One of the lies that people have come to believe is that they are not enough and that they need to use whatever means necessary to change themselves. The humanistic philosophies have not helped this mindset as they continue to propagate that man can do life without God and that he has the power to define or re-define himself whichever way he desires.
The Crisis of Identity
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:4-6
Adam and Eve were created perfectly and they had everything they needed for a good life in the garden including a perfect communion with their Creator. The only thing that they were not allowed to do was to eat from the knowledge of the good and evil. However, the enemy told them a different story.
The devil deceived them into thinking that there is more to be had in life and that God was keeping it from them. Therefore, he tempted them to exercise their free choice to disobey God in order to become like God. Sadly, Eve entertained the devil’s ideas and she began to desire wisdom by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I wonder what Eve thought she was missing in life that caused her to be desirous of the “wisdom” that this tree was supposed to offer!?
The truth is that Eve was not missing out on wisdom or anything else in her life. God had given them everything they needed in His relationship to them. There was no need for her to seek wisdom outside of God. Her identity was intact until she entertained the enemy’s ideas and began to doubt God. In reality what she pursued brought about the greatest lack in her life by opening the door to sin and separation from a Holy God.
There is a progression in thoughts and desires that takes people from first believing a lie, to doubting God’s character and goodness, to desiring something unlawful, and to finally taking the matters in one’s hands and making it happen. A lie eventually leads people into believing they need something unlawful, which eventually makes them think that they can’t live without it.
The sin in the world has brought about much brokenness in people’s lives. Brokenness makes people think that they are defective. Some have had absent or cruel parents. Others have been mistreated for their size, gender, or race. There are plenty of reasons that people can get tempted to think that they are not enough and desire to be different. Some people go to great lengths and drastic means to change/redefine themselves in order to be at peace, feel enough, or be accepted. However, that is not how God sees His workmanship.
God sees everyone in the light of the cross. Those who are in Christ belong to Him and are His children, and He will continue to work in them to make them like Christ regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, etc. Those who are outside of Christ, He desires to be in relationship with them, bring them to the fold, and transform them.
As people of God we need to discern the cultural and political trends and see the spiritual reality behind the issues of identity. If we are going to represent the Lord well on the earth, we need to align our views with His views and value the dignity and the identity that He has placed on each of us and on others. Just because people question their identity that does not mean that we have to accept it or else we are being judgmental. We need to help people see the spiritual dimension behind the lies they have believed about themselves and others. We also need to encourage them to become secure in God’s design for them, and, at the same time, help them desire the true change and sanctification that God wants to bring in their lives.