoms. In future, I hope to deal with other topics such as: Friendship, Mental Health, Marriage, Addiction, fear, anger, love etc.
The topic today is identity. When I introduced this topic on IGTV last week, I had Emma and Zina as guests during which they tried to cast light on their understanding of identity. If you wish to listen to this taster discussion, it’s on my Instagram page, @theeommatalks.
Today, I will shed light on the question of identity as this is a fundamental part of who we are. I would firstly like to ask if you fully understand:
- When the process of identity starts in a person’s life.
- Who creates identity? and
- Why is it important to identify who you are?
Who defines identity? Society does. With different countries come different cultures, race, practices and religions. In addition to this, we see each other in genders and other diverse ways, holding sometimes strong perceptions of one another. For example, men and women not only perceive each other as physically and mentally different but, at times, hold each other in contempt. The white, brown and black distinctions highlight how others use the physical characteristics of an individual to create a pronouncement of collective identification. Other pronouncements would fall under:
- Birth status: whether a person is born into wealth, poverty, religious or criminal parent(s);
- Citizenship: government identification using instruments such as a passport (certain passports are better than others)
- Religious beliefs: if a person is atheist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and all other religions;
- Educational background: a persons’ level of learning and alma mater
- Ancestry: how the family name can go before an individual
- Parenting: how you were brought up
- Friends: expectations to have a certain number of friends or type of friend such as powerful and connected people etc.
- Marital Status: for example, women of a certain age are seen unfavourably versus single older men who aren’t. Not to mention being divorced; and to a certain extent,
- Social media: and meeting the standard of outward display in terms of beauty, fashion, popularity, food, health, intelligence.
It is obvious, that there are many pronouncements made by society in order to shape our views of what we should accept as the building-blocks of our identity. It may not come as a surprise, but we use these factors as a two-way tool to identify those around us and formulate our own identities.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, identity is defined as who a person is or the qualities of the person or group. However, the Merriam-Webster definition goes more in-depth by defining identity as:
- a. The distinguishing character or personality of an individual: INDIVIDUALITY b. The relation established by psychological identification
2 the condition of being the same with something described or asserted
3
a sameness of essential or generic character in different instances
b sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing: ONENESS
Identity has become increasingly important and relevant as today’s world shrinks as a result of the internet & social media with all the positives and negatives that come with it. The mass sharing of information electronically combined with improved travel links/systems has enabled interactions with people and cultures that otherwise would have been difficult to reach. Unsurprisingly, people want to shed their individuality just to be like the other person. People want to talk, look, dress, walk and eat like any person who catches their attention. Many people cannot tell who they are or the reason they do what they do, even when there is so much fear, pain and cost involved.
I would like to make certain references to science although I know some Christians may not approve but I will do so because all intelligence is from God and whatever the intelligence is applied to is up to man here on earth. Science says we are all one of a kind as every human being has a unique randomisation to their genetic code. The bible tells us that each person is fearfully and wonderfully made. Having this information is worthless if one cannot apply the knowledge to the purpose of your existence. This type of person can be likened to a piece of leaf tossed here and there by any wind that blows by. The knowledge of who you are, fully understood and accepted will make life liveable.
The human mind matures and develops from birth to adolescence and later adult life. As this process occur, there is a constant battle between the perceptions of others and the perceptions of oneself. When a person cannot identify themselves, they either accept what they have been told they are or fight to establish what they believe they are. Irrespective of the side a person finds themselves on, some will ultimately become casualties of the identity war. As such, there is a huge price to pay when we do not know who we are.
I recently watched a documentary on Netflix on Bill Gates, and in the documentary people around him described him as peculiar. Today, Bill Gates is one of the world’s richest men. His success was embedded in his peculiarity. Individuality is the distinctive flavour that makes you peculiar but not necessarily different. I like the Merriam Webster definition of identity: ‘the condition of being the same with something described or asserted (sameness) (oneness)’, because the bible tells us in Genesis 1: 26-28, that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Let me read Genesis 1:26-28 (New King James Version):
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
If God has created us just man with no male and female, the world will be boring. If God had not made each person with a unique identifier, we will all be the same and have nothing to offer each other. There is beauty in diversity. If this statement was universally understood, we will not be desperate in our struggle to change our individuality just because we think that is what defines us. The majority of people are increasingly complaining of unhappiness, loneliness, depression and fear. However, history shows that before the internet and social media, people also struggled with identity related problems.
The reason I have gone through the background of defining identity is because I am not sure if you have ever given it thought and if you have discovered who you are.
- Firstly, who does God say you are?
- Secondly, who do you say you are? and,
- Thirdly, what does the society label you as?
I will tell you why I believe in Genesis 1:26-28 by using a farmer as illustration.
When a farmer plants a seed, he knows exactly what crop to harvest. Why should we expect a farmer to accept any crop he has not planted or to dismiss this misnomer as “life happens?” The farmer would expect a bad season to affect the quality of the harvest. The farmer understands the principles of plant time and harvest time and how to make the best of this principle. Accepting results simply as “life happens” is not enough for the farmer. It’s time you understand how your results are produced.
The laws and principles handed to us by society is different from the laws and principles given by God and recorded in the bible. You can only work effectively from one standpoint not from two as we will hold one view superior to the other. But to follow society’s physical laws and principles is to work against your true identity.
Whilst using the tools created by the society appear to pose no challenges, it only seems to be doing well until you apply it to the African-American Civil Rights Movement & the LGBT movement for example. Each group say they do not wish to suffer as a result of identity imposed by the society. Their message is: do not identify me based on my physical characteristics or sameness particularly when the sameness is not real.
One may or may not identify with either of these groups, but what other tools can we use to identify persons or groups which will be universally acceptable and without any contention? In one instance, some people say, let’s rewrite the physical laws and this will resolve the problems. This identity problem has cost lives, stolen jobs, taken hostages & prisoners and the break-down of relationships and marriages.
Man is one entity.The man God created is one and cannot be pigeon-holed. Man is spirit, created in the image and likeness of God. The image & likeness of God is the only true identity that man holds, every other identity is in opposition to this truth and for as long as we reject the truth, we shall continue to lose the legitimacy of our true identity. The physical attributes seen by sense is incapable of creating identity. We cannot be separated from the original man as spirit is genderless, colourless, intelligent, beautiful, eternal life, love. This is everything your physical identity cannot comprehend until you teach it to be in obedience of its true identity.
You must understand, if you are already having trouble understanding or accepting this truth, it would take sometime to see an inward healing once you begin to change your mind set. Remember what you wish to undo started from birth so it will take a while to gain control. Do not stop or give up, you must approach this from a position of sincere belief and love of God. You need actual strength from God and without sincere love for God, you may buckle and fall. Love God, don’t be mechanical or technical about it. On a daily basis, try finding time to be grateful to God and readdress your love for Him. True love gives and wants nothing in return.
As I mentioned in my previous blog & podcasts, God is who He says He is. His love is for everyone without exception. The principles He laid down will work for anyone who searches for Him with a sincere heart.
In verse 27 of Genesis chapter 1, He (God) created ‘him’ male & female – one entity. This does not mean that man can either transition physically to be male or female, that is not what this verse or message is about. God is spirit and man created in His image is one entity and when recognised as such will become harmonious with his true identity. Do not let people toy with your thoughts or play politics with your precious life. What is the point contending for evidence or indulging the demands of your sense when fear and danger is all it has to offer? Identity is one of the root causes of deterioration of the mind. Change your perception through daily affirmations of Genesis 1:26. Identify yourself rightly to gain sustainable strength to overcome challenges that will come your way.
You can deal with the problem of identity by making conscious, deliberate day by day pronouncements over yourself of who God says you are. Say it continually, as over time, healing of the mind will occur to reveal the beautiful person that was held prisoner. You need to replace all the lies with the indisputable truth about who you truly are. From this basis, the wrongful physical identity will lose its stronghold. My life experience has taught me that false identity is a stronghold, it takes captives of anyone irrespective of age, class or persons. Guard the doors of your life diligently just as you would with anything you treasure.
Truth is the only power that can bring about long-lasting strength to deal with life challenges.
A simple and practical step is to take attention away from yourself and freely give love and help without wanting anything whatsoever in return. When the devil gives, he demands everything you have in return, including your soul. When God gives, He does not take you prisoner. This is the reason many people take God for granted but only at their own detriment in the long run. You can only give and not want anything in return, no control, no manipulation when you take on your true identity. Giving is one of God’s laws and principles. God is seen to give all the time in the bible, it follows that the spiritual man must be giving. Learn to evaluate things that matter by weighing them on the ‘scale of love’. You cannot be closed in, selfish or greedy. Remember, you cannot change people but you can change how you perceive and respond to things. Try not to be opinionated, give yourself room to change as you get older.
Identity is knowing who you are and where you fit, without condemnation or malice towards yourself.
There is so much within you that you can give to people: encouragement, strength – even when you feel weak-, your time – no matter how little -, advice, sincerity, love, sharing what you value and not what you rejected, food, a smile, and finances if possible. There is so much power in giving that it will unlock and rekindle your life. In short giving is in your genetic code and it is a sign of gratitude, reverence, prayer and worship to God.
Now you know whose identity report you should take, read John 3:16 in the bible and believe it.
It’s impossible to remain in the same position even with the smallest movement, start with that tiny move today. I thank you and love you with the love of God.
EOMMA©
The Eomma Talks© 