Identity Theft

I was driving yesterday when I heard NPR commenting on the District of Columbia's decision to allow same-sex marriage.  A few thoughts ran through my head over the next few minutes.  One was "why are so many gay people so flamboyant and wildly vocal about their lifestyle?"...another thought was "why has it now become 'cool' in so many circles to be gay?"

I don't know if my next thoughts actually answered those questions, but they were interesting enough for me to write on today.

Its all about IDENTITY.  Human beings crave an identity.  We all seem to realize that there is a hole in our soul.  We know that we were made for something important, yet so many can't figure out what that is.

Thus, we try and fill the whole with different pursuits and passions, causes and movements, occupations and duties...

Some folks find their identity in military service, others in parenting, still more in music and movies.  The list goes on and on...jobs, ethnicities, sports, academics...and yes, some people looking for an identity will be drawn to a destructive path.  Sadly, the numbers are too great of those who identity is in promiscuity, alcohol, drugs, and partying. 

I came to think that this quest for identity might explain some of the fervor that homosexuals show for their lifestyle.  In the same way that Yankees fans can get very vocal about their loyalty or how Marines will fight to defend the honor of their Corps...some gays in America have embraced an unnatural union as who they are.

But all of these identities are illegitimate ones.  They are all false identities, none will grant the individual any trancendent purpose or eternal immortality.  The true identity that humans were made for has been ignored and discarded.  That old thief Satan has convinced us that our identity is best found in the things of this world.  He is a liar and a murderer...and we have been complicit with his suggestions.

The sad truth is, all of those individuals who find their primary identity in things outside of Christ are lost and in need of salvation.  Regeneration and righteousness comes to us only by way of our identity "in Him." 

1 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that "God made him who knew no sin to be sin, that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Our central identity must be in Christ.  It is a trait that I can see clearly in the godly people I admire.  Christ is the foundation of their life.  If they get vocal about anything, if they take up a cause, or begin a new pursuit - it is always done in subordination to their ultimate identity in Jesus.

Once we have had our eyes opened to the truth of the Gospel we will joyously embrace our identity in Christ and all other identities will fall in line, or fall away.

Just some thoughts from my car yesterday...